v. 



HISTORY 



OF 



Cooper County 



MISSOURI 



W. F. JOHNSON 



ILLUSTRATED 



HISTORICAL PUBLISHING COMPANY, 

TOPEKA CLEVELAND 

1919 



> 



<; 



THIS VOLUME IS 

AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED TO THE 

MEMORY OF 

MY FATHER AND MOTHER. 



\ ^ 1 o 



FOREWORD. 

I readily undertook to write the history of Cooper County. Until I 
had begun to gather the material and data, I did not comprehend the work 
involved, nor the difficulties to be encountered. 

One who from afar looks upon a mountain towering high, which he 
must approach and ascend by a devious, winding way, cannot afford to 
weaken his courage by vain repining, or dissipate his energies by fretful 
anticipations. Starting at once upon his journey, he reaches the foot- 
hills, and to his surprise, the mountain seems not nearly so high. Pur- 
suing his way by a gradual incline up the foot-hills, he leisurely keeps his 
course around and up the mountain, and arrives at the summit. As he 
stands there, comfortably wearied, and inhaling the fragrance of the wild 
flowers, which he has gathered on his way, he looks back over his journey 
as a summer outing. 

Having completed my undertaking, though not to my satisfaction, I 
look back upon my labor as one of love and pleasure. No literary merit 
is claimed for this story of Cooper County. It has not been written but 
merely spoken, and at night, extending often into the small hours of the 
morning. The Ediphone has been used, and from the records the typist 
has transcribed the spoken words. This has been at a saving of labor, 
but doubtless at the expense of diction. It is hoped, however, that it has 
the merit of being in the parlance of the street and home, and that the 
average citizen, with even a limited vocabulary, can read and understand, 
without the frequent use of the lexicon. 

History is but a selection of happenings and events. Each individual, 
every family, house and farm has its history. I have therefore attempted 
to give only those events which have been of some importance to the 
county or a particular neighborhood. 

Of that which has been prepared, I have been compelled to eliminate 
much by reason of want of space; and it may be that many things of 
interest to some will not be found in these pages. Errors have doubtless 
occurred, by reason of transcribing, typesetting and proof-reading, as it 
is too much to expect perfection. Again, much of the history that has 
been written herein has been handed down by word of mouth; and real- 



izing the frailty of human memory, I have attempted to arrive at the 
truth as best I could. 

Especial attention is directed to the biographical sketches which form 
a large part of this volume. In these sketches will be found much inter- 
esting and valuable reading, from which the future historian may well 
compile a history of Cooper County. It is to be regretted that many 
others have not availed themselves of this opportunity to perpetuate the 
history of their families for the benefit of those who come after them. 
However, this is no fault of the editor, as the pages of this volume have 
been open to all who cared to respond to the invitations of the solicitors. 

I have followed the rule of saying the pleasant things, rather than 
the evil, because the good can be found with more pleasure to the seeker. 

W. F. JOHNSON. 

Boonville, Mo., July 12, 1919. 



ILLUSTRATIONS 



Allen, Mr. and Mrs. Henry 480 

Andrews, C. E. 388 

Andrewls, /David 396 

Atkinson, Mr. and Mrs. C. W 936 

Barron, Walter 512 

Bell Air Rural School 240 

Bell, Charles C. 372 

Blank, Frank N. 552 

Boonville, Main Street 256 

Bowmer, George E. and Family 688 

Brandes, John A. and Wife 616 

Brandes, Theodore and Wife 576 

Bridge, M. K. & T. 128 

Bridge, Vine Clad 208 

Bunceton, High School 224 

Bunceton, Residence Scene 224 

Bunceton, Patriotic Parade 240 

Burrus, John and Amanda 504 

Carey, Geo. W. and Matilda 556 

Carlos, H. D., Sr. 540 

Case, H. Earl 1008 

Cochran, O. W. and Wife 548 

Cochran, W. J. 680 

Cook, C. C. and Family 684 

Cosgrove, John 364 

Court House, Old 48 

Court House, Present 33 

Davin, Andrew 888 

Davin. Family Residence 888 

Davin, Michael 888 

Debo, P. L., Family Residence 720 

Derendinger, Mr. and Mrs. Edward 432 
Doerrie, Charles 400 

Drechsel, Mr. and Mrs. Charles H._. 744 
Drennen, Mrs. E. E 440 

Eager, Charles L. 492 

Eager, Mrs. Charles L. 492 

Eldridge, Charles C. and Wife 544 



"Elrod of Greenbush" 288 

Fahrenbrink, C. W. and Family 696 

Fairfax, C. P. 1048 

Ferry Boat, Boonville 112 

Fricke, Henry 464 

Friedrich, Charles A. and Family 648 

Friedrich, H. C. and Family 408 

Gerhardt, Joseph and Family 660 

Gmelich, J. F. 354 

Gorrell, Amos and Family 788 

Grathwohl, Charles T. 624 

Gronstedt, Heinrich 472 

Groom, Mr. and Mrs. C. C. 484 

Harlan, George C. 976 

Harriman, Robert L. 1040 

Harris, Edward H. 824 

Harris, Thomas A. 756 

Harris, Judge T. A. 560 

Haun, William H., Residence 816 

Hazell, J. I. 452 

Hickam, Samuel L. 564 

Hickam, Mrs. Samuel L. 564 

High School, Boonville 192 

Hite, Ernest L. and Family 904 

Howlett, Robert E. 984 

Jacobs, A. C. — 508 

Jaeger, Albert and Family 428 

Jeffress, Mr. and Mrs. James 1088 

Jeffress, John W. and Family 1092 

Johnson, C. B. 728 

Johnson, Mrs. C. B. 728 

Johnson, Newton H. 728 

Johnson, Mrs. Newton H. and Chil- 
dren 728 

Johnston, T. A. 360 

Johnson, W. F. Frontispiece 

Kaiser, Herman and Family 488 

Kemper Military School 176 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 



Kickashear, Joseph 484 

Kickashear, Mrs. Margaret 484 

King, John 448 

Krohn, John F. 652 

[Crohn, Mrs. John F. 652 

Krohn. Residence of John F. 652 

Leonard, N. Nelson 928 

Lohse, Mrs. Annie 468 

Lohse, Fred 468 

Lieber, Joseph 416 

Lone Elm School 272 

McCarty, M. M. 1064 

McFarland. A. W. 516 

McFarland, Mrs. Mary 516 

McNeil, Peter P. 992 

Mann, Mr. and Mrs. F. J. 440 

Marshall, F. M. 800 

Mayfield, William A. 896 

Mayfield. Mrs. William A. 896 

Meisenheimer, Peter G. and Family___ 840 

Melkersman. Ed and Wife 632 

Mellor, Mr. and Mrs. George W. 760 

Mellor Homestead 764 

Mellor. Thomas 764 

Meyer, George H. and Family 460 

Meyer Homestead 456 

Meyer, William and Family 708 

Missouri Pacific Depot 144 

Moehle, E. L. and Family 412 

Muntzel, Christian and Wife 780 

Muntzel, Robert J. 664 

Neef, Philip P. and Family 748 

Nelson, A. W. 920 

Nuckols. Powhatan C. 524 

Oerly, Ernest C. and Wife 496 

( leriy, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel and Fam- 
ily _-- 500 

Ohlendorf, Christ 568 

O'Neal, Amos — 796 

Parrish, John S. 856 

I'atriotic Parade, Boonville 336 

Patterson, Ed 536 

Pens, From Oscar Spieler's 304 



Pilot Grove, View of . 160 

Potter, Abraham 1000 

Putter, Mrs. Nancy 644 

Prairie Home Fair 304 

Prize Herd. A 288 

Ravenswood Farm 288 

Reavis, W. W. 584 

Renken, Henry A. 520 

Renken, Mrs. Henry A. 520 

Rissler, William B. 848 

Robertson, John 644 

Robertson, Mrs. Mary 644 

Roe. Robert S. 1032 

Roe, Mrs. Robert S. 1032 

Rossen, Mr. and Mrs. S. C. 432 

Rudolph, John W. 420 

Schlotzhauer, Christopher 880 

Schlotzhauer, James H.. Residence 864 

Schlotzhauer, John 836 

Schlotzhauer, John W., Residence 832 

Schupp, Mr. and Mrs. George 872 

Schuster. Mr. and Mrs. Adam 792 

Schuster, August R. and Family 772 

Schuster, Benjamin E. 776 

Schuster, Mrs. Benj. E. 776 

Schuster. Mr. and Mrs. Henry 1056 

Schuster, William 808 

Sieckman, Mr. and Mrs. Fritz 480 

Sites. L. T. 948 

Smith. Christ and Wife 532 

Smith, George W. 944 

Smith, Jeremiah and Wife 608 

Smith. John H. and Wife 608 

Sombart, C. A. 356 

Sombart, Henry E. 368 

Spieler, Mrs. Elizabeth 404 

Spieler, Frederick E. 404 

Steamboating on the Missouri 64 

Starke, John D. 960 

Steigleder. Andrew and Family 640 

Stephens, J. M. - 912 

St. Joseph's Church and School 272 

St. Joseph's Hospital-- 208 

Taliaferro, George T. and Family 700 

Tevis. Nestor C. 740 

Tevis, Mrs. Xestor C. 740 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 



Tevis. Robert S. 740 

Tevis, Simeon P. 740 

Thornton, Samuel Y. — 784 

Tornado, Devastation of a 320 

Transportation, Overland 80 

Turley. William H. and Wife 752 

Wear, George H. and Wife 592 

Weekley. Martin Luther 768 

Wendleton, David and Wife 676 



Weyland, George A. 384 

Williams, William M. 380 

Windsor, Eugene A. 736 

Windsor, John H. 732 

Windsor, Horace G. 656 

Windsor, R .L. and Family 424 

Wyan. Robert F. 528 

Wyan's, R. F., Residence 256 

Zollinger. Augustus L. 968 



CONTENTS 



CHAPTER I. 

ARCHEOLOGY 



DIVISIONS OF HISTORY— CONTENTS OP MOUNDS — ORIGIN OF MOUNDS— PROBABLE 
RACE OF MOUND BUILDERS 33-39 



CHAPTER II. 

EXPLORATIONS 



THE NEW WORLD — PONCE DE LEON — DE SOTO — CORONADO — MARQUETTE AND 
JOLIET— LA SELLE— FRENCH SETTLEMENTS— TREATY OF ILDEFONSO— 
PURCHASE OF LOUISIANA TERRITORY— ORGANIZATION OF TERRITORY — 
VARIOUS CLAIMS TO MISSOURI 40-51 



CHAPTER III. 

EARLY SETTLEMENTS. 



DANIEL BOONE — BOONSLICK COUNTRY — FIRST TEMPORARY SETTLEMENTS — 
LEWIS AND CLARK— NATHAN AND DANIEL BOONE MAKE SALT— CHRISTY 
AND HEATH— BENJAMIN COOPER— FIGHT WITH INDIANS^INDIANS MEET 
GENERAL CLARK — COOPERS AND COLES SETTLE PERMANENTLY— FIRST 
SETTLERS SOUTH OF RIVER — CONDITIONS MET — FIRST SETTLERS IN BOONS- 
LICK COUNTRY— OTHER SETTLERS SOUTH OF RIVER— ENGLISH STIR UP 
INDIANS— FIRST DEEDS RECORDED 52-69 



CHAPTER IV. 

PIONEER LIFE 



FIRST DWELLINGS — THE HOMINY-BLOCK — SPIRIT OF HELPFULNESS — EARLY 
FARMING IMPLEMENTS — PIONEER WOMEN— EARLY PIONEER DESCRIBED, 
HIS HABITS, HOME. BEE-HUNTING 70-78 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

CHAPTER V. 

TRANSPORTATION AND HIGHWAYS 

EARLY RIVER TRANSPORTATION— COUREUR DE BOIS— PIONEER ROADS AND 
TRAVEL— FIRST FERRIES— FIRST STEAMBOATS — ARRIVAL AT FRANKLIN- 
ARRIVAL OF SECOND STEAMBOAT— DESCRIPTION— GREATEST ERA— PRIMI- 
TIVE BOATS — GROWTH— COST — WRECKING — SANTA FE TRAIL — BOONSVILLE 
ACTIVE MART — USE OF OXEN — FIRST RAILROADS — REBUILDING OF BRIDGES 
—ROAD IMPROVEMENT 79-98 

CHAPTER VI. 

THE WAR OF 1812 AND INDIAN TROUBLES. 

ERECTION OF FORTS— KILLING OF SMITH— CAPTURE COURSAULT— TODD AND 
SMITH KILLED— DISCOVERY OF INDIANS— CHASED BY INDIANS— SETTLERS 
TAKE UP TRAIL— CAMPBELL KILLED— SETTLERS MOVE TO SOUTH SIDE OF 
RIVER— BRAXTON COOPER, JR., KILLED— JOSEPH STILL KILLED— KILLING 
OF WILLIAM McLEAN — ATTEMPT TO KILL AUSTIN — GREGG KILLED AND 
DOUGHTY CAPTURED — NEGRO "JOE" KILLED — COURSAULT KILLED — MURDER 
OF RAMSEY FAMILY — CAPTAIN SARSHALL COOPER MURDERED — TWO NE- 
GROES CAPTURED — RANGERS COME TO RELIEF — DODGE AND COOPER 
CONTROVERSY — LETTER TO GOVERNOR — SAMUEL McMAHON AMBUSHED — 
BUILDING OF HANNAH COLE FORT— INDIAN TREATY— ADDITIONAL INCI- 
DENTS -1 99-122 



CHAPTER VII. 

FROM 1815 TO 1819. 



IMMIGRATION — ORGANIZATION OF COUNTIES — EARLY COURTS — PROCEEDINGS — 
OFFICERS — ELECTIONS — "NEW COMERS" — LAND SPECULATION — SALE OF 
PUBLIC LANDS— PREEMPTION CLAIMS— SAMUEL COLE'S EXPERIENCES — 
EARLY CHURCHES— A. FULLER'S LETTER 123-140 

CHAPTER VIII. 

FROM 1819 TO 1821. 

cooper County formed— first circuit court— first record of circuit 
court— march term, 1819— first judge of election— first con- 
stable — july term, 1819— first letters of administration — first 
jury case— proceedings to divide property on which boonville 
is located 141-153 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

CHAPTER IX. 

FROM 1821 TO 1834. 

SIZE OF COOPER COUNTY REDUCED— FIRST COUNTY COURT— FIRST OFFICERS- 
COUNTY SEAT LOCATED— FIRST COURT HOUSE— FIRST WILL PROVED— JOHN 
V. SHARP— ELECTIONS — PARTY LINES— FALL OF OLD FRANKLIN 154-159 

CHAPTER X. 

FROM 1834 TO 1847. 

NATIONAL AND LOCAL POLITICS— VIGOROUS CAMPAIGNS — CLAY AND POLK— "O. K." 
—INDIAN ALARM— MORMON WAR— FLOOD OF 1844— MEXICAN WAR— COOPER 
COUNTY COMPANY 160-171 

CHAPTER XL 

CONTINUATION OF 1834-1847 AND UP TO 1861 

RISE OF BOONVILLE — ERA OF PROSPERITY— KEMPER SCHOOL FOUNDED— COUNTY 
SEAT PERMANENTLY LOCATED— EFFORTS TO CHANGE COUNTY SEAT— MILI- 
TARY COMPANIES— TROUBLE BETWEEN COMPANIES— MAJOR FORSYTHE 
KILLED — SECOND COURT HOUSE ERECTED — DISCOVERY OF GOLD IN CALI- 
FORNIA AFFECTS COOPER COUNTY— McCULLOCH'S COMPANY— TEMPERANCE 
EXCITEMENT — SLAVERY AGITATION — PRO SLAVERY CONVENTION— CONTRO- 
VERSY IN KANSAS— COOPER COUNTY PRO SLAVERY— ELECTIONS OF 1856-1860. 

172-184 

CHAPTER XII. 

CIVIL WAR PERIOD 

CIVIL WAR A MEMORY— BATTLE BELOW BOONVILLE— HOME GUARDS IN COOPER 
COUNTY— PRICES RAID— SHELBY'S RAID— PRICE'S RAID INTO COOPER 
COUNTY 185-202 

CHAPTER XIII. 

INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

JOSEPH SIFERS KILLED— RELIGIOUS SERVICES INTERRUPTED— PETER MITZEL 
AND OTHO ZELLER MURDERED— JOHN DIEHL, NICHOLAS AND THOMAS 
COOPER KILLED— MURDER OF ELLIS AND GRAVES— KILLING OF WILLIAM 
MAYO BY BILL ANDERSON— THOMAS BROWNFIELD'S EXPERIENCE— McDEAR- 
MON AND A SOLDIER KILLED— OTHER DEPREDATIONS AND MURDERS BY 
BUSHWHACKERS— KROHN AND BASS KILLED— ANDERSON'S MEN AND HOME 
GUARDS CLASH— JOHN BALLINGER KILLED— TRAGEDIES IN CLARKS FORK 
AND PRAIRIE HOME TOWNSHIPS 203-213 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

CHAPTER XIV. 

PERIOD OF READJUSTMENT 

PREJUDICE— CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION— RADICALS— "DRACONIAN CODE"— 
"IRON CLAD OATH" — CONSTITUTION ADOPTED — LATER AMENDED AND RADI- 
CALISM DEFEATED— BROWN ELECTED GOVERNOR— UNPOPULARITY OF 
DRAKE— PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH DURING AND AFTER THE WAR 214-217 

CHAPTER XV. 

TOWNSHIPS 

BOONVILLE TOWNSHIP— BOONVILLE AS IT IS TODAY— BLACKWATER TOWNSHIP- 
CLEAR CREEK TOWNSHIP— PILOT GROVE TOWNSHIP— KELLY TOWNSHIP— 
LAMINE TOWNSHIP— NORTH AND SOUTH MONITEAU TOWNSHIPS— PALESTINE 
TOWNSHIP — PRAIRIE HOME TOWNSHIP — CLARKS FORK TOWNSHIP— SALINE 
TOWNSHIP — LEBANON TOWNSHIP — OTTERVILLE TOWNSHIP 218-249 

CHAPTER XVI. 

SCHOOLS. 

PIONEER SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS, FIRST SCHOOLS IN COOPER COUNTY— DAVIS 
SCHOOL— COOPER COUNTY SCHOOLS— BOONVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS — SCHOOL 
DIRECTORS — SUPERINTENDENTS — FACULTY— SUMMER S C H O O L— CATHOLIC 
SCHOOL, — COOPER COUNTY INSTITUTE — OTTERVILLE ACADEMY — McGUIRE 
SEMINARY— KEMPER MILITARY SCHOOL— PILOT GROVE COLLEGIATE INSTI- 
TUTE 250-264 



CHAPTER XVII. 

CHURCHES. 



BAPTIST — METHODIST — PRESBYTERIAN— CHRISTIAN— GERMAN EVANGELICAL- 
LUTHERAN— EPISCOPAL— CATHOLIC 265-277 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

AGRICULTURE. 

NATURAL ADVANTAGES— PRODUCTION— SURPLUS PRODUCTS— CORN PRIZE WIN- 
NERS—ORCHARDS AND VINEYARDS— LIVE STOCK— SHORTHORN HERDS- 
HOGS— HORSES— MULES— MARKET PRICES FROM 1886 TO 1915— LIVE STOCK 
PRODUCTS— SHEEP— SOILS 278-308 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

CHAPTER XIX. 

THE PRESS 

FIRST NEWSPAPER— SECOND NEWSPAPER— "THE COON HUNTER"— OTHER PIO- 
NEER PAPERS— BOONVILLE ADVERTISER FOUNDED— BOONVILLE EAGLE — 
CENTRAL MISSOURIAN— TOPIC— WESTERN CHRISTIAN UNION— PILOT GROVE 
BEE— SHAVE TAIL COURIER— BLACKWATER NEWS— OTTERVILLE MAIL- 
CENTRAL MISSOURI REPUBLICAN— BUNCETON EAGLE 309-314 



CHAPTER XX. 

BANKING AND CURRENCY. 



EARLY CONDITIONS— FIRST BANKS— DR. TRIGG ESTABLISHES FIRST BANK IN 
BOONVILLE— BRANCH OF BANK OF ST. LOUIS ESTABLISHED— CENTRAL NA- 
TIONAL BANK— COOPER COUNTY BANKS— BOONVILLE NATIONAL BANK- 
FARMERS' TRUST COMPANY— COMMERCIAL BANK OF BOONVILLE— BANK OF 
BUNCETON— COOPER COUNTY BANK OF BUNCETON— FARMERS' STOCK BANK 
OF BLACKWATER— BANK OF BLACKWATER— PILOT GROVE BANK— BANK OF 
WOOLRIDGE— BANK OF PLEASANT GREEN— FARMERS' AND MERCHANTS' 
BANK OF OTTERVILLE 315-322 



CHAPTER XXI. 

FLOODS AND STORMS. 



FLOODS OF 1785, 1811 AND 1826— FLOOD OF 1844— GREAT DAMAGE CAUSED — DEVAS- 
TATING FLOOD OF 1905— REBUILDING OF BRIDGES IN THE COUNTY— BUILD- 
ING OF NEW COURT HOUSE— BONDS ISSUED— TORNADO 323-329 



CHAPTER XXII. 

THE WORLD WAR. 

UNITED STATES ENTERS THE GREAT WAR— COOPER COUNTY'S FINANCIAL CON- 
TRIBUTION—LOYALTY OF CITIZENS — COUNCIL OF DEFENSE— PROCLAMATION 
—ARMISTICE SIGNED— LIST OF COOPER COUNTY SOLDIERS— COMPANY B, 
THIRD REGIMENT, CALLED— CASUALTY LIST— SUMMARY 330-343 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

CHAPTER XXIII. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

MEXICAN BORDER TROUBLE— GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC— UNITED VET- 
ERANS OF THE CONFEDERACY— OTTERVILLE TRAIN ROBBERY — SHERIFF 
CRAMER MURDERED— A. B. THORNTON KILLED — THE PROHIBITION QUES- 
TION 344-353 

CHAPTER XXIV. 

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 



INDEX 



Allen, Henry A 480 

Ambrose, Ernest H. 1097 

Amick, Eugene E 370 

Anderson, Benjamin F 663 

Anderson, Rollie L 447 

Andrews, Charles E 388 

Andrews, David 396 

Apperson, W. F 1081 

Armour and Company 959 

Atkinson, Clarence W 936 

Bail, George 950 

Bane, James S 907 

Barnert, Edgar L. 1020 

Barnett, John A. 451 

Barnhart, George 894 

Barnhart, John C 535 

Barron, Walter 512 

Bates, A. B. 986 

Baughman, Charles A , 1084 

Bauman, Edward L 443 

Bechtold, Frank 1145 

Bechtold, William 1151 

Beck, Anton 910 

Bell, Charles C. 372 

Bernard, Louis D 1158 

Bestgen, L. A 1113 

Betteridge, Frederick C 790 

Betteridge, William A 871 

Biltz, H. C 1106 

Black, Frank N 552 

Blakey, Albert G 570 

Blank, Frank N. 552 

Blank, Nicholas J 1091 

Blythe, James N 886 

Bodamer, Arthur 1089 

Bodamer, Charles H 786 

Boiler, Gustav F 821 

Boonville Mercantile Company 629 

Bomhauser, F. H. 1060 



Bowmer, George E. 688 

Boyce, George T 1043 

Bozarth, Alvin J. 650 

Bozarth, J. W 1022 

Brandes, Albert 1073 

Brandes, Chris J 751 

Brandes, Christian 631 

Brandes, H. G 1066 

Brandes, John A 616 

Brandes, Theodore 576 

Brandes, Theodore L 1071 

Braun, Louis 1083 

Brengarth, Albert 1095 

Brickey, Frank C 938 

Brickey, Paul A 941 

Brickner, William L. 499 

Broe, Morgan 876 

Brokamp, Henry 723 

Brokmeyer, C. H 940 

Brosius, Frank C 379 

Brownfield, David 865 

Brownfield, George D. 925 

Brownfield, Gideon A. 450 

Brubaker, Daniel R 890 

Brubaker, Elmer J 956 

Brueckner, August 487 

Brummel, Henry E 1144 

Bryan, William L 965 

Buescher, Hugo H 1050 

Burge, Robert P 1139 

Burge, William O 823 

Burrus, John M 504 

Burrus and Sons, T. J 1090 

Byler, Robert T. 666 

Carey, George W 556 

i "airy. Robert A , 557 

Carl, George W 713 

Carlos, H. D. — 540 

Carlos, Jr., H. D. 540 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 



Carpenter, S. Alvin - 738 

Carpenter, Edgar A 742 

Carpenter, George A 1159 

Carpenter, Homer L. 1070 

Carpenter, James F 717 

Carpenter, Warren E 733 

Carpenter, William F 765 

Carpenter, William H 735 

Cartner, Charles R 588 

Case, Hiram D 1008 

Case, Oscar F 987 

Chamberlin, Albert S 575 

Chamberlin, George W- 1152 

Chamberlin, Homer L 526 

Chamberlin, Homer L 518 

Chilton, Joseph W 635 

Chilton. Louis L 635 

Chrane, Curtis E 918 

Cleary, Matthew 489 

Clark, Joseph M 1140 

Clayton, James A 625 

Cochran, O. W 548 

Cochran, William J 680 

Cole, George T 1103 

Cole, William D 878 

Coleman, John 1151 

Coleman, Stonewall J 853 

Coleman, Walter L 561 

Collins, Findlay A 1094 

Collins, Howard B 797 

Cook. Charles C 684 

Cordry, Joseph C. 897 

Cordry, Leslie F 879 

Cordry, Oliver L 953 

Cordry, William F 887 

Cordry. William H 898 

Cordry, W. L 436 

Corson, James M 899 

Cosgrove, John 364 

Crain, J. D 1066 

Cramer, Otto H. 567 

Cramer, Ray P. 934 

Crawford,' George K 971 

Creagan, Harry A 943 

Crutchfield, William E 410 

Cully. David R._ 794 

Darby. Patrick 1027 

Dauwalter, Fred 523 



Davin, Andrew 888 

Davin. Michael 888 

Davis. Dan G 597 

Davis, Jeff L 430 

Davis, John T 847 

Davis, Joseph A 726 

Debo, Grover E. 1060 

Debo, Luther C.._. 693 

Debo, P. Lee 720 

Deck, Jacob 427 

Deck, William H 827 

Derendinger, Edward 432 

Derendinger, John E 1098 

Deuschle, Fred 966 

Deuel, Frank H 994 

Devine, Peter J 913 

Doerrie, Charles 400 

Donahew, Ace O 549 

Downing, Robert E 881 

Draffen, James W. 391 

Draffen, Robert T 754 

Drechsel, Charles H 744 

Drennen, Elizabeth E 441 

Dugan, Walter L 469 

Dunn. Robert L 857 

Dunnavant, Charles H 1026 

Durr, Charles 409 

Eager, Charles L 492 

Eager, Clarence L 773 

Edson. D. L. - -1017 

Edwards, Louis S 378 

Eldredge, Charles C. 544 

Elliot. John S 473 

Elliot, William H 1150 

Ellis. Roy H 457 

English, Henry H 589 

Eppstein, Viet C 578 

Ervine, L. R 802 

Evans, Robert L 463 

Fahrenbrink, Christian W 696 

Fahrenbrink. Henry 702 

Fahrenbrink, Herman H 737 

Fairchild, S. Hamilton 628 

Fairfax, Commodore P 1048 

Fairfax, Thomas L 951 

Farris, Archie L 1051 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 



Farrjs, W. A 1011 

FassM M. J 1013 

Felton, Frank J 471 

Felton, Michael J. 537 

Fischer, John A. 642 

Fitzpatrick, Patrick F 1154 

Fluke, George F 972 

Fray, Henry G 821 

Fray, John H 1137 

Fredmeyer, Benjamin F 525 

Fricke, Henry 464 

Fricke, William 689 

Friedrich, Charles A 648 

Friedrich, Henry C 408 

Frost, Aubrey W. 449 

Fulton, Samuel T... 1007 

Funkhauser, James S 1131 

Fuser, Henry E 1160 

Gantner, Edward 1020 

Gantner, Joseph 1020 

Gantner, Louis 988 

Garthoffner, Edward J , 455 

Gehringer, Calvin 911 

Gentry, Amos B 687 

Gentry, M. K 789 

George, Elmer 724 

George, Frank 413 

Gerhardt, Joseph 660 

Gibson, Henry C 509 

Gibson, Thomas B 815 

Gibson, William T 459 

Gilbreath, W. G 932 

Gilman, J. R 1035 

Glasgow, Clayton S 893 

Glasgow, William H 891 

Glazier, John P. 609 

Gmelich, Jacob F. 354 

Goodman, John H 434 

Gorrell, Amos 788 

Gott, John N 437 

Gramlich, Andrew F. 1129 

Grathwohl, Charles T 624 

Grathwohl, Thomas F 558 

Green, Joseph M 505 

Gronstedt, Heinrich 472 

Groom, Colbey C 484 

Groom, Joseph H 1006 

Gross, Charles E. 1165 



Gross, George 846 

Gross, Jacob 1123 

Groves, Samuel H. 1107 

Gunn, James H 900 

Guyer, Williamson 1078 

Hack, John F 466 

Hagemeier, Emil mi 

Hale, C. E 773 

Hale, Edgar T 481 

Hale, Frank I 787 

Hale, O. M 773 

Haley, James M 860 

Haller, John M 502 

Hanna, C. S 982 

Hansberger, Alfred G 908 

Harlan, George W 976 

Harned, Benjamin 791 

Harned, Edwin P 901 

Harness, George C 582 

Harriman, R. L. 1040 

Harriman, William P 962 

Harris, Edward H 824 

Harris, Judge T. A 560 

Harris, Thomas A 756 

Harris, William P 814 

Hasenbach, Edward 1047 

Haun, William H 816 

Hawkins, Herbert L 563 

Hays, Jesse T 926 

Hazell, Joseph I 452 

Heiberger, John J 511 

Hem, John 607 

Herfurth, H. F. 980 

Hesel, A. H 655 

Hews, Abe L. 633 

Hickam, James T. 613 

Hickam, Samuel L. 365 

Hickman, Crockett 383 

Higginbotham, John R 826 

Hilden, Everett 539 

1 1 in-, Ernest L 904 

Hockenberry, Aaron T 714 

Hoefer, William A. 986 

Hoff. Frank J H24 

Hoff. Herbert J 852 

Hoff. Louis N 1130 

Hoflander, John G 975 

Hoflander, Paul .1164 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 



Hogan, Thomas 518 

Holman, Riley S 806 

HoiK'rbrink, George C 1037 

Honcrbrink, H. C 1055 

Hooper, W. E 989 

Hopkins, Farris B 626 

Hosford, J. L 461 

Howlett, Robert E. 984 

Huber, E. J 405 

Hudson. Charles P 803 

Huffman. M. R 1121 

Hurt, Acrey B 1047 

Hurt, Boone 1136 

Hurt. B. F 671 

Hurt, D. D 1102 

Hurt, Henry G 961 

Hurt, James M 716 

Hurt. T. Edgar 1082 

Hurt. William A 604 

Hurt, Willis 990 

Hutchison. Thomas G 894 

Immelc. John B 841 

Irvin, V. S 804 

Irvine. George T. 1025 

Jacobs, Mark 508 

Jaeger, Albert 428 

Jaeger, P. R. 1029 

Jeffress, James T 1088 

Jeffress. John W 1092 

Jeffress, Robert H 862 

Jenry, Henry 993 

Jewett, Gilman W 774 

Johnmeyer, William F. 514 

Johnson, William F 728 

Johnson, William M 421 

Johnston, Col. T. A 360 

Johnston, H. C. 1045 

Johnston, Rea A. 957 

Jones, Caleb C 1072 

Jones. George C 915 

Jones, George C, Jr 828 

Jones, James W 402 

Jones. Woodson T 946 

KnemptYr, Robert 778 

Kahle, William 701 

Kaiser Sr„ Herman 488 

Kaiser. John 1086 



Kalvelage, F. J. 950 

Karm, William 777 

Kehr. Irvin J 1015 

Kinisey. Jackson W 1077 

Kincaid, A. L 813 

Kincheloe. Jesse L 820 

King. Christian F 725 

King, H. M 1069 

King, Henry O 672 

King. John 448 

King, John W 673 

Kirchner, John E 546 

Klekamp, Frank 582 

Knosp, Henry 1100 

Knosp, Henry H 1101 

Koenig, William L 482 

Koonse, Theodore 837 

Koontz, Joseph R 884 

Kramer. Henry B 974 

Kraus. Henry 858 

Kraus. Walter J 854 

Krohn, John F 652 

Kuhn. Herman F 1005 

Kussman. Theodore 399 

Lacy. William J 759 

Lammers, Clemens A. 835 

Lammers, H. G. 855 

Lang, Belthasar 538 

Langkop. Daniel 1115 

Langkop, Leonard 699 

Lauer, Chas. F. 1046 

Lauer. William G. 1030 

Laws. Luther B 1087 

Layne, Benjamin F 593 

Lebing, Theodore F 942 

Lee, Holman 622 

Leonard. Nathaniel N 928 

Lester. B. M 923 

Lieber, Joseph 416 

Lionberger, Frank E 1143 

I.oesing, Peter W 719 

Loesing. William 1068 

Lohse. Fred 468 

Lohse. Fred G 401 

Lohse. Henry 683 

Lohse. John C 1052 

Lovell, Thomas J 757 

I.usk. Hamilton 830 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 



Lusk, Sid A 623 

Lymer, James 668 

McCarty, Milton M 1064 

McClain, Peter D. 1128 

McCoy, J. J. 1166 

McFarland, A. W 516 

McFarland, William J 675 

McGuire, Archibald 836 

McGuire, Homer 943 

McMahan. William E. 809 

McNeil, Peter P 992 

McPhatridge, Henry P 739 

Manger, Julius 917 

Manger, William \ 917 

Manion, Harry T 419 

Mann, F. Joseph 440 

Marshall, Fleming Miles 800 

Ma>el, Sylvanus 1 861 

Mauck, Sam T 615 

Mayfield, William A 896 

Meisenheimer, Peter G 840 

Melkersman, Edward 632 

Mellor, George W 760 

Mellor. John P - 764 

Menefee, Charles N 731 

Meredith, A. L 997 

Meredith, George 659 

Meredith, Louis M. 998 

Meredith, Walter 659 

Mersey, Henry 685 

Meyer, C. C 1023 

Meyer. Daniel J 1125 

Meyer, F. A. 1036 

Meyer, George A 1126 

Meyer. George H 456 

Meyer. George H 460 

Meyer, J. H 1036 

Meyer, Lawrence C. 679 

Meyer. William 708 

Miller. Charles G 379 

Miller, Harry J 973 

Miller, James R 454 

Miller, Robert L 1138 

Miller. William R 423 

Million, Guy C 939 

Mills. Erie S 677 

Mills, Robert W 1054 



Mills, Vivian H. 678 

Minter, Joseph 905 

Mittelbach. William 386 

Mitzel, Charles P 868 

Moehle, Ernest L. 412 

Moore, Boz L 627 

Moore. George H 550 

Moore, Lafayette M 585 

Moore, Lorenzo H 574 

Morgan, Harry C 612 

Morris, Benjamin L i 746 

Morris, George W. 761 

Morris, John W 1118 

Morris, Truman H 749 

Morris, W. H 1075 

Morton, Wallace L 1028 

Mueller, Emil H 486 

Muessig, Jacob F. 859 

Muntzel, Edward J 637 

Muntzel, Frederick H. 975 

Muntzel, Harry J 1059 

Muntzel, Henry L 780 

Muntzel, Herman P 664 

Muntzel, John C. 949 

Muntzel, Peter L 868 

Myer. Albert H 931 

Myer, Michael 870 

Myers, Henry Lee 1001 

Neal, William W 643 

Neal, Z. R. 618 

Neef, Philip P 748 

Nelson, Arthur W 920 

Nelson, Clyde T 1157 

Nelson, Edgar C 1016 

Nelson, Joseph O 1110 

Nelson, Lewis B 991 

\ Nelson, Thomas A 598 

T Nelson, William I 1024 

Niebruegge, Henry J 595 

Nixon, A. F. 978 

Nixon, Charles 397 

Norris, Homer E 1134 

Nuckols, Powhatan C 524 

Nurseries, The Boonville 101S 

Oak, George 577 

Odneal, G. C 995 

( lerlv, Ernest C 496 



\ 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 



Oerly, Henry W 782 

Oerly, Samuel 500 

Oerly, W. A 654 

Oglesby, Charles W 874 

Ohlendorf, Christ 568 

O'Neal, Amos 796 

Oswold, Joseph A 1141 

Painter, James L 867 

Parrish, John S 856 

Patrick, N. D 1093 

Patterson, Ed 536 

Pealer, Rolla D 924 

Pendleton, Thomas O 831 

Pendleton, William G 493 

Peyton & Sons, T. R 979 

Phillips, Charles S 885 

Phillips, William R 889 

Pigott. John T 395 

Poage, William S 1133 

Poertner, William F. 722 

Popper, Joseph 562 

Potter, Abraham 1000 

Putnam, John M 883 

Quigg, H. D 533 

Reavis, Walter W 584 

Reed, Benjamin F 1122 

Renfrow, W. C 651 

Rethemeyer, J. H 697 

Renken, Henry A. v... 520 

Reynolds, George 1109 

Richey, Henry L 863 

Richey, John W 863 

Richey, John W 1116 

Rissler, William B 848 

Ritchie. Andrew A 769 

Roberts, Elijah H. 646 

Roberts, Samuel W 541 

Robertson, Charles E 644 

Robertson, Warner W 644 

Robien, Henry P 555 

Robien, William G 545 

Rodgers, E. H 927 

Roe, Robert S 1032 

Roeschel, William E. 522 

Rossen, Sonneck C. 433 

Roth, Charles E.— 947 



Rothgeb, Richard 955 

Rowles, W. H. H. 782 

Rudolph, John W 420 

Ruskin, Harry 429 

Russell, George A 470 

Sappington, John C. 649 

Sauter, Augustus H 406 

Sauter, Frank S 473 

Sauter, Joseph L 639 

Schaumburg, LaRoy O 371 

Schieberl, Martin 638 

Schilb, Enslie I 839 

Schilb, Fred L 1010 

Schilb, Frederick 766 

Schler, Antun H 970 

Schleuter, William 600 

Schlotzhaucr, Christopher 880 

Schlotzhauer, George H. 879 

Schlotzhauer, James H. 864 

Schlotzhauer, John 836 

Schlotzlmier, John W. 832 

Schmalieldt, William F 704 

Schmidt, Herman A 495 

Schmidt. Maximillian E. 418 

Schmidt, Otto G 617 

Schnack, Herman 475 

Schnuck, John H 1034 

Schnuck, H. E 519 

Scholle, George H 941 

Schrader, Henry 534 

Schubert, Charles W 690 

Schubert, Irene 658 

Schupp, Curry 1080 

Schupp, George 872 

Schuster, Adam 792 

Schuster, August R 772 

Schuster, Benjamin E 776 

Schuster, Frank 822 

Schuster, Henry 1056 

Schuster, William 808 

Schwitzky, Robert 606 

Scott, Edward G 4<>2 

Scott, Joshua B 1112 

Scott. William A 829 

Scott, William R 981 

Sells. Joseph 794 

Shannon, Eliza B 661 

Shannon, Fleming 930 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 



Shannon, Robert A 1053 

Shears, Clarence 653 

Shepherd, Charles M 833 

Shepherd, James B 1042 

Shirley, Charles D 692 

Shouse, Charles Q 805 

Shouse, Walter H. 799 

Sieckman, Fritz 476 

Simrall, Thomas S 922 

Sims Brothers 1122 

Sims, John N 807 

Sites, L. T 948 

Sloan, Marie R. 1155 

Smith, Andrew C 706 

Smith, Anthony 477 

Smith, Benjamin N 1062 

Smith, Chris 532 

Smith, Edward D 819 

Smith, Edwin K 695 

Smith, Fountain D. 818 

Smith, Francis M. 426 

Smith, Henry 709 

Smith, John H 608 

Smith, John R 743 

Smith, Peter 596 

Smith, Peter F 944 

Smith, Robert B 712 

Smith, Thomas H 770 

Smith, Urban A 636 

Smith, William A 1003 

Snider, Robert 967 

Sombart, Charles A ; 356 

Sombart. Henry E. 368 

Spahr, Andrew J 645 

Spahr, Lawrence 1105 

Spahr, William L 1104 

Sparkman, James M 958 

Spieler, Oscar 404 

Spillers, John L 903 

Staebler, J. Louis 554 

Stahl, William H 1132 

Starke, Dryden L 952 

Starke, H. Roger 906 

Starke, John D 960 

Steele, Charles E 798 

Stegner, August 566 

Stegner, Edward 630 

Stegner, Feoder 963 

Stegner, Frank C. 877 



Stegner, Fred C 1148 

Stegner, Marion 589 

Stegner, Otto ^.1153 

Steigleder, G. H 640 

Steigleder, W. F 640 

Steinmetz, George T. 1148 

Stephens Jr., A. H 937 

Stephens, Henry S 1012 

Stephens, John M 912 

Stites, Charles A 866 

Stoecklein, John 1127 

Stoecklein, Otto 1126 

Strickfaden, Peter J 99g 

Stretz, J. H. 1038 

Swap, Charles 445 

Sweeney, John 914 

Talbott, William B 515 

Taliaferro, George T 700 

Talley, James P 844 

Tally, William T 849 

Tanner, William L 498 

Tevis, Robert S 740 

Thomas, Charles L 954 

Thomas, Millard E 1135 

Thornton, Samuel Y 784 

Toellner, Christ 1157 

Toler, Grover C 710 

Toler, O. K 710 

Torbeck. Ernest W 591 

Torbeck, Henry F 964 

Trigg, William W 601 

Tucker, Martin 502 

Turley. William H 752 

Tutt, Charles P 669 

Underwood, John S 466 

Victor, Felix 935 

Viertel, George 1057 

Vieth, Berend 755 

Viertel, John F. 611 

Vollmer, Anthony 852 

Vollrath, Charles L 850 

Wagner, Charles F 641 

Walden, Charles J 359 

Wallace, Wilbur B 1146 

Wallery, Joseph W._ 1147 

Walker, James W 909 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 



Walther, John J. 507 

Walterscheid, John E. 491 

Walz, John E. 444 

Waterman, Henry 530 

Wear, Emmett E 600 

Wear, George H 592 

Weekley, Martin L 768 

Wendleton, David 676 

Wendleton, Lon V. 553 

West. Walter C 873 

Weyland, George A 384 

White, A. J 703 

White, Arthur F 778 

White, Frank B 1120 

Whitlow, John N 706 

Whitlow. R. W 1161 

Williams, Harry 1119 

Williams, Porter E 917 

Williams, Roy D 382 

Williams, William M 380 

Wilson, Charles E 871 

Windsor, Andrew H 1067 



Windsor, Edward B 875 

Windsor, Eugene A 736 

Windsor, John H 732 

Windsor, Horace G 656 

Windsor, Richard L. 424 

Windsor, Richard N— 425 

Windsor, Walter B 393 

Wing, Henry M 811 

Winterbower, T. H 937 

Wolfe, William E 762 

Wolfrum, John G. 1014 

Wood, Arthur H. 1127 

Woodroof. Charles E 810 

Wooldridge, William J 621 

Woolery, Joseph W. 1147 

Worts, Willard A 812 

Wyan, Robert F 528 

Yancey, Henry J 745 

Yancey, L. C 1076 

Zeigle, Lester O 845 

Zollinger, Conrad M 968 




- 

V, 



History of Cooper County 



CHAPTER I. 



ARCHEOLOGY 



DIVISIONS OF HISTORY— CONTENTS OF MOUNDS— ORIGIN OF MOUNDS— PROBABLE 
RACE OF MOUND BUILDERS. 

History is speculative, inferential, and actual; speculative when it 
records conclusions based on hypothesis founded on facts, far removed; 
inferential when conclusions are reasonably based on facts; actual, when 
facts alone are recorded. The historian deals with all three, more or 
less, in combination one with the other. This chapter is purely specula- 
tive. The editor is not an archaeologist, and does not attempt herein to 
arrive at, or lead the reader to a conclusion. Houck, in his "History of 
Missouri," claims to have located through investigators something like 
twenty-eight thousand mounds in the state. These mounds are usually 
called Indian mounds, and he does not assert that all that existed in the 
state were discovered by his investigators. He mentions nine in Cooper 
county. There are doubtless more than ninety and nine, and probably 
many more leveled with the plow. 

The only purpose to be conserved throughout this chapter is to open 
up the vista to inquiring minds, that their observations and discoveries 
may be preserved for the future. The casual observer sees an elevation 
of ground. The geologist, or archaeologist, if you please, by close and 
careful examination, determines to a certainty, or thinks he does, that 
(3) 



34 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

this is not caused by erosion, or by an internal upheaval of the earth. 
He concludes, therefore, that it has been raised by man. Here geology, 
paleontology, and archaeology, the three sister sciences, begin their labors 
hand in hand, "And the mind recoils dismayed when it undertakes the 
computations of thousands of years which have elapsed since the creation 
of man." 

As our feet grope in darkness, irresistably down the ages to the night 
of the unknown, these three sister sciences hold aloft a torch that illumi- 
nates, in part at least, our darkened pathway through the dim vista of 
the vanished past. 

Contents of Mounds. — By excavating these mounds we find peculiar 
instruments of the chase and hunt, vessels, bowls and statuary, some 
with peculiar markings and engravings. Such mounds have been dis- 
covered throughout the country in almost countless thousands, and they 
were here when the white man first set foot on American soil. The 
articles found in them were unlike those used by the Indians, known at 
the time of the first white men. The same Indians lay no claim to having 
built these peculiar structures of earth, and hold no tradition that those 
who preceded them had built them, and some of the tribes claim tradi- 
tions running back thousands of years, prior to their acquaintance with 
the white man. 

Origin of Mounds. — The scientists reason thus: first, the mounds are 
not of natural formation ; second, they were built by man ; third, the white 
man did not build them; fourth, the Indians did not build them; there- 
fore, it follows as a logical conclusion that they were built by a race 
inhabiting our country long before the red man. This, in fact, is the 
consensus of scientific opinion, yet not all agree. Dr. C. A. Peterson, 
former president of the Missouri Historical Society, and a student of 
Missouri antiquities, uses this forcible language: "Credulity has been 
taxed to the utmost, and columns of crude ideas and inane arguments 
have been published by half-baked archaeologists, who established great 
antiquity for the mounds and an advanced civilization for their builders, 
and the extreme and ridiculous flights which the imagination has been 
allowed to take in building up the stories of the mythical mound builders 
may be well illustrated by this case. About, thirty years ago an amateur 
archaeologist in exploring quite a modern Indian mound reported that he 
had found the skeletons buried beneath it to be a proper complement in 
numbers and arranged in proper order and position to represent the three 
principal officers of the Masonic Lodge at work, each officer being equipped 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 35 

with the implement and insignia of his respective office. To those at- 
tracted to a contemplation of mystery, and to revelers of the occulet, it 
was the most marvelous and entertaining discovery ever reported in 
American archaeology, but there were a few incredulous, unfeeling scof- 
fers, who would not accept the story as true, because the discoverer did 
not produce the bones of the candidate and the goat. In conclusion, let 
it be reiterated that there was never an iota of evidence in existence 
tending to establish the contention that some people, other than the 
American Indian, erected the mounds and other earthworks found in 
connection with them, and the physical condition of the abandoned works 
and their contents could not justify a belief that any of them were erected 
more than one thousand years ago." 

The Indian mounds are especially numerous along the Missouri River, 
in the townships of Saline, Boonville, and Lamine, and are found in vary- 
ing numbers in other sections of Cooper County. It is to be regretted 
that more attention has not been paid to them in the past to the end 
that what found therein would have been preserved for investigation and 
study. It is said that on the old Hopkins farm in Saline township there 
are five of these mounds. It is related on reliable authority that in the 
early seventies a young physician, fresh from college in Kentucky, and 
with budding honors, debonair and faultlessly attired, located in Saline 
township. He was smaii of stature, willowy in form, a Beau Brummel, 
polite and obliging. Visiting at the Hopkins home one Sunday, a balmy 
spring day, where were gathered a few of the local beauties of the neigh- 
borhood, his attention was directed to a large mound of earth in the yard. 
He thought it strange, and had never before seen such an elevation of 
earth in a yard. Being deeply interested, he asked one of the youn? 
ladies present what it was for. She replied that it was an Indian mound, 
and that an Indian who had been killed was buried there. The young 
doctor was greatly interested. She told him that if he would stand on 
top of the mound, and say in a loud voice, "Indian, poor Indian, what did 
they kill you for?" the Indian would say, "Nothing at all." The doctor 
valiantly essayed the mound, ascending to the top, and in a stentorian 
voice cried, "Indian, poor Indian, what did they kill you for?" He waited 
a few minutes for the response, and finally realized that the young lady 
was right, for the Indian said nothing at all. The young doctor felt 
completely sold out. Following his motto of evening up old scores, he 
set out energetically to do so. He courted the young lady, and eventu- 
ally married her, thus evening the score. 

The following, which is a collation of authorities and brief com- 



36 HISTOEY OF COOPER COUNTY 

ments of scientists, pro and con, we take from Houck's "History of 
Missouri." 

"The pre-historic works of Missouri attracted attention from the 
earliest settlement of the country. Stoddard says, 'It is admitted on all 
hands that they have endured for centuries. The trees in their ram- 
parts, from the number of their annulae, or radii, indicate an age of 
mort than four hundred years.' Holmes says that the manufacture of 
the pottery-ware found in the mounds 'began many centuries before 
the advent of the white race.' The Indians found by the first white 
explorers did not recognize these mounds as belonging to them, either 
by occupying them or using them, or by their traditions, although the 
surprising number of such mounds in some sections of the country, many 
of them very large, singular in form, and conspicuous in the landscape, 
must have attracted the attention of the most thoughtless of them. 
Marquis de Nadailic says that these 'mounds in North America are 
among the most remarkable known.' Featherstonehaugh was so im- 
pressed by these historic remains in Missouri that he concluded that they 
were to the tribes that built them what the pyramids were to the ancient 
Egyptians. 

Probable Race of Mound-Builders. — To what particular race the 
mound-builders belonged has been a subject of much discussion. Abbe 
Brasseur de Bourbourg declares that the pre-Aztec Mexicans and Toltecs 
were a people identical with the mound-builder. It is also said that the 
mound-builders were of the same cranial type as the ancient Mexicans, 
Peruvians, and the natives of the Pacific slope as far north as Sitka; that 
is to say, brachycephalic ; and Winchell thinks that 'the identity of the 
race of mound-builders with the races of Anahuac and Peru will become 
generally recognized. 'Squier supposes that they belonged to an 'extinct 
race.' Atwater gives it as his opinion that the 'lofty mounds' — ancient 
fortifications and tumuli — 'which cost so much labor in their structure.' 
owe their 'origin to a people much more civilized than our Indian' ; and 
Atwater was familiar with the capabilities and characteristics of the 
American Indian. Others, again, suppose that they were the same people 
who afterward came from the northeast into Mexico. Bancroft says 
that the 'claims in behalf of the Nahua traces in the Mississippi region 
are much better founded than those which have been urged in other 
parts of the country.' He asserts that the remains in the Mississippi 
valley 'are not the works of the Indian tribes found in the country, nor 
of any tribes resembling them in their institution, and that the 'best 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 37 

authorities deem it impossible that the mound-builders were even remote 
ancestors of the Indian tribes.' In his opinion, there was an actual con- 
nection, either through origin, war, or commerce, between the mound- 
builders and the Nahuas. This he infers from the so-called temple 
mounds, a strongly resembling the pyramids of Mexico, implying a simi- 
larity of religious ideas; the use of obsidian implements; the Nahua tra- 
dition of the arrival of civilized strangers from the northeast. And 
Baldwin, in reviewing the various traditions recorded by many of the 
earliest Spanish chroniclers of Mexico, concludes by saying that it seems 
not improbable that the Huehue, or 'Old Tlapalan' of their tradition, was 
'the country of our mound-builders' on the Mississippi. Albert Gallatin 
thinks that the works erected indicate 'a dense agricultural population,' 
a population 'eminently agricultural,' a state essentially different from 
that of the Iroquois or Algonquin Indians. Yet, he also expressed the 
opinion that the earthworks discovered might have been executed by a 
'savage people.' Brinton also thinks that these earthworks were not 
the production 'of some mythical tribe of high civilization in remote 
antiquity but of the identical nations found by the whites residing in 
these regions.' Schoolcraft says that the Indian predecessors of the 
existing race 'could have executed' these works. Lewis Cass believed 
that the forefathers of the present Indian 'no doubt' erected these works 
as places of refuge and security. Jones is of the opinion that the old 
idea that the mound-builders were a people distinct from the Indians is 
'unfounded in fact, and fanciful.' Lucian Carr in an elaborate article 
says there is no reason 'why the red Indians of the Mississippi valley, 
judging from what we know historically of their development, coukl not 
have thrown up these works.' Dr. C. A. Peterson, in a paper read before 
the Missouri Historical Society in 1902, concludes that 'there never was 
an iota of evidence in existence tending to establish the contention that 
some people, other than the American Indian, erected the mounds and 
earthworks found in connection with them ; and the physical condition 
does not justify the belief that any of them were erected more than one 
thousand years ago. In support of this view he says, 'an immense memo- 
rial earthwork over the body of a popular Osage chief was erected by 
his tribe, citing Beck's Gazeteer. But J. F. Snyder asserts that the 
Osages 'built no earthen mounds,' and that the mound mentioned by Dr. 
Beck as having been built by them near the head-waters of the Osage 
was the result of glacial action. Snyder also quotes Holcomb, who states 
that 'the mysterious races of beings, termed mound-builders never dwelt 



38 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

in Vernon County,' and that no fragments of pottery have ever been 
found there, nor noteworthy archaeological specimens,, and few, if any 
flint, arrow-heads, lance-heads, stone-heads, etc., although he admits that 
the Osages erected stone heaps occasionally over the bodies of their dead 
to preserve them from the ravages of wild beasts. 

One remarkable discovery made by Mr. Thomas Beckwith, who has 
devoted many years to the careful and intelligent exploration of the 
mounds of the Mississippi country, would seem to tend to support the 
contention that the more ancient mound-builders of the Mississippi valley, 
at least, belonged to the Nahual race of Mexico. It should be observed 
that in making his explorations Mr. Beckwith always proceeds with the 
greatest circumspection, not, like so many others, hastily digging and 
burrowing into mounds, looking only for perfect pottery ware, carelessly 
overlooking and throwing everything else away; on the contrary, nothing 
is too small for his notice, and it is his invariable practice to gather up 
and preserve every fragment, small and insignificant though it may 
appear. The exploration of the mound does not always satisfy him. In 
some instances where the surrounding country seems to warrant it, he 
also explores the soil for several feet below the surface at present sur- 
rounding the mound. In making such sub-surface explorations Mr. Beck- 
with, at a depth three feet below the present surface, in a number of 
instances, found pottery balls imbedded in the clay, near mounds ex- 
plored by him. During his various explorations of mounds, he has col- 
lected in this way perhaps a half-bushel of such pottery balls of various 
forms, some ovoids, some round, about the size of a walnut, others again 
lenticular; the ovoids being in the form of Roman glandes, as described 
by Evans ;that is, fusiform, or pointed. Such pottery balls of various 
shapes were in use as sling-stones among the Charrus of South America. 
The Marquis de Nadailicc says that the Chimecs, who were of the Nahuatl 
race, in their wars used bows and arrows and 'slings with which they 
flung little pottery balls which caused dangerous wounds.' Such artificial 
pottery sling-stones, being uniform in size and weight, gave a greater 
precision of aim, an advantage which is recognized by the barbarous 
tribes of New Caledonia today, where sling-stones made out of steatite 
are used by the natives. The sling was an offensive weapon of the Aztecs, 
and the stones thrown with great force and accuracy. Among the Mayas 
of Yucatan slings were also extensively used. But as an offensive weapon 
it was unknown among the North American Indians." 

The chroniclers of the past, delving into ancient lore, have pronounced 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 39 

Egypt to have the oldest written history. Man, calling to his aid the 
hieroglyphic records of Egypt, as well as the inscribed bricks and cylin- 
ders of Assyria, can trace back the annals of man's history no further 
than fifty centuries. Egypt was schooled in the sciences and nobler arts, 
and rich in knowledge when Remus and Romulus were unborn and Italy 
inhabited by uncouth and barbarous savages, when Athens was not 
spoken, nor Greece begun ; when Europe, now teeming with her millions, 
was wilderness and sparsely inhabited by races unlettered and unlearned, 
yet Egypt has her ruins of unnamed cities where a people of a forgotten 
civilization trafficked and traded, pushed and jostled. 

The prehistoric remains of Egypt are a never-ending source of his- 
torical revelation to the student of archaeology. Even the supposed myth 
of Troy vanished in the face of these established facts ; yet more wonder- 
ful — beneath the ruins of discovered Troy, the excavator has found the 
ruins of another city. It would seem that wherever the soil would sup- 
port and the climate permit, there man has lived and had his being, and 
that practically every country produces evidence of a forgotten and pre- 
historic race. 

In the Dark Ages, a few centuries back, ruthless might, with its 
accompanying wreck and ruin, effaced much of the world's gems of art, 
literature and architecture, and even the torch of learning was kept but 
faintly burning in the cloisters of the monk. The world is littered with 
the devastations of war; and ever, man has built and destroyed. 

The years, as we know them in written history, may be but as a day 
in the eons upon eons of man's development. Generation after genera- 
tion of men in a ceaseless flow have passed, and the earth is filled with 
the graves of the forgotten, above which we "strut and fret our brief 
hour upon the stage." Our country's history is the history of the white 
man. We have but filmy traditions of the Indians, and if another race 
preceded it, it must be discovered in what is commonly termed the Indian 
mounds. 



CHAPTER II. 



EXPLORATIONS 



THE NEW WORLD— PONCE DE LEON— DE SOTO— CORONADO— MARQUETTE AND 
JOLIET— LA SELLE— FRENCH SETTLEMENTS— TREATY OF ILDEFONSO— 
PURCHASE OF LOUISIANA TERRITORY— ORGANIZATION OF TERRITORY — 
VARIOUS CLAIMS TO MISSOURI. 

When the new world was discovered and had wonderfully revealed 
itself to the adventurers and daring men of the Old World, the enterprize 
of Europe was startled into action. Those valiant men. who had won 
laurels among the mountains of Andalusia, on the fields of Flanders, and 
on the battlefields of Albion, sought a more remote field for adventure. 
The revelation of a new world and a new race, and communication between 
the old and the new, provided a field for fertile imagination. The fact 
was as astounding to the people then as it would be to us should we learn 
that Mars is peopled and that communication could be established between 
that planet and the earth. 

The heroes of the ocean despised the range of Europe as too narrow, 
offering to their extravagant ambition nothing beyond mediocrity. Am- 
bition, avarice, and religious zeal were strangely blended, and the heroes 
of the main sailed to the west, as if bound on a new crusade, for infinite 
wealth and renown were to reward their piety, satisfy their greed, and 
satiate their ambition. 

Amei-ica was the region of romance where their heated imagination 
could indulge in the boldest delusions, where the simple ignorant native 
wore the most precious ornaments, the sands by the side of the clear 
runs of water, sparkled with gold. Says the historian of the ocean, these 
adventui-ous heroes speedily prepared to fly by a beckoning or a whis- 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 41 

pering wheresoever they were called. They forsook certainties for the 
lure and hope of more brilliant success. 

To win provinces with the sword, divide the wealth of empires, to 
plunder the accumulated treasures of some ancient Indian dynasty, to 
return from a roving expedition with a crowd of enslaved captives and 
a profusion of spoils, soon became ordinary dreams. Fame, fortune, life 
and all were squandered in the visions of wealth and renown. Even if 
the issue was uncertain, success, greater than the boldest imagination 
had dared, was sometimes attained. 

It would be an interesting story to trace each hero across the ocean 
to the American continent, and through the three great gateways thereof, 
through which he entered the wilds of the great west. The accounts of 
the explorations and exploitations into the great west read like a romance. 
The trials through which the explorers passed were enough to make the 
stoutest hearts quail and to test the endurance of men of steel. 

Juan Ponce de Leon, an old comrade of Christopher Columbus in his 
second voyage across the Atlantic, spent his youth in the military service 
of Spain, and shared in the wild exploits of predatory valor in the 
Granada. He was a fearless and gallant soldier. The revelation of a 
new world fired within him the spirit of youth and adventure. He was 
an old man, yet age had not tempered his love of hazardous enterprise 
to advance his fortune by conquest of kingdoms, and to retrieve a repu- 
tation, not without blemish. His cheeks had been furrowed by years of 
hard service, and he believed the tale which was a tradition, credited in 
Spain by those who were distinguished for intelligence, of a fountain 
which possessed the virtue to renovate the life of those who drank of it 
or bathed in its healing waters. In 1513, with a squadron of three ships 
fitted out at his own expense, he landed on the coast of Florida, a few 
miles north of St. Augustine. Here he remained for many weeks, pa- 
tiently and persistently exploring and penetrating the "deep, tangled 
wildwood," searching for gold and drinking from the waters of every 
stream, brook, rivulet, and spring and bathing in every fountain. The 
discoverer of Florida seeking immortality on earth, bereft of fortune and 
broken inspirit, found the sombre shadow of death in his second voyage 
in 1521. Contending with the implacable fury of the Indians, he died 
from an arrow wound received in an Indian fight. He was laid to rest 
on the island of Cuba. 

Thus began the Spanish claim to that vast territory west of the 



42 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Mississippi, which included the Louisiana Province from the Mississippi 
west to the Rocky Mountains (including Missouri). 

Hernando De Soto, who had been with Pizarro in his conquest of 
Peru in 1533, inspired with the same hopes and ambitions as Ponce de 
Leon, and undismayed by his failure, and inspiring others with confidence 
in his plans, collected a large band of Spanish and Portuguese cavaliers. 
In 1538, his splendidly equipped six or seven hundred men, among whom 
were many gentlemen of position and wealth, set sail in nine vessels for 
the wonderful Eldorado. In addition to his men, he carried three hun- 
dred horses, a herd of swine, and some bloodhounds. It would be inter- 
esting to follow this expedition in its hazardous wanderings, but to do so 
in this sketch, would be going "far afield." His route was in part through 
the country already made hostile by the cruelty and violence of the 
Spanish invader, Narvaez. On April 25, 1541, De Soto reached the banks 
of the great Mississippi, supposed to be near the Lower Chickasaw Bluffs, 
a few miles below Memphis, thus achieving for his name immortality. 

Here he crossed the river and pursued his course north along its 
west bank into the region in our own State now known as New Madrid. 
So far as the historian can determine, he was the first European to set 
foot on Missouri soil, and thus he strengthened the claim to the vast 
wilds of the far west. He reached a village called Pocaha, the northern- 
most point of his expedition, and remained there forty days, sending out 
various exploring parties. The location of Pocaha cannot be identified. 

He explored to the northwest, but if he did really penetrate what 
is now the central part of the state, how far he went is but speculation. 
The country still nearer to the Missouri was said by the Indians to be 
thinly inhabited, and it abounded in bison in such numbers that maize 
could not be cultivated. We have in this story no further interest in De 
Soto's exploration and wanderings, save to say that the white man, with 
his insatiable greed, injustice, and cruel adventure, was made known to 
the red man of the far west. Because of the white man's traits, a hatred 
arose on the part of the Indians, which by succeeding outrages ripened 
in after years to a venom that cost the lives of thousands of harmless 
settlers. Other explorations followed in succession, and though the ex- 
periences would read like a romance, the scope of this work precludes 
an account, even of the wonderful exploits of Coronada about the same 
period. Upon the result of these expeditions Spain based her claims of 
the Louisiana Province, afterwards acknowledged by European precedent, 
to be justly founded. 

While De Soto pierced the wilderness from the southeast, another 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 43 

Spanish cavalcade under Francisco de Coronado, at practically the same 
time, invaded it from the southwest. 

Coronado. — The expedition consisted of three hundred Spanish ad- 
venturers, mostly mounted, thoroughly armed, richly caparisoned, and 
well provisioned. They started their march with flying colors and bound- 
less expectations. The Vice-roy of Mexico, from whence they started, 
accompanied them for two days on the march. Never had so chivalrous 
adventurers gone forth to hunt the wilderness for kingdoms. Every 
officer seemed fitted to lead an expedition wherever danger threatened 
or hope lured. More young men of the proudest families of Spain, than 
had ever before acted together in America, rallied under the banner of 
Coronado. 

An Indian slave had told wonders of the seven cities of Cibola, the 
land of buffaloes that lay at the north between the oceans and beyond 
the deserts. He represented this country as abounding in silver and 
gold beyond the wildest dreams. The Spaniards, in what was then called 
New Spain, trusting implicitly in the truth of this story and hundreds 
of others equally mythical, burned with ambition to subdue the rich 
provinces. Several historians who were participants in this expedition 
have preserved the events of the adventurous march, and it would seem 
that with so much written evidence based on what the participants of 
the expedition saw and experienced, at least the course pursued, the routes 
followed, and the distances traveled by Coronado and his army, ought to 
be free from doubt. This, however, is far from being the case, and the 
entire matter is left largely in doubt. 

It seems to be well authenticated, however, that Coronado entered 
Missouri in the southern part, but how far north he went, we do not 
know. Some have claimed, and with some reason, that he reached the 
Missouri River in the central part of the State. 

Cruelty of Spanish Explorers. — Coronado and De Soto both treated 
the Indians with barbarous cruelty. Their great hopes of limitless riches 
and conquered province became as ashes in their hands. Their men, 
after long marches for months through the wilderness, became tattered, 
disgruntled and surly. They were burdens upon the red men whom they 
visited in the different villages, and consumed their maize. The Indians 
were distrustful and suspicious, and an inborn hatred for the white man 
insistently grew in their breasts, and was handed down by tradition with 
growing rancor, to future generations. The fabled cities of Cibola were 
found to be miserable mud huts. Indian guides lured them from place 



44 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

to place with wonderful stories in order that the white men might be 
held from their own country. 

It is related that a heroic young Zuni brave represented that he was 
not a Zuni, but an enemy of that tribe, and belonged to the country of 
Quivera far to the north. In a glowing word picture he described his 
country and insisted that the Spaniards visit there, in these words: 
"Come with me, mighty chief, to my country, watered by the mighty 
river Quivera. wherein are fishes as large as the horses you ride, and upon 
whose currents float large and beautiful boats with many colored sails, 
in which rest the lords of the country at ease, on downy couches and 
canopies rich with gold. Come, see our gardens of roses, where our great 
ones take their siesta under the spreading trees that pierce the very 
heavens in their towering height. There gold and silver are but as stones 
on a rocky way. Precious jewels and riches beyond the dreams of avarice, 
mighty chief, is yours for the asking. What you can take is but as a 
cup of water from the great lake. Come. mighty chief, and follow me, 
for I will guide thee to the land of riches and plenty." 

Tradition has it that Coronado, arriving near the Missouri, the Zumi 
brave said to him, "I have lied to you. I am a Zumi. I witnessed your 
cruelties to my people, and I have brought you here. I hope you will 
perish before you reach your home. I am satisfied, and now I am ready 
to die." 

The young Zumi suffered the direst penalty, and gave his life for his 
tribe. 

Coronado remained at this point about 25 days. 

The French claim to the Louisiana Province was based on the dis- 
coveries of Marquette and Joliet in 1673. Marquette was of the patrician 
"Marquettes of Laon", thought to have been descendants of Celtic nobles 
whom Rome, in her wise policy, attached to her standard by leaving them 
in possession of their ancestral territory, but nominally dominated by the 
"eternal city." 

Father Marquette and Joliet. — Father Marquette was 29 years 
of age when his feet first touched American soil. From all the con- 
temporary accounts of the expedition it is evident that Father Marquette 
was its leader, its very soul. But as an ecclesiastic he could not take 
command of an army, however small; as an ambassador of Christ to 
foreign heathen nations, he could not act as the agent of a king of France. 
It was accordingly arranged that Sieur Joliet, a native of Canada, should 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 45 

command the expedition, and that Marquette should accompany it as its 
missionary. The choice of Joliet was a wise and happy one. 

They left the connecting strait between Lakes Michigan and Huron 
on the 17th day of May, 1673. In the language of Marquette, 
"We were embarking on a voyage the duration of which we could not 
foresee. Indian corn, with some dried meat, was our only provisions. 
With this, we set out in two bark canoes. M. Joliet, five other men and I 
firmly resolved to do all and suffer all for a glorious enterprise." 

On the 17th day of June, 1673, they, with their attendants in 
two bark canoes, reached the Upper Mississippi. They followed in their 
frail barks the swift current of the river to the mouth of the Illinois, and 
thence into the mouth of the Missouri, called by Marquette, Pekitonoui, 
that is, Muddy Water. 

Shea in his "Discovery of the Mississippi Valley", says that Pekitonoui, 
or "Muddy Water", prevailed until Marest's time (1712), when it was 
called Missouri, from the name of a tribe of Indians known as Missouris, 
who inhabited the country at its mouth. More than 100 years after 
DeSoto discovered the Mississippi the claim of the French was founded. 
Until 1762 these two great nations contended for the right of sovereignity 
of the wilderness west of the Mississippi. 

The limits of this work forbid following the varying fortunes of any 
of the explorers, and reference is made to them sufficient only to show 
the claims of France and Spain to that expanse of territory of which the 
present Cooper County was a part. 

La Salle. — Continuing these references we must advert to La Salle. 
On the 14th day of July, 1678, with Tonti, an Italian, and about 
30 other men, he arrived in Quebec. In September, he sailed from 
Rochelle, France, and was joined by Louis Hennepin, a Franciscan friar. 
After leaving Frontenac, in Nov., 1678, they spent about 18 months 
among the Indian tribes exploring the northern lakes and rivers. 
They experienced many hardships. After returning to Canada for addi- 
tional supplies, La Salle, with about 20 Frenchmen, 18 Indian braves and 
10 Indian women, descended the Illinois to the Mississippi, which they 
reached on the sixth of Feb., 1662. On the fifth of April, La Salle accom- 
plished the purpose of his expedition, which was to discover the three 
mouths of the Mississippi through which its great volume of water is 
discharged into the Gulf of Mexico. 

By ceremony of great pomp, La Salle took possession of the country 



46 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

in the name of Louis XIV of France, in whose honor the country was 
named Louisiana. And here on an elevation La Salle, amid the solemn 
chants of hymns of thanksgiving, planted a cross, with the arms of 
France ; and in the name of the French king took possession of the river, 
of all its branches, and of the territory watered by them. The notary 
drew up an authentic act, which all signed with beating hearts. A leaden 
plate upon which were the arms of France and the names of the dis- 
coverers, was, amid the rattle of musketry, deposited in the earth. The 
plate bore this inscription, "Louis le Grand Roi de France et de Navarre, 
Regne; le Neuvieme Auril, 1682." Standing near the planted cross, 
La Salle proclaimed with a loud voice, that in the name of the most high, 
mighty, invincible and victorious Prince, Louis the Great, by the grace of 
God, King of France and Navarre, 14th of the name, this ninth day of 
April, 1682, he took possession of the country of Louisiana, comprising 
almost indefinite limits and including, of course, the present territory of 
Missouri. 

The colonial policy of the Spaniards was not based on theory or fancy, 
although at this period, less enlightened than the French, they had the 
advantage of larger experience. The English by reason of their indom- 
itable perseverance and fixedness of purpose had, in these respects, an 
advantage over their rivals. Yet the French, by their superior attitude 
in assimilating with the savages, and adroitness in winning confidence, 
had a clear advantage over both. 

French Settlements. — The only settlements at that time in what is 
now Missouri, were Ste. Genevieve and St. Louis. There were at least 
five settlements in what is now Illinois. These settlements were situated 
along the east bank of the Mississippi, for about 75 miles extending from 
near the mouth of the Missouri river to the mouth of the Kaskaska. They 
were Kaskaskia, with a white population of about 400; Prairie View 
Rocher. with about 50 inhabitants; Fort Chartres. about 100; Philippe, 
about 20; Kahoki, about 100, making a total of 670 whites. The negro 
population was about 300, which brings the total up to nearly 1,000. 

These settlements were made by the French. It seems unreasonable 
to assume that these adventurers, seeking fame and fortune, did not 
explore the Missouri River far beyond the limits of Cooper County. 

Early in the 18th century the French sent men into what is now 
Missouri to search for silver, and although they failed, they did a great 
deal of exploring in this region. Again the French settlers in Kaskaskia, 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 47 

and other Illinois settlements, which were established in the late 17th and 
early 18th centuries, soon made their way on hunting and exploring 
expeditions up the Missouri. Naturally this activity on the part of the 
French aroused the fears of the Spanish at Santa Fe, which resulted in 
their fitting out an expedition in 1720 for exploration. This expedition 
is popularly known as the "Great Caravan." It consisted of a large num- 
ber of soldiers, artisans, and farmers, together with their families, flocks 
and herds. 

But Houck in his "History of Missouri", says that recent investiga- 
tions seem to make it clear that there were not more than 50 soldiers 
in the expedition, and while there may have been helpers they were not 
intending settlers. However that may be, the expedition failed com- 
pletely, owing to an attack made by hostile Indians. Only one man belong- 
ing to the ill-fated expedition escaped with his life to relate the story of 
the disaster. 

It is claimed that this attempt of the Spanish to establish a post on 
the Missouri in 1720, led directly to the founding of Fort Orleans by the 
French in 1723. 

De Bourgmont, who previously spent some years trading with the 
Indians along the Missouri, was captain and commandant of Missouri in 
1720. The exact site of Fort Orleans cannot be definitely determined. 
It has been claimed that it is on the south bank of the Missouri near 
what is now Malta Bend in Saline County. Recently the ruins of an old 
fort, and the remains of French weapons, have been unearthed near Malta 
Bend. These finds are taken by some as evidence supporting the claim 
that Fort Orleans was on the south bank of the Missouri at that point. 
These facts ?ra important because they establish a foundation upon which 
a reasonable inference can be drawn that what is now Cooper County was 
invaded by the white man, and that trade had been carried on with the 
Indians long years before we have positive record of exploration by the 
white man. 

Treaty of Ildefonso.— From 1763 to 1800, Spain held undisputed 
sovereignty over the Louisiana province. In 1800, Europe was a seething 
caldron of contention and diplomacy. There were wars and rumors of 
wars. Napoleon Bonaparte was at the zenith of his glory. With the iron 
hand of power, guided by a wily diplomatic policy, and jealous ot the 
growing sovereignty of Spain and England in the New World, Napoleon 
forced Spain into the treaty of Ildefonso, Oct. 1 , 1800, by which she ceded 



48 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

to France all the territory known as Louisiana, west of the Mississippi 
in consideration that the son-in-law to the King of Spain should be estab- 
lished in Tuscany. 

This treaty took its name from the celebrated palace of St. Ildefonso 
which was the retreat of Charles V of Spain when he abdicated his throne 
in favor of his son. It was situated about 40 miles north of Madrid in 
an elevated ravine in the mountains of Gaudarruma. 

Purchase of Louisiana Territory. — Napoleon Bonaparte in 1803, for- 
seeing that Russia, in conjunction with Austria and England, was pre- 
paring to send clown her Muscovite legions into France, realized that he 
could not hold his possessions in America and determined to dispose of 
them to the disadvantage of England. The treaty of Ildefonso, in 1800, 
whereby Spain ceded to France all of the Louisiana Province, had been 
kept a profound secret until 1803. Thomas Jefferson, then president of 
the United States, was informed of the contents of this treaty. He at 
once dispatched instructions to Robert Livingston, the American minister 
to Paris, to make known to Napoleon that the occupation of New Orleans 
by the French government would bring about a conflict of interest between 
the two nations, which would finally culminate in an open rupture. He 
urged Mr. Livingston not only to insist upon the free navigation of the 
Mississippi, but to negotiate for the purchase of the city and the sur- 
rounding country, and to inform the French government that the 
occupancy of New Orleans might oblige the United States to make com- 
mon cause with England, France's bitterest and most dreaded enemy. 

Mr. Jefferson, in so grave a matter, appointed Mr. Monroe, with full 
power to act in conjunction with Mr. Livingston in the negotiation. Before 
taking final action in the matter, Napoleon summoned his ministers and 
addressed them as follows : "I am fully aware of the value of Louisiana, 
and it was my wish to repair the error of the French diplomats who 
abandoned it in 1763. I have scarcely recovered it before I run the risk 
of losing it ; but if I am obliged to give it up, it shall hereafter cost more 
to those who force me to part with it, than to whom I sell it. The English 
have despoiled France of all her northern possessions in America, and now 
they covet those of the south. I am determined that they shall not have 
the Mississippi. Although Louisiana is but a trifle compared to their 
vast possessions in other parts of the globe, yet, judging from the vexa- 
tion they have manifested on seeing it return to the power of France, I 
am certain that their first object will be to gain possession of it. They 
will probably commence the war in that quarter. They have twenty 




il. li COURT HOUSE, SECOND ONE AT BOONVILUE 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 49 

vessels in the Gulf of Mexico, and our affairs in St. Domingo are getting 
worse since the death of LeClerc. The conquest of Louisiana might be 
easily made, and I have not a moment to lose in getting out of their reach. 
I am not sure but that they have already begun an attack upon it. Such 
a measure would be in accordance with their habits ; and, if I were in their 
place I should not wait. I am inclined, in order to deprive them of all 
prospect of ever possessing it, to cede it to the United States. Indeed, I 
can hardly say that I cede it, for I do not yet possess it ; and if I wait but 
a short time, my enemies may leave me nothing but an empty title to 
grant to the Republic I wish to conciliate. I consider the whole colony 
as lost, and I believe that in the hands of this rising power it will be more 
useful to the political and even commercial interests of France than if I 
should attempt to retain it. Let me have both your opinions on the 
subject." 

One of Napoleon's ministers agreed with him, and the other dis- 
sented. Ever quick to think and to act, the next day he sent for the 
minister who agreed with him, and thus expressed himself: 

"The season for deliberation is over. I have determined to renounce 
Louisiana. I shall give up not only New Orleans, but the whole colony, 
without reservation. That I do not undervalue Louisiana, I have suffici- 
ently proved, as the object of my first treaty with Spain was to recover 
it. But though I regret parting with it, I am convinced that it would be 
folly to try to keep it. I commission you, therefore, to negotiate this 
affair with the envoys of the United States. Do not await the arrival of 
Mr. Monroe, but go this very day and confer with Mr. Livingston. 
Remember, however, that I need ample funds for carrying on the war, 
and I do not wish to commence it by levying new taxes. For the last 
century France and Spain have incurred great expense in the improve- 
ment of Louisiana, for which her trade has never indemnified them. Large 
sums have been advanced to different companies, which have never been 
returned to the treasury. It is fair that I should require repayment for 
these. Were I to regulate my demands by the importance of the terri- 
tory to the United States, they would be unbounded ; but, being obliged to 
part with it, I shall be moderate in my terms. Still, remember, I must 
have fifty millions of francs, and I will not consent to take less. I would 
rather make some desperate effort to preserve this fine country." 

The negotiations were completed satisfactorily to both parties to the 
contract. Mr. Livingston said, "I consider that from this day the United 
(4) 



50 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

States takes rank with the first powers of Europe, and now she is entirely 
escaped from the power of England." 

Napoleon Bonaparte, seemingly as well pleased said, "By this cession 
of territory, I have secured the power of the United States, and given to 
England a rival, who in some future time will humble her pride. How 
prophetic were the words of Napoleon. Not many years after in the 
very territory of which the great Corsican had been speaking the British 
met their signal defeat by the prowess and arms of the Americans. 

On Dec. 20, 1803, the Stars and Stripes supplanted the tri-colored 
flag of France at New Orleans. March 10, 1804, again the glorious banner 
of our country waved at St. Louis, from which day the authority of the 
United States in Missouri dates. 

The great Mississippi, along whose banks the Americans had planted 
their towns and villages, now afforded them a safe and easy outlet to the 
markets of the world. 

Organization of Territory. — In the month of April, 1804, Congress, 
by an act, divided Louisiana into two parts, the territory of Orleans, and 
the district of Louisiana, known as Upper Louisiana. Upper Louisiana 
embraced the present state of Missouri, all the western region of country 
to the Pacific Ocean, and all below the 49th degree of north latitude not 
claimed by Spain. 

On March 26, 1804, Missouri was placed within the jurisdiction of the 
government of the territory of Indiana, and its government put in motion 
by Gen. William H. Harrison, then governor of Indiana, afterwards pres- 
ident of the United States. In this he was assisted by Judges Jacob, 
Vandenburg and Davis who established in St. Louis what was called 
Courts of Common Pleas. 

On March 3, 1805, the district of Louisiana was organized by Con- 
gress into the territory of Louisiana, and President Jefferson appointed 
General James Wilkinson, governor; and Frederick Bates, secretary. The 
legislature of the territory was formed by Governor Wilkinson, Judges 
R. J. Meiger and John B. C. Lucas. 

In 1807, Governor Wilkinson was succeeded by Captain Merriwether 
Lewis, who had become famous by reason of his having made the expedi- 
tion up the Missouri with Clark. Governor Lewis committed suicide in 
1809, under very peculiar and suspicious circumstances, and the President 
appointed General Benjamin Howard of Lexington. Kentucky, to fill his 
place. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 51 

Governor Howard resigned Oct. 25, 1810, to enter the War of 1812, 
and died in St. Louis in 1814. 

Captain William Clark, of Lewis and Clark's expedition, was appointed 
governor in 1810, to succeed General Howard ; he remained in office until 
the admission of the state into the Union in 1821. 

For purposes of purely local government, the settled portion of Mis- 
souri was divided into four districts. Cape Girardeau was the first, and 
embraced the territory between Pywappipy Bottom and Apple Creek ; Ste. 
Genevieve, the second, embraced the territory of Apple Creek to the Merri- 
mac River ; St. Louis, the third, embraced the territory between the 
Merrimac and the Missouri ; St. Charles, the fourth included the settled 
territory between the Missouri and the Mississippi Rivers. The total 
population of these districts at that time, including slaves, was 8,670. 
The population of the district of Louisiana when ceded to the United 
States was 10,120. 

Various Claims to Missouri. — The soil of Missouri has been claimed 
or owned as follows: First, from the middle of the sixteenth century 
to 1763, by both France and Spain. Second, in 1763, it was ceded to 
Spain by France. Third, in 1800, it was ceded from Spain back to France. 
Fourth, April 30, 1803, it, with other territory, was ceded by France to 
the United States. Fifth, October 31, 1803, a temporary government was 
authorized by Congress for the newly acquired territory. Sixth, October, 
1804, it was included in the "District of Louisiana." then organized with 
a separate territorial government. Eighth, June 4, 1812, it was embraced 
in what was then made the "Territory of Missouri." Ninth, August 10. 
1821, admitted into the Union as a state. 

When France, in 1803, vested the title to this vast territory in the 
United States, it was subject to the claims of the Indians. This claim 
our government justly recognized. Therefore, before the government of 
the United States could vest clear title to the soil in the grantees, it was 
necessary to extinguish title by purchase. This was accordingly done by 
treaties made with the Indians at various times. 

When Missouri was admitted as a territory in 1812 by James Madison, 
it embraced what is now the state of Missouri, Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, 
west of the Mississippi, Oklahoma, North and South Dakota, Nebraska. 
Montana, and most of Kansas, Colorado and Wyoming. It has therefor. 1 
been truly said that Missouri is the mother of all the great west. 



CHAPTER III. 



EARLY SETTLEMENTS. 



DANIEL BOONE— BOONSLICK COUNTRV— FIRST TEMPORARY SETTLEMENTS— 
LEWIS AND CLARK — NATHAN AND DANIEL BOONE MAKE SALT— CHRIST V 
AND HEATH— BENJAMIN COOPER— FIGHT WITH INDIANS— INDIANS MEET 
GENERAL CLARK— COOPERS AND COLES SETTLE PERMANENTLY— FIRST 
SETTLERS SOUTH OF RIVER— CONDITIONS MET— FIRST SETTLERS IN BOONS- 
LICK COUNTRY— OTHER SETTLERS SOUTH OF RIVER — ENGLISH STIR UP 
INDIANS— FIRST DEEDS RECORDED. 

While the preceding chapters deal with history, largely speculative 
and inferential, leading up to the year 1804, when the United States took 
possession of Upper Louisiana, the present chapter is the story based on 
actual facts from 1804 to 1812, of the Central Boonslick country, and 
particularly that portion of the same on the south and north banks of 
the Missouri, in what is now the northern part of Cooper County and the 
southern part of Howard. So intimately correlated are the events on 
both banks of the river, that the story of one is the story of the other. 

Over a century of time has elapsed since the first hardy pioneer built 
his cabin in the wilderness which is now known to the world as Cooper 
county. During the period which has passed since the first settler braved 
the hardships and privations of the unknown and undeveloped country 
bordering upon the shores of the mighty Missouri, a wonderful trans- 
formation has taken place. 

Cooper County has risen to become one of the wealthiest in Missouri 
and is one of the leaders in value of farm crops and farm wealth. It 
has become famous for enterprise and industry, and ranks among the 
first counties of the great state of Missouri in the prosperity of her 
citizens. All this has been accomplished by the men and women who 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 53 

have delved into its rich soil and developed the limitless resources of the 
county. 

It has furnished to the state and nation men eminent in the councils 
of both and famed in statesmanship. Its citizens have won distinction 
in the professions and in letters, have been in the van of advanced agri- 
culture, horticulture and stock-breeding, and have in remote sections of 
our great country, carried with them the vigor of mind and body that 
shed luster in their adopted homes. 

Schools have multiplied and towns have been built upon the broad 
expanse of her territory ; the old trails have given away to well-kept 
highways; steam locomotives haul palatial trains where once the slow 
moving ox-teams transported merchandise to and from the Missouri. 

Even the buggy and carriage, once the evidence of prosperity, have 
been superceded lay the more elegant, more comfortable and speedier 
means of travel, the automobile. The telegraph, the telephone and the 
wireless have bound together distant communities. Distance has been 
eliminated and time conserved. 

The history of Cooper County, from t^he time of the red men and the 
first hardy adventurers and pioneers, involves a wondrous story which 
is well worth preserving. States and nations preserve their history, but 
the story of a county and its creation and development touches a chord 
of home life and home making which is dearer and nearer than that 
which is purely informational. 

Danie! Boone, whose name is so intimately connected with the early 
pioneer history of Kentucky, when an old man, lost his holdings in 
that state by reason of defective land titles. Though learned in wood- 
craft and versatile in Indian lore, he knew little of man-made laws. 
Chagrined and baffled, but with never quailing heart, he determined to 
move farther west where he would not be elbowed by a crowding civil- 
ization. He secured a grant of land on the Femme Osage, in what is 
now St. Charles County, in the state of Missouri, and eventually located 
there about 1797. He was strong and vigorous, and for several years 
thereafter hunted and trapped up and down the Missouri River, depend- 
ing solely and alone upon nature and his trusty rifle for all his wants. 

When Hunt, in his expedition across the continent, on Jan. 17, 1811, 
touched with his boats at Charette, one of the old villages founded by the 
original French colonists, he met with Daniel Boone. This renowned 
patriarch of Kentucky, who had kept in advance of civilization and on the 
borders of the wilderness, was still leading a hunter's life, though then in 



54 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

his 83d year. He had but recently returned from a hunting and trapping 
expedition, and had brought nearly 60 beaver skins as trophies of his 
skill. This old man was still erect in form, strong of limb and unflinching 
in spirit. As he stood on the river bank, watching the departure of an 
expedition destined to traverse the wilderness to the very shores of the 
Pacific, very probably his pulse beat the faster and he felt a throb of his 
old pioneer spirit impelling him to shoulder his rifle, and join the adven- 
turous band that was to travel lands heretofore unexplored, again braving 
the wilderness and the savage. 

Boone flourished several yeai-s after this meeting in a vigorous old 
age, the master of hunters and backwoodsmen, and he died full of sylvan 
honor and renown, in 1820, in his 92d year. 

John Peck, that noted pioneer Baptist preacher, in his memoirs of 
the Louisiana Territory, thus describes Boone: 

"His high, bold forehead was slightly bald, and his silvered locks 
were combed smooth, his countenance was ruddy and fair and exhibited 
the simplicity of a child, a smile frequently played over his countenance; 
in conversation his voice was soft and melodious; at repeated interviews 
an irritable expression was never heard ; his clothing was the coarse, plain 
manufacture of the family, but every thing denoted that kind of com- 
fort that was congenial to his habits and feelings, and evinced a busy, 
happy old age. His room was a part of a range of log cabins kept in order 
by his affectionate daughters and grand daughters. Every member of the 
household appeared to take delight in administering to his comforts ; he 
was sociable and communicative in replying to questions, but did not intro- 
duce incidents of his own history. He was intelligent, for he had treas- 
ured up the experience and observation of more than fourscore years 
"not moody and unsociable as if desirous of shunning society and civil- 
ization." This was in 1816, four years before the death of Boone. 

This brief mention of Daniel Boone is but a small tribute to the man 
from whom, because of his noble traits and unique career, the Boonslick 
Country. Boone County, and Boonville take their names. 

Boonslick Country. — In one of his many hunting and trapping expe- 
ditions, Boone came into Hov/ard County and discovered certain salt 
ings, about eight miles northwest of what is now Now Franklin. These 
springs were for many years thereafter known as Boonslick, from them 
this section of country took its name. All of the present state of Mis- 
souri lying west of Cedar Creek and north and west of the Osage river, 
and extending practically to what is now the state line on the west and 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 55 

north, was for many years known as the Boonslick Country. The first 
settlers who came to this section knew it only by that name, as at that 
time no counties were formed in the central part of the state. There is 
no reliable evidence nor substantial tradition that Boone ever permanently 
resided at this Lick, but it is certain that he camped near there, prob- 
ably on many occasions. Nor is there substantial evidence that be ever 
resided in the present county of Cooper, yet it is very probable that he 
frequently crossed to the south side of the Missouri river, and trapped 
and hunted along the Missouri in what is now Cooper County. 

Samuel Cole, a member of one of the first white families which settled 
in the present limits of Cooper County, has been positive in his statement 
that Daniel Boone never lived farther west than St. Charles County. The 
conclusion, therefore, is inevitable that those who have assumed that 
Boone ever resided permanently in either Howard or Cooper County are 
in error. However, John W. Peck, who in the early days traveled in this 
section, gives a very interesting account of his observations and experi- 
ences. 

A few years before the old hunter's death, Peck visited him in his 
home in what is now St. Charles County. He states that Boone pitched 
his tent for one winter at the salt springs, afterwards known as Boone's 
Lick, and later put up a cabin there. Mr. Peck does not give the date. 
The presumption is that he got his information from the lips of the old 
hunter himself, and we would further suppose that Boone camped there 
between the years 1797 and 1804, likely nearer the former date than the 
latter for the reason that he was at that time younger and more robust, 
and more inclined than he was later to enjoy sylvan sports, the chase and 
the hunt. 

First Temporary Settlements. — Joseph Marie, in the year 1800, set- 
tled upon lands situated near what is known as "Eagle's Nest", about one 
mile southwest of where Fort Kincaid was afterward erected, in what is 
now Franklin township, Howard County, and erected improvements 
thereon. This has been controverted, but we give it again for what it is 
worth. 

The" first authentic record we have dealing with any settlement is a 
deed executed in the year 1816, transferring the above lands by this same 
Joseph Marie to Asa Morgan, whose name is so intimately connected with 
some of the first land deals in this section, and who with Lucas laid out 
the town of Boonville. We give this deed at the end of this chapter. 

Also in the year 1800, the Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Louisiana, 



56 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Charles Dehault Delasus, granted to Ira P. Nash, a large tract of land 
in what is now Howard County. This land was surveyed on Jan. 26, 
1804, and certified to on Feb. 15th of that year. We also append at the 
end of this chapter a copy of the deed transferring this land. In the latter 
part of February, Ira P. Nash the above named, a Deputy United States 
surveyor, together with Stephen Hancock and Stephen Jackson, came up 
the Missouri River and located a claim on public lands nearly opposite the 
mouth of the Lamine River, north of Cooper County. They remained 
there until March, of the same year, employing their time in surveying, 
hunting and fishing, and during that month returned to their homes, on 
the Missouri River, about five miles above St. Charles. 

In July of the same year, Ira P. Nash, with James H. Whiteside, 
William Clark arid Daniel Hubbard came again into what is now Howard 
County, and surveyed a tract of land near the present site of Old Franklin. 
On this trip, it is stated, Mr. Nash claimed that on his former trip when he 
came up the river in February, he had left a compass in a certain hollow 
tree. He and two other companions started out to find it, and agreed to 
meet the remainder of the company the next day at what was known as 
"Boone's and Barkley's Lick." This he did, bringing the compass with 
him, thus proving beyond a doubt that he had visited the country before. 
This incident is remembered as having been important, in the early days, 
in bearing on the title of Nash's land. 

Lewis and Clark Expedition. — When Lewis and Clark in their won- 
derful exploring expedition across the continent to the Pacific Ocean, came 
up the Missouri river, they arrived near where the Boone Femme flows 
into the Missouri river, on the north side, and camped there for the night. 
This was on June 7, 1804. < When they arrived at the mouth of the Big 
Moniteau Creek, they found a point of rocks covered with strange heirog- 
lyphic paintings that deeply aroused their interest, but this place was 
infested with such a large number of rattlesnakes, that a closer examina- 
tion was rendered hazardous and practically impossible. As they traveled 
up the river they arrived at the mouth of the Lamine on June 8th and 
on the 9th they reached what is now Arrow Rock. This expedition re- 
turned from its journey in 1806, after thrilling experiences, having suc- 
cessfully accomplished all the purposes for which it was sent out. 

In passing down the Missouri River, on Sept. 18th, the expedition 
camped on the north side of the Missouri river, opposite the mouth of the 
Lamine. Passing up the Missouri in 1804, and down on their return trip 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 57 

in 1806, they passed the present sites of Boonville and Franklin, and 
doubtless made short explorations on both sides of the river. 

The next positive evidence that we have of any white person being in 
the country is the following: 

Nathan and Daniel Boone Make Salt at Boonslick. — In 1807, Nathan 
and Daniel M. Boone, sons of old Daniel Boone, who lived with their father 
in what is now St. Charles County, about 25 miles west of the city of St. 
Charles, on the Femme Osage Creek, came up the Missouri River and 
manufactured salt at Boone's Lick in what is now Howard County. After 
they had manufactured a considerable amount of salt they shipped it 
down the river to St. Louis, where they sold it. It is thought by many 
that this is the first instance of salt being manufactured in what was at 
that time a part of the territory of Louisiana, now the state of Missouri, 
however soon after this sale was manufactured in large quantiitiies, salt 
licks being discovered in many parts of the state. 

These were the first white persons who remained for any length of 
time in the Boonslick country, but they were not permanent settlers. They 
came only to make salt or hunt, and left soon thereafter. 

So far as authentic records give us light, the foregoing were the first 
white settlers who came to this section of the Boonslick country. Thus 
we see that prior to 1808 three parties had entered it while on exploring 
and surveying expeditions. Two parties had been to its fine salt licks to 
make salt. It must not be assumed, however, that these were the first 
white men who came into this section of the state. There had been for 
many years settlements in the eastern part of the state and especially on 
the Mississippi River. Doubtless many of these hardy pioneers, on their 
hunting expeditions, tracked the forest to the Boonslick country. Many 
years before 1800, French traders and Spanish voyageurs were wont to 
trap, hunt and traffic with the Indians, up and down the Missouri River. 
Suffice it to say that these white men who came to this section were not 
looked upon by the Indians in surprise and wonder. They knew the ways 
of the white man, and gave evidence of having had previous dealings with 
him. 

Christy and Heath Make Salt in Cooper County.— William Christy 
and John J. Heath came up from St. Louis in 1808, and manufactured salt 
in what is now Blackwater township, Cooper County, at a place now known 
as Heath's Lick. For years afterwards, Heath made salt at the same 
place every summer and shipped it to St. Louis, in hollow logs closed at 



58 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

each end by chunks of wood and clay. The salt springs where Heath's 
salt works were located is known as Heath's Creek, named after him, as 
was also Heath's Lick. 

In 1804, when the United States took formal possession of the province 
of of Louisiana, it became the territory of Louisiana, and was afterwards 
divided into the Upper Louisiana Territory, and the Orleans, or Lower 
Louisiana Territory, to the former of which this section belonged. It was 
then that the rugged American pioneer looked with longing eyes towards 
the West, seeking cheap lands, a new home and adventure. Soon there 
started a stream of immigration from the south, east and north, but the 
first settlers were principally from the southern states. 

Benjamin Cooper First Settler in Boonslick Country. — Benjamin 
Cooper was the first permanent settler in the section. In the spring of 
the year 1808, he and his family, consisting of his wife and five sons, 
moved to the Boonslick country, about two miles southwest of Boonslick 
in the Missouri River bottom. Here he had sought cheaper lands and a 
new home, together with the necessary adventures second to his sturdy 
nature. He built a cabin cleared a small piece of ground and began the 
preliminary work for a permanent home. However, he was located so far 
beyond the protection of the government that Governor Merriweather 
Lewis, then governor of the territory issued an order directing him to 
return below the mouth of the Gasconade River. Cooper was so far ad- 
vanced in the Indian country, and so far away from the protection of the 
government, that in case of Indian wars, he would be without other aid 
and unable to protect himself against the depredations of the ruthless 
savages. So he returned to Loutre Island, about four miles below the 
mouth of the Gasconade River, and remained there until the year 1810. 
This precaution was perhaps due to the fact that Indians were being 
stirred and exploited by our then quandam friends, the English, in some 
cases being supplied by them with guns and ammunition. 

As Stephen Cole and Hannah Cole and families were the first perma- 
nent settlers in Cooper County, it may be of special interest to the reader 
to learn something about them. 

Stephen Cole ;ind William Temple Cole Fight With Indians. — Stephen 
Cole and William Temple Cole were bora in New River, Wythe County. 
Virginia. There they married sisters named Allison, and emigrated to 
the southern part of the Cumberland, Wayne County. Kentucky. In 1807, 
they came to Upper Louisiana, and settled on or near Loutre Island, about 
the same time that the Coopers settled on that island. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 59 

In 1810, a roving band of about eighteen Pottowattomies, led by a 
war chief named Nessotingineg, stole a number of horses from the settlers 
of Loutre Island on the Missouri. A volunteer company consisting of 
Stephen Cole, William Temple Cole, Sarshall Brown, Nicholas Gooch, 
Abraham Potts, and James Mordock, was formed with Stephen Cole, then 
captain of the militia of Loutre Island, as leader. The company proposed 
to follow the Indians and recapture the stolen property. 

The volunteer company followed the Indians up the Loutre Creek, 
about 20 miles, and came to a place where the Indians had peeled bark, 
evidently to make halters, there the white men stopped for the night. 
The next morning they followed the Indian trail about thirty miles across 
Grand Prairie, just as they emerged from a small patch of timber, sud- 
denly discovered the Indians with the horses. 

William Temple Cole and Sarshall Brown, on the fastest horses, 
started in pursuit, the others following them. So hard did they press 
their pursuit upon the Indians, who did not know the number of whites 
chasing them, and who were apprehensive that they might be captured in 
their wild flight, that they threw their packs into a plum thicket near a 
pool of water, and they scattered in the woods. These packs, consisting 
of buffalo robes, deer skins and partly tanned leather, they had stolen from 
Sarshall Brown. 

Night overtaking the party, they went into camp on the Waters of 
Salt River at a place known as Bonelick, 65 miles from the Loutre settle- 
ment, and about a mile or two northwest of the present city of Mexico, in 
Audrain County. Here contrary to the advice of their leader Stephen 
Cole, they without posting any sentinels, tied their horses in the thicket. 
After broiling some meat for supper, they went to sleep, with the excep- 
tion of Stephen Cole, who with the sagacity of the experienced frontiers- 
man, was apprehensive of an attack. They had not been asleep long, 
when Cole thought he heard the cracking of a bush. He told his bi-other 
to get up, for he believed the Indians were near. However everything 
remained still, and solemn quietude prevailed. Stephen Cole pulled his 
saddle against his back and shoulders, and sought again his repose after 
the hard day's chase, but still impressed with impending danger. The 
Indians, who had crawled up so near that, by the light of the little camp 
fire, they could see the faces of their unsuspecting victims, waited but a 
short time till all was quiet then they opened a volley upon the party, 
instantly killing Gooch and Brown, wounding William Temple Cole and 
another one of the men. A hand-to-hand struggle between the Indians 



60 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

and Stephen Cole then took place in which Cole killed four Indians and 
wounded a fifth ; the remaining members of the Indian band disappeared. 

Stephen Cole then went into a nearby pool and squatted in the water 
to wash the blood from the many wounds which he had received. After 
a little while the Indians returned, found Temple Cole and killed him. 
Patton, who had managed to get off some distance, also was found dead 
near a little sapling. Stephen Cole, after stanching the flow of blood from 
his wounds left the scene of the bloody encounter. The next morning, 
after he had gone about two or three miles, he sat down on a small gopher 
hill to rest, when he discovered two mounted Indians some distance away. 
They eyed him for a few minutes, then wheeled their horses and disap- 
peared. He reached the settlement on the third day nearly famished, 
having had not a morsel to eat during all this time. James Moredock 
escaped unhurt, and it is said that if he had acted with one-half the 
bravery of Stephen Cole, the Indians would have been defeated. 

Samuel Cole, a son of William Temple Cole, says that the Indians did 
not scalp the whites in this encounter. Peace was supposed to prevail 
between the Indians and settlers. This skirmish proved to be the begin- 
ning of the Indian troubles on the Missouri River. 

It is possible that this band of Pottowattomies had been on the war 
path against the Osages, and since the war trail from the Pottowattomies' 
led to the mouth of the Gasconade, near which Loutre Island is situated 
in the Missouri River, the temptation to steal some of the horses of the 
settlers had been too great for the Indians to forego. At any rate, so far 
as we know they did no personal injury to the settlers, except yielding to 
their penchant for stealing. If they had been bent upon more serious 
mischief, they undoubtedly could and would have perpetrated it. 

James Cole, a son of Stephen Cole, says that in this fight Stephen 
Cole received 26 wounds, and that on his way home he chewed some elm 
bark and placed it on his wounds. Stephen Cole was killed by the Indians 
on the banks of the Rio Grande near El Paso in 1824. Cole was a strong, 
virile, robust, uneducated, but sagacious frontiersman. On one occasion 
he was present at a session of the legislature, says Houck, when two mem- 
bers who had been opponents in a spirited debate during the session, 
engaged in a fight, after adjournment for the day and clinched. This was 
a common occurrence in those days when physical strength and prowess 
were so greatly esteemed. Governor McNair, who happened to be pres- 
ent, tried to separate them, but Cole seized the governor and pulled him 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 61 

away, saying, "In sich a scrimmage a governor is no more than any other 
man." 

Saukees and Renards Meet with General Clark. — It was shortly after 
the Loutre Island incident that a delegation of the Saukees or Sacs, and 
the Renards or Foxes, had a meeting with General Clark in St. Louis and 
assured him that they were peaceably inclined. Quashquama, in a speech 
to Clark, said: "My father, I left my home to see my great-grandfather, 
the president of the United States, but as I cannot proceed to see him, I 
give you my hand as to himself. I have no father to whom I have paid 
any attention but yourself. If you hear anything, I hope that you will 
let me know, and I will do the same. I have been advised several times to 
raise the tomahawk. Since the last war we have looked upon the Amer- 
icans as friends, and I shall hold you fast by the hand. The Great Spirit 
has not put us on the earth to war with the whites. We have never struck 
a white man. If we go to war it is with the red flesh. Other nations send 
belts among us, and urge us to war. They say that if we do not, the 
Americans will encroach upon us, and drive us off our lands." 

This was fine-sounding and very romantic speech in light of what fol- 
lowed. In the war that started in 1812, and from then until its close, 
in 1815, these same Saukees and Renards, some of whom lived in this sec- 
tion, committed atrocious deeds, and gave the early pioneer settlers much 
trouble. But all the tribulations of the settlers at this time cannot be 
attributed to these tribes alone, as other roving bands of savages infested 
'the country. 

This section of the Boonslick country was not destined to be left long 
to the reign of the wild beasts and the savage Indians. It was attractive 
and presented advantages which those seeking homes where they could 
find the richest of lands and the most healthful of climates, could not and 
did not fail to perceive. Its fertile soil promised, with little labor, the 
most abundant of harvests. Its forests were filled with every variety of 
game, and its streams with all kinds of fish. It is no wonder that those 
seeking homes looked upon this section as a "promised land", where pro- 
visions could be found, and that they should select and settle the rich 
lands here, accomodating themselves to the scanty fare of the wilderness, 
and risking all the dangers from the wild beasts and the Indians who lived 
in great numbers nearby. 

Two years after the first settlement of Benjamin Cooper and after 
his removal to Loutre Island, the first permanent and abiding settlement 



62 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

was made in this section this was but a forerunner of the stream of emi- 
gration which soon followed. 

Coopers and Coles Settle Permanently. — On Feb. 20, 1810, Benjamin 
Cooper with several others returned to what is now Howard County. They 
came up on the north side of the Missouri from Loutre Island, and all of ' 
them, except Hannah Cole, the widow of William Temple Cole, and her 
family and Stephen Cole and his family, settled in Howard County, north 
of the Missouri River. 

Hannah Cole and Stephen Cole, together with their families, settled 
in what is now Cooper County; Stephen Cole settled about one and one- 
half miles east of Boonville, at what is now called the old "Fort Field" 
once owned by J. L. Stephens ; and Hannah Cole, in what is now East 
Boonville, on the big bluffs overlooking the river at a point of rocks where 
the old lime kiln was located. 

Benjamin Cooper settled in Howard County, at the same pmce and in 
the cabin which he had built two years before. This cabin had not been 
disturbed by the Indians, although they had occupied all the adjacent 
country, and doubtless had passed it many times. 

When the families of Hannah Cole and Stephen Cole, settled in what 
is now Cooper County, there was no white American living in Missouri 
west of Franklin and south of the Missouri. Those who came with them 
and settled north of the Missouri were their nearest white neighbors, but 
most of these were two or three miles distant from them. 

Names of First Permanent Settlers South of River. — The families' 
that were the first settlers south of the river were composed of the follow- 
ing members: Hannah Cole, the widow of William Temple Cole, and her 
children Jennie, Mattie, Dickey, Nellie, James, Holburt, Stephen, William 
and Samuel ; Stephen Cole, and Phoebe, his wife, and their children, James. 
Rhoda, Mark, Nellie and Polly, making seventeen members in the two 
families who made the first settlement in what is now Cooper County, but 
what was then a wilderness, untrodden save by savages. Here they were 
surrounded on all sides by the Indians, who pretended to be friendly, and 
who stoically camouflaged their malice, but sought every opportunity to 
commit petit larceny and other depredations upon the settlers. All of 
these have gone beyond the Great Divide. They have passed their brief 
hour upon a stage, filled with thrilling adventures. Each lived in his own 
limited sphere, has passed on and is seen no more. Their memories are 
perpetrated; their noble deeds and self-sacrifices are cherished. Their 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 63 

descendants are many and are scattered throughout the different counties 
of this state, and the west from the Mississippi river to the Pacific coast. 

Conditions Met. — When the Coopers and the Coles came to this sec- 
tion, there was neither road nor path for them to pass through the wilder- 
ness, save here and there the trail of the savage or the path of the wild 
beast. They had to take care as the course in which to travel any open- 
ing which they could find in the thickets or through the forest, that would 
permit the passage of their wagons and animals, and frequently were com- 
pelled to chop their way through with the axe, an essential accouterment 
of the early pioneer. 

When they arrived where old Franklin now stands, Hannah and 
Stephen Cole looked with longing eyes to the beckoning forests on the 
south side of the river, and desiring to cross the river with their families, 
were compelled to use a large canoe or perogue, as it was then called, 
compelling their horses to swim behind them. At this time throughout 
Cooper County up and down the south side of the Missouri, the land was 
covered by a vast forest, extending several miles inland. The Saukee, or 
Sacs, and Renards, or Foxes, were their only neighbors. The Saukee 
under their leader, Quashquami, lived on the Moniteau Creek in the south 
part of Cooper County. They were in a measure nomadic, and moved 
from place to place seeking the easier and better hunting ground. 

When these brave settlers first came here, the Indians professed to 
be friendly to them, and gave apparent evidence of desiring to live in peace 
and amity, but as is generally true with all savages, they were petty 
thieves, stole horses and committed various other depredations. During 
the war of 1812, these Indians took sides with the British against the 
Americans. After the conclusion of the war the Saukee Indians were 
ordered off to the Grand River, and from thence to Rock River. Other 
chiefs with whom the early settlers came in contact during this time, were 
Keokuk and Blundo, the latter one, half French, the other a full blooded 
Indiana. 

The whites of that day, although they well knew the treachery of 
the Indians, were accustomed to hunt and fish with them and at times to 
visit them at their villages. When in the presence of the whites, the 
Indians were kind and accomodating, yet the settlers always endeavored 
to guard against the wary savage and his treachery. 

In the Indian war of 1832. known as the Black Hawk War. Blundo was 
really and according to the Indian law and tradition chief of the tribe, 



64 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

but Black Hawk, a wily and restless agitator, seemed to sway his fellow 
savages and became in this war the leader of the Saukees and Renards, 
sometimes called the Sacs and Foxes. 

When the first settlers came to what is now Cooper County, wild game 
of all kinds was very abundant, and was so tame as not to be easily fright- 
ened at the approach of the white man. This game furnished the settlers 
with all their meat, and, in fact, with all the provisions that they used 
for most of the time they had little else than meat. 

There were large numbers of deer, wild turkeys, elk, and large ani- 
mals, and to use the expression of an old settler, "They could be killed as 
easily as sheep are now killed in our pastures." The settlers spent most 
of their time hunting and fishing, as it was a needless waste to plant crops 
to be destroyed by the wild game. Small game, such as squirrels, rabbits 
and the like swarmed so abundantly around the homes of the settlers and 
in such numbers that when the men attempted to raise a crop of any kind 
they were forced to kill the small game in large numbers in order to save 
a part of it. But these inoffensive animals, dangerous only to their crops, 
were not the only ones which filled the forests. Such terrible and blood 
thirsty wild beasts as the bear and the panther could be seen very often 
lying in wait for any unwary traveler who ventured near their lairs. 

Where the present residences of E. A. Windsor and M. E. Schmidt 
now stand in the city of Boonville, a panther which measured eleven feet 
from the end of its nose to the tip of its tail, was one day killed by Samuel 
Cole. This panther was thought to be one of the largest ever killed in the 
state of Missouri. 

Thus were the early settlers and their families abundantly provided 
with meat and food by nature. Their menu was brief, but it was enough 
to supply with vitality the red corpuscles that coursed through their veins 
and gave them rugged health, vigor and strength of body. The domestic 
animals also were furnished with everything necessary to their well-being. 
The grasses were so good during the whole year that the stock lived with- 
out being fed by their owners. Even when the ground was covered with 
snow, the animals, taught by instinct, would in a few minutes claw from 
under the snow enough grass to last them for the day. The only use for 
corn, of which the settlers planted very little, was to make bread. Bread 
made from corn was the only kind they had. 

These first settlers of what is now Cooper County, remained here 
nearly two years without any neighbors nearer than those on the opposite 



■ 



mi i 



i 1 




HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 65 

side of the Missouri. For nearly two years they encountered alone the 
dangers of the forest, and lived in peace and quietness, although at times 
they feared an attack from the Indians who lived south and west of them. 
The treacherous nature of the Indian as well as because Cooper was in fact 
trespassing upon the lands of the Indians, was the reason that Merri- 
weather Lewis, then governor of the territory, issued the order directing 
Benjamin Cooper to return below the mouth of the Gasconade River, from 
his first settlement in what is now known as Howard County. 

The Indians with which our early settlers had to contend were idle, 
shiftless, vicious and treacherous. In the presence of the white settlers 
they were apparently frank, accomodating and kind, yet they nursed the 
tradition that the white man was their natural enemy, and would event- 
ually dispossess them of their "happy hunting grounds." 

Names of First Settlers in Boonslick Country and Whence They 
Came. — Those who settled in the Central Boonslick country in 1810 are 
as follows: From Madison County, Ky., Lieut.-Col. Benjamin Cooper. 
Francis Cooper, William Cooper, Daniel Cooper, John Cooper, Capt. Sar- 
shall Cooper, Braxton Cooper, Sr., Joseph Cooper, Stephen Cooper, Brax- 
ton Cooper, Jr., Robert Cooper, James Hancock, Albert Hancock, William 
Berry, John Berry, Robert Irvin, Robert Brown, Joseph Wolfscale, William 
Thorpe, John Thorpe, Josiah Thorpe, James Thorpe, Gilead Rupe, James 
Jones, John Peak, William Wolfscale, Adam Woods. From Estill County, 
Ky., Amos Ashcraft, Otho Ashcraft, Jesse Ashcraft, James Alexander. 
From Tennessee, John Ferrell, Henry Ferrell, Robert Hancock. From 
Virginia, James Kile. From South Carolina, Gray Bynum. From Georgia, 
Stephen Jackson. From Ste. Genevieve, Peter Popineau. Previous resi- 
dence unknown, John Busby, James Anderson, Middleton Anderson, Will- 
iam Anderson. From Wayne County, Ky., Hannah, Jennie, Mattie, Dickie, 
Nellie, James, Holbert, Stephen, William, Samuel, Stephen, Phoebe 
(Stephen's wife), James, Rhoda, Mark, Nellie, and Polly Cole. 

Those from Wayne County, Kentucky, settled south of the river. 
The women belonging to some of these families on the north side of the 
river did not arrive until the following July or August. There may have 
been others, but the above list is all that we are able to trace. 

There can be no doubt that a daring Frenchman had even prior to 
the year 1800 explored this section lying contiguous to the Missouri River, 
several years before its settlement proper and before there existed within 
(5) 



66 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

the present limits of this county a trading post. The names of the 
streams, such as Bonne Femme, Moniteau, etc., attest the fact that they 
were of French origin, and had been seen and named by the French traders 
and explorers. 

Levens and Drake, in their condensed but carefully prepared history 
of Cooper County say: "While Nash and his companions were in Howard 
County (1840), they visited Barclay's and Boon's Lick, also a trading 
post, situated about two miles northwest of Old Franklin. This trading 
post was kept by a white man by the name of Prewitt. The existence of 
the trading post, and the fact that Barclay's and Boone's licks had already 
received their names from the white men who visited them, show con- 
clusively that this portion of the country had been explored by Americans 
even before this. But no history mentions this trading post, nor does any 
give the name of Prewitt, hence, we are unable to determine when he came 
to the Boonslick country, how long he remained, or where he went; 
he evidently left before the year 1808, as Benjamin Cooper, who moved 
to Howard county in that year, said there was then no settlement in this 
part of the state. 

Other Settlers Move South of River. — In the latter part of the year 
1811 some more adventurous spirits moved to the south side of the river, 
and began to settle around and near the present site of Boonville. They 
were Joseph Jolly, Joseph Yarnell, Gilliard Rupe, Mike Box, Delaney Bolin, 
William Savage, John Savage, Walter and David Burriss and families. 
They settled near one another, so that in time of danger they could readily 
gather at one place. This timely arrival revived the spirits of the set- 
tlers, for already could be heard the dim mutterings in the distance, which 
foreshadowed a long and bloody conflict with the Indians who had been 
induced by the emissaries of the British government to take sides with 
that country against the United States of America. 

English Stir Up Indians. — Several years before the War of 1812, the 
British along the lakes and in the Northwest industriously fomented dis- 
satisfaction among the Indians; consequently they were restless even 
before the declaration of war; dissatisfied and openly hostile. Frequently 
these Indians, between 1809 and 1812, visited the British agents on the 
lakes, and by them were generously supplied with rifles and fusils, powder 
and lead, and liberally with almost everything else that they needed. 

As early as 1808 the subagent on the Missouri wrote General Clark, 
Superintendent of Indian affairs at St. Louis, that the Indians had fired 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 67 

upon one John Rufty about six miles above Fort Osage and killed him. 
Nicholas Jarret, in 1809, made an affidavit that the British agents were 
stnring up the Indians at that place and on the frontiers of Canada, but 
this statement was denied by these British agents. The Osages and the 
Iowas also were on the warpath in 1810 and in that year some of the 
Osages were killed not far from the present city of Liberty. 

The first blacksmiths in the Boonslick country were: William Canole, 
Charles Canole and Whitley. 

The first marriage was that of Robert Cooper and Elizabeth Carson, 
in 1810, at the home of Lindsay Carson, the father of "Kit" Carson, the 
great Indian scout. 

Thomas Smith was the. first shoemaker, his wife being an adept at 
making moccasins. 

Dr. Tighe was the first physician. 

These people lived on the north side of the river from what is now 
Boonville, and the settlers on the south side were for some time served 
by them. 

Lindsay Carson apprenticed his son "Kit" to David Workman, a 
saddler, to learn that trade, but this vocation did not suit "Kit's" roving 
and adventurous nature, and 1826, he literally shook the dust from his 
feet and sought the Rockies, gaining national renown as an Indian scout. 
He died in 1869. 

First Deed Recorded. — The first deed executed and recorded in the 
Boonslick country was as follows : "Know all men by these presents that 
I. Joseph Marie, of the county and town of St. Charles, and territory of 
Missouri, have this day given, granted, bargained, sold and possession 
delivered unto Asa Morgan, of the county of Howard, and territory afore- 
said, all the right, title, claim, and interest, and property that I, the said 
Joseph Marie have or may possess or am in any legally and equitably 
entitled to in a certain settlement right on the north side of the Missouri 
River, in the aforesaid county of Howard, near a certain place known and 
called by the name of Eagle's Nest, and lying about one mile, a little west 
of south from Kincaid's Fort, in the said county of Howard, which said 
settlement was made by me sometime in the year 1800, for and in con- 
sideration of value by me received, the receipt whereof, is hereby acknowl- 
edged, and him the said Asa Morgan forever discharged and acquitted. 
And I do by these presents, sell, transfer, convoy and quit-claim to the 
aforesaid Asa Morgan all the claims and interest which I might be entitled 



68 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

to either in law or equity from the aforesaid improvement of settlement 
right, together with all and singular, all the appurtenances to the same 
belonging, or in any wise appertaining to have and to hold free from me, 
or any person claiming by or through me. 

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, the 13th 
day of April, 1816. 

(Seal, JOSEPH MARIE. 

Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of Urh. I. Devore, A. Wilson. 

Second Deed Recorded. — The second deed we also give because of its 
peculiar phraseology and terms. It will be noted that the word "arpent" 
is used instead of "acre." An arpent is practically five-sixths of an acre. 

"To all to whom these presence shall come greeting; — Know ye that 
we, Risdon H. Price, and Mary, his wife, both of the town and county of 
St. Louis, and territory of Missouri, for and in consideration of the sum 
of four thousand eight hundred dollars, lawful money of the United States 
to us in hand before the delivery of the presents well and fully paid by 
Elias Rector of the same place, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged 
and thereto, we do hereby acquit and discharge the said Elias Rector, 
his heirs and assigns forever. Have given bargained, granted, and sold, 
and do hereby give, grant, bargain and sell unto the said Elias Rector, 
his heirs and assigns forever, subject to the conditions hereinafter ex- 
pressed, one certain tract and parcel of land, containing one thousand six 
hundred arpens, situate in the county of Howard, in the territory of 
Missouri, granted originally by the late Lieutenant-Governor Charles De- 
hault Delassus, to one Ira Nash, on the 18th day of January, 1800, sur- 
veyed on the 26th day of January, 1804, and certified on the 15th day of 
February, of the same year, the reference being had to the record of said 
claim in the office of the recorder of land titles for the territory of Mis- 
souri, for the concession and the boundaries thereof as set forth in or 
upon the said certificate or plat of survey thereof will more fully, cer- 
tainly, and at large appear, and which said survey is hereto annexed and 
makes part and parcel of this deed, and being the same tract of land 
which the said Risdon H. Price claims as assigned of the sheriff of the 
county of St. Charles, who sold the same as property of said Ira Nash, 
as by deed thereof dated the 15th day of October, 1815. reference thereto 
being had will more fully and at large appear. 

To have the said granted and bargained premises with the appur- 
tenances and privileges thereon, and thereunto belonging unto him, the 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 69 

said Elias Rector, his heirs and assigns forever. And it is hereby declared 
to be the agreement, understanding and intention of the parties afore- 
said, that should the said tract of land be finally rejected by the United 
States within three years from this date, or should the same not be sanc- 
tioned and confirmed by the government of the United States at or before 
the period last mentioned, or in case the said Elias R. Rector, his heirs, 
executors, administrators, or assigns, shall by due process and judgment 
at law, be evicted, dispossessed, and finally deprived of said tract of land, 
then and in that case, the said Risdon H. Price, his heirs, executors, or 
administrator, shall only pay or cause to be paid to the said Elias Rector, 
his heirs, executors, administrators or assigns, the said sum of four thou- 
sand eight hundred dollars, lawful money of the United States, with the 
lawful interest thereon, at the rate of six percentum per annum, from 
the date of this deed, until the time of such rejection, not being sanc- 
tioned as aforesaid, or until such eviction as aforesaid, with the legal 
cost upon such suit or suits at law, and which shall be in full of all dam- 
ages under any covenants in this deal, and if such claim be rejected as 
aforesaid or not confirmed as aforesaid, or in case the said Elias Rector, 
his heirs, executors or assigns, shall be evicted therefrom as aforesaid, 
that then, and either of these cases, the said Elias Rector, his heirs, 
executors, or assigns, shall by proper deed of release and quit-claim, 
transfer to said Risdon H. Price, his heirs, executors, administrators and 
assigns, the claim of said Elias Rector, his heirs, executors, and assigns, 
said premises at tte time of receiving the said consideration money, 
interest, and costs tforesaid. 

In witness whereof, we have hereto set our hands and seals, this 22nd 

day of June, 1816 

Risdon H. Price (SEAL) 

Mary G. Price (SEAL) 

Elias Rector (SEAL) 

Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of Jerh. Connor, M. P. 
Laduc." 



CHAPTER IV. 



PIONEER LIFE 



FIRST DWELLINGS— IHE HOMINY-BLOCK — SPI&IT OF HELPFULNESS— EARLY 
FARMING IMPLEMENTS— PIONEER WOMEN— EARLY PIOXEER DESCRIBED, 
HIS HABITS. HOME, BEE-HUNTING. 

In the preceding chapter, the history of the Central Boonslick coun- 
try has been traced from the year 1804 to 1812, with special reference to 
its initial beginning between the years 1810 and 1812. The settlers 
mentioned by name in that chapter, who blazet! the way through the 
wilderness for us and advancing civilization, have kuilded wiser than they 
knew. They were experienced pioneers with hearts of gold. With ruddy 
health and hardy sinews, they coped with and conquered the wilds. They 
despised the coddling ease of luxury and the wintiy winds, sleets and 
snows, had no terrors for them. They determined the time by the 
shadows, and guided their paths at night by the stars. They knew the 
approaching storm. Tho oky was to them an open look. Schooled in 
ffrwAi-cran and learned in Indian lore, they tracked thtir game and fol- 
lowed the trail of the savage. They read the story of the broken twig 
and fallen leaves. Their vision was piercing, and their hearing acute. 
Accountered with rifle, hunting knife and axe, they cont?sted with the 
forest, and wrested from it food, shelter, and raiment. 

Their first care was to protect themselves from the basts of Feb- 
ruary, the month in which they arrived. The first shelter they erected 
was a cross between a hoop cabin and an Indian bark hut. Soon after, 
however, the men assembled for the real cabin raising. The forest fur- 
nished the timber, and from it the strong arm of the pioneer with his 
axe, fashioned logs. The earth supplied the clay. None of these first 
cabins is now in existence, but the following is a fair description: 

First Dwellings.— "These cabins were of round logs, notched together 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 71 

at the corners, ribbed with poles, and covered with boards split from a 
tree. A puncheon floor was then laid down, a hole cut in the end and a 
stick chimney run up. A clapboard door was made, a window was opened 
by cutting out a hole in the side or end two feet square, and finished 
without glass or transparency. The house was then "chinked" or 
"daubed" with mud, and the cabin was ready to go into. The household 
and kitchen furniture was adjusted, and life on the frontier was begun 
in earnest. 

"The one-legged bedstead, now a piece of furniture of the past, was 
made by cutting a stick the proper length, boring holes at one end one 
and a half inches in diameter, at right angles, and the same sized holes 
corresponding with those in the logs of the cabin the length and breadth 
for the bed, in which were inserted poles. 

"Upon these poles the boards were laid, or linn-bark was interwoven 
consecutively from pole to pole. Upon this primitive structure the bed 
was laid. The convenience of a cook-stove was not thought of, but in- 
stead, the cooking was done by the faithful housewife in pots, kettles 
and skillets, on and about the big fire-place, and very frequently over 
and around, too, the distended pedal extremities of the legal sovereign 
of the household, while the latter was indulging in the luxuries of a cob- 
pipe, and discussing the probable results of a deer hunt on the Missouri 
River or some of its small tributaries." 

"The acquisition of glass windows was impossible for these first 
settlers. When white paper could be secured, it was greased and used 
for window panes, through which the light could come. The doors were 
fastened with old-fashioned wooden latches, and the latch-string always 
hung out for friends and neighbors. These humble domociles sheltered 
happy hearts, while palaces, with all their splendor and riches many 
times have been but the resting place of misery. 

"True it is, that Home is not four square walls, 

Though with pictures hung and gilded, 
Home is where affection calls, 
Around the hearth that love hath builded." 

The Hominy-Block. — Those pioneers were home builders, the very 
foundation of a nation, the true root of patriotism and love of country. 
They appreciated the frufEs of their own industry, and manufactured or 
made most of their own utensils. The home-made hominy-block is doubt- 



72 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

less not within the memory of our oldest citizens. This they made some- 
thing in this manner: 

A tree of suitable size, say from 18 inches to two feet in diameter, 
was selected in th eforest and felled to the ground. If a cross-cut saw 
happened to be convenient, the tree was butted, that is, the kerf end 
was sawed off so that it would stand firmly, when ready for use. If 
there was no cross-cut saws in the neighborhood, strong arms and short 
axes were ready to do the work. Then the proper length, from four to 
five feet, was measured off, and sawed or cut square. When this was 
done, the block was raised on end, and the work of cutting out a hollow 
in one of the ends was commenced. This was generally done by a com- 
mon chopping axe. Sometimes a smaller one was used. When the cavity 
was judged to be large enough, a fire was built in it, and carefully watched 
until the ragged edges were burned away. When completed, it somewhat 
resembled a druggist's mortar. Then a pestle or something to crush the 
corn was necessary. This was usually made from a suitable sized piece 
of timber, with an iron wedge attached, the large end down. This com- 
pleted the apparatus. The block was ready for use. Sometimes one 
hominy-block accommodated an entire neighborhood. It was a means of 
staying the hunger of many months. 

Spirit of Helpfulness Among Pioneers. — A person not many years 
ago in contrasting the social and moral status of his latter years with 
those of his early pioneer days, said, "Then if a house was to be raised, 
every man turned out, often the women too, while the men piled up the 
logs, and fashioned the primitive dwelling-place, the women prepared the 
dinner. Sometimes it was cooked over big fires near the site where the 
cabin was built. In other cases it was prepared at the nearest cabin, and 
at the proper hour was carried to where the men were at work. If one 
man in the neighborhood killed a beef, a pig, or a deer, every other 
family in the neighborhood was sure to receive a piece. We were all on 
an equality. Aristocratic feelings were unknown, and would not have 
been tolerated. What one had, we all had, and that was the happiest 
period of our lives. But today, if you lean against a neighbor's shade 
tree, he will charge you for it. If you are poor and palsied, you may lie 
and suffer unnoticed and almost unattended, and will probably go to the 
poorhouse, while just as likely as not, the man who reports you to the 
authorities as a subject of county care, charges the county for making 
the report." 

Thus our early settlers, burdened with what we deem today, untold 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 73 

hardships and deep privations, looked back, in the latter days of their 
lives, to the good old days; and even in our own generation, we may find 
many, who decry the great progress of the present and long for other 
clays. It is ever thus, and ever will be. Even the reader, should he 
search his memory, will recall as a pleasing recollection some trial or 
danger or experience through which he has successfully passed and even 
our failures are not necessarily unpleasant to recall. 

Much has been written regarding the log house of the early pioneer. 
It furnished an inexpensive and convenient shelter, and around it clus- 
ter many pleasant recollections that are even yet dear to those of us 
who had the good fortune to have been reared within its sacred portals. 
Unpretentious, uniform in size and architecture, the log house of the 
early pioneer was the greatest democratizing agent of the early day. !•&> 
social lines could be drawn based on the grandeur of dwelling places, and 
consequently each and every one was valued at their true worth, de- 
termined solely by their every day life and character. The era of the 
log house is a space of time as distinct from others in its peculiar cus- 
toms as is the Paleozoic or the Stone Age. There is a song which ends, 
after trailing through innumerable verses reciting the trials of the log 
house bachelor, which runs as follows: 

"Oh, the hinges are of leather, and the windows have no glass 

And the board roof lets the howling blizzard in, 
And I hear the hungry coyote as he sneaks up through the grass 
Near my little old log cabin on the hill." 

Early Farming Implements. — The farming implements of the pioneers 
were crude affairs, adapted, however, to the conditions that surrounded 
them and to their circumstances. The bull-plough, the mould-board of 
which was generally of wood, was adapted to the fields abounding in 
stumps and roots. Occasionally the mould-board was part iron, and; 
possessor of such a bull-plough was looked upon as real progressive. 

Other implements and utensils were of like character. When the 
clothes the settlers brought with them began to wear out, the wild nettle 
furnished them a substitute material. This, by process of drying and 
stripping, they would weave into a cloth, sufficient for their needs until 
the coming of the wintry blast. Then the furs of the wild animals were 
requisitioned with which the pioneers braved the snows and sleets in 
the coldest weather. 

The prairies were not often settled until after the first pioneer 



74 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

period, therefore the forests of the timbered lands in small tracts were 
cleared, leaving the fields prolific in stumps and roots. Hence the cradle 
and the bull-plough were well suited to the cultivation thereof. 

The Pioneer Women. — Of the women, we adopt largely the words of 
Solomon: "The heart of her husband did safely trust her. She did him 
good all the days of her life. She rose while it was yet night and gave 
meat to her household. She girded her loins with strength and strength- 
ened her arms. She laid her hands to the spindle and her hands held 
the distaff. She knew little of fashion plates, yet fashioned her raiment 
from the material at hand to meet the approbation of those she cher- 
ished. She was nature's child. The sun kissed her cheeks and painted 
thereon the bloom of health. She filled her lungs with the pure and 
fragrant air, and reveled in the beauties of nature. Hearty, healthy, 
happy, she met with unflinching fortitude the perils of her situation, and 
complained not of privations. Strength and honor were her clothing, and 
she rejoiced in the time to come. She looked well to the ways of her 
household, and ate not the bread of idleness. She gave of the fruit of 
her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates. She was 
indeed the helpmate of the pioneer, his help in time of need, his solace 
and his comfort. Resolutely and cheerfully she bore her burdens, and 
laughter was in her heart. We do not think the picture is overdrawn. 

Early Pioneer Described. — The male pioneer and head of the family 
fias been described by one who sojourned in the Boonslick country for 
several years as follows: "You find that he has vices and barbarism 
peculiar to his situation. His manners are rough. He wears, it may be, 
a long beard. He has quantities of bear or deer skin wrought into his 
household establishment, his furniture and his dress. He carries a knife, 
or a dirk in his bosom, and when in the woods has a rifle on his back 
and a pack of dogs are among his chief means of support and profit. Re- 
member that all his first days here were spent in dread of savages. Re- 
member that he still encounters them, still meets bears and panthers. 
Enter his door and tell him you are benighted, and wish the shelter of 
his cabin for the night. The welcome is, indeed, seemingly ungracious: 
T reckon you can stay,' or T suppose we must let you stay.' But this 
apparent ungraciousness is the harbinger of every kindness that he can 
bestow, and every comfort that his cabin affords. Good coffee, corn 
bread and butter, venison, pork, wild and tame fowls, are set before you. 
His wife timid, silent, reserved, but constantly attentive to your comfort 
does not sit at the table with you, but like the wives of the patriarchs, 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 75 

stands and attends you. You are shown the best bed that the house can 
afford. When his kind of hospitality has been extended to you as long 
as you choose to stay, and when you depart and speak about your bill, 
you are most commonly told, with some slight mark of resentment, that 
they do not keep a tavern. Even the flaxen-haired urchins will run away 
from your money." 

Along about the year 1823, a gentleman of culture and refinement, 
Gottfried Duden, of Germany, came to the United States, and finally 
located in Montogomery County, Missouri. He wrote many interesting 
letters to Germany, describing the country, and recounting his experi- 
ence. These letters were finally printed in book form, known as "Gott- 
fried Duden's Report, 1824-1827." This book was circulated extensively 
in Germany, and was read by thousands. It had much to do with en- 
couraging emigration from Germany to this country and is graphically 
descriptive of the period. We take excerpts from one of his letters writ- 
ten in September, 1825, which have been but recntly translated into Eng- 
lish, which describes the immigrants of this particular time, the houses 
in which they lived, and the manner of their construction. "During this 
season of the year, there arrive daily numbers of immigrants from Ken- 
tucky, Ohio, Virginia, Pennsylvania, etc. If these people had to travel 
in European manner, their desire for emigration would soon vanish. 
However, all that is done differently here. 

"A large wagon (and if the needs of the family require it, several) 
are loaded with the household goods, which are stored away in such a 
manner that a part of the covered space of the wagon is reserved for 
the travelers. In addition to the household goods, tents and provisions 
such as smoked pork, beans, peas, rice, flour, cheese and fruit are taken 
along, and, for at least the first few weeks, bread for the passengers and 
maize for the work horses. Thus the migration is begun. Sometimes the 
owner rides with his wife and children in a separate wagon, sometimes in 
a coach, or he may ride on horseback. If he owns male slaves, one of 
these acts as driver, otherwise he himself or some other member of his 
family attends to this. On the entire journey, which may extend over 
1,200 miles they never think of stopping at an inn. At noon, while the 
horses are being fed, the operations of the kitchen also begin. The 
vicinity of a spring or a brook is usually selected as a stopping place, and 
the travelers sit in the shade or in the sun, just as the weather conditions 
may invite. A fire is quickly made and the operations of preparing a 
meal proceed just as they would at home. In the evening more attention 



76 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

is paid to the selection of a camping place. If there is need of cooking 
utensils or of victuals, halt is made near a farm house. Tents are pitched, 
especially when the weather is rainy. Some of the party busy themselves 
with the animals, for if the journey is not too great, cattle are taken 
along too, others are busy with the kitchen, and finally the night's lodg- 
ing is prepared. Wherever the wagon-train stops the people obligingly 
grant whatever is asked for. Household utensils are loaned, provisions 
are sold cheaply, and to the horses and cattle pastures are assigned, 
unless the owner should prefer to leave them in the open. The latter plan 
rarely offers any difficulties. Usually it is only necessaxw to put a bell 
on the leader of the herd and to hobble his feet so as to make walking 
somewhat difficult. The animals are tired and hungry and will not easily 
leave a good pasture, moreover, a well trained dog would soon find their 
tracks. Nevertheless there are instances where such animals have taken 
advantage of a moment of freedom to run back to their old home. No 
distance and no stream can hold them back, and straight on, even through 
great forests, they know how to find their old homestead. In my neigh- 
borhood are two oxen which have come back 100 miles and have swum 
through the Missouri to get home. A horse came back from Franklin, a 
distance of 120 miles. Horses are not as ready as cattle to swim through 
great streams. For this reason ownerless horses are always to be found 
on the point where the Missouri and the Mississippi join. These horses 
have run away from the plantations on the upper course of the river and 
are trying to get back to their old homes in Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia, etc. 

"As soon as the migrating family has arrived at the site of he new 
homestead, they stop near the spot where the buildings are to be erected, 
and build an enclosure for the temporary protection of the household 
goods and tents, which are now pitched for a longer time. The enclosure 
is necessary to keep the cattle of other settlements away. In this in- 
closure the young calves are also kept, in order to cause the cows, which 
graze out in the open to come home regularly. These cows supply the 
family with milk and cream without requiring the least attention or 
care. For the house a site near a good spring or brook is preferably 
selected. Over the spring a small house is at once constx-ucted, in order 
to prevent the pollution of the water, and to afford a place to keep milk, 
butter and meat cool. 

"The next concern is the building of a dwelling house, which is done 
in a manner already described by me in an earlier letter. The timbers 
are not hewn, however, for at first only a barn-like structure is intended. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 77 

for a temporary shelter. For the negroes a similar building is erected, 
then a barn and a small building to serve as a smoke-house. The trees 
are felled near the building site, to which they are dragged by horses or 
oxen. The raising of the house is done with the aid of the neighbors, if 
the hands of the family are not sufficient for this purpose. Buildings 01 
this nature, however, do not require more than four or five workmen. 
Boards are cut for the doors and the floors. For the latter trees are 
sometimes split in two, for which purpose the ash and hackberry trees 
(celtis crassifolia) are especially suited. The hearth together with the 
chimney are made, in the simplest manner possible, of wood, which is 
lined with stones on the lower, inner side and daubed with mud in the 
upper portion. When the chimney is half a foot higher than the gable 
of the house, the smoke will not bother in the least. Danger of fire de- 
pends entirely upon the condition of the rock lining and the clay coating. 

"He who despises such a. dwelling does not know the nature of the 
local climate. I have been in many such dwelling, where cleanliness and 
good furniture afforded an extremely pleasing effect. Many families de- 
sire no other house, although they live in easy circumstances, indeed in 
affluence. What I have to criticise about these houses is the fact that 
they usually have no cellar, so that in the summer time the humus earth 
under the rough floor gives out a mouldy odor, which, though it is rarely 
offensive, nevertheless is manifestly not conductive to good health. A 
floor constructed by a carpenter removes this inconvenience completely. 
He who does not wish to go to this expense can attain practically the 
same end by first removing the humus entirely from the building site, or 
by burning wood of the clearing on the spot and thus baking the ground. 

"When the work of building is ended, which required hardly more 
than two or three weeks, the family already feels much at home, and then 
the clearing of farm land is begun. Usually they begin by fencing in a 
selected tract, in order to use it as a temporary pasture for the horses 
and oxen which must be kept in the vicinity for work." 

The hunting of bee trees by the settlers was both pleasant and profit- 
able, and bee hunters were common. 

In a letter written in June, 1826, Duden describes bee hunting in 
these words: 

"When I, according to my custom, wandered through the woods yes- 
terday, I found two bee-hunters. The mode of procedure of these people, 
which is so new to the European, had been described to me long ago, but 
this time I was to learn to know it from a practical standpoint. You 



78 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

must know, first of all, that in the woods of Missouri also there are many 
wild bees which have their hives in hollow trees. If the method of find- 
ing these trees is well understood, a great deal of honey and wax can 
be gathered in a short time. It is generally said that America originally 
had no bees, and that the wild bees are the descendants of swarms brought 
from Europe to the eastern coast. Be that as it may, the Indians under- 
stand the bee-hunt even better than the whites. The two bee-hunters of 
yesterday were white men and live in Missouri. They proceeded as fol- 
lows: On the ridge of a hill between two valleys, they chose their first 
stand. On a place, free from trees, they built a small fire and laid some 
honeycomb on it, so that the wax melted, without being consumed by the 
fire. In this manner a pronounced scent of honey was distributed, which 
in a short time attracted all sorts of flying insects and also a few bees. 
Now it was the duty of the hunters to watch the bait fixedly, in order 
to be able to follow the bees with their eyes, when they took flight. By 
and by three of them took flight, and all of them flew in the same direc- 
tion, which direction was carefully noted, knowing that a laden bee flies 
straight to its swarm. One of the hunters thereupon took a burning coal 
and walked about two hundred paces away on the same ridge, leaving his 
companion at the first stand. 

He proceeded in the same manner as before, and anew distributed 
a strong scent of honey. Here, too, the bees soon came. Some of them 
went off in exactly the opposite directions. The hunter noted both and 
called out to his companion to follow the first indicated direction. He 
found himself started in the direction which was practically the one 
which his companion took. I accompanied him. We had hardly gone 
three hundred paces through the woods when we met the other hunter. 
Now they looked about for a while, and in a dry oak, about fifty feet 
above the ground, we saw a small opening, where bees swarmed in and 
out. The cleverness of these two natural mathematicians surprised me, 
and I felt more pleasure in the discovery of the tree than they them- 
selves. Since the hunters surmised that, because of the earliness of the 
season, not much honey had been gathered, the hive was not robbed. The 
bee-hunters designated their find by blazing the tree, which is universally 
regarded as the inviolable right of possession, and then proceeded in pur- 
suit of the third direction noted above." 

In concluding this letter, Duden tells about having seen a negro boy 
who robbed such a bee tree with the intention of selling the honey, a 
practice which owners of slaves generally permitted. 



CHAPTER V. 



TRANSPORTATION AND HIGHWAYS 



EARLY RIVER TRANSPORTATION— COUREUR DE BOIS— PIONEER ROADS AND 
TRAVEL— FIRST FERRIES— FIRST STEAMBOATS— ARRIVAL AT FRANKLIN- 
ARRIVAL OF SECOND STEAMBOAT— DESCRIPTION— GREATEST ERA— PRIMI- 
TIVE BOATS— GROWTH— COST— WRECKING— SANTA FE TRAIL — BOONSVILLE 
ACTIVE MART— USE OF OXEN— FIRST RAILROADS— REBUILDING OF BRIDGES 
—ROAD IMPROVEMENT. 

Advanced transportation and good highways are indices of a people, 
certain . evidences of their culture, progressiveness and prosperity. As 
are these so are the people. Good transportation, advanced civilization; 
or advanced civilization, good transportation; either way one follows the 
other as certainly as the night the day, or the day the night. 

Transportation has been, is, and will be a process of evolution. Could 
we turn back the scroll of time and witness the primitive methods of the 
early pioneer, great would be our astonishment; could we project our- 
selves into the future one hundred years, and observe the method of 
transportation then, doubtless it would be beyond our comprehension. 

Early River Transportation. — When our first settlers arrived at the 
Missouri River, the routes of commerce and travel were largely the water 
courses. For this reason the settlements made were on the banks of the 
Mississippi and the Missouri. At this time there was neither steamboat 
nor railroad. The pirogue, the canoe, the bateau, the mackinaw, the bull- 
boat and the keelboat were the means of all river transportation. The 
pirogue was a small type of canoe. The canoe was the most commonly 
used, and was the simplest of all river crafts. It was usually made from 
a cottonwood log, hollowed out, and was usually from 15 to 18 feet long, 
and was generally manned by three men, one to steer and two to paddle. 
It was used chiefly for local use, though occasionally employed for long 



80 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

trips. The mackinaw was a flat boat, pointed at both ends, and was of 
varying lengths, from 40 to 50 feet. Its crew usually consisted of five 
men, one steersman and four oarsmen. The bullboat was usually used 
on shallow streams because of its light draft. It was constructed of 
buffalo bull hide sewed together, and stretched over a frame of poles, 
and required two men to handle it. The keel boat was the aristocratic 
craft, and the largest, from 60 to 70 feet long, with the keel running 
from bow to stern and the latest improvements in river transportation 
prior to the steamboat. It was capable of carrying a larger cargo than 
any of the others mentioned. It was usually propelled by means of a 
cordelle. The cordelle was a line practically 1,000 feet long, one 
end of which was fastened to the top of the 30 foot mast in the center 
of the boat, well braced from this mast the rope extended to the shore. 
At the shore end of the line, some twenty or thirty men walking along 
the river bank, would pull the boat up stream. Cordelling was never 
used except in breasting the current of the stream. It was more or less 
difficult, and in some places it was absolutely impossible by reason of the 
cliffs on the river bank. At such points poles were used. Sails were also 
used very effectively at times in this manner of transportation. Not- 
withstanding the difficulty with which this type of boat was propelled, it 
was employed prior to the invention of the steamboat more extensively 
than any other kind for long distance voyages up stream. In fact it 
continued to be used along with the steamboat for many years after 
the appearance of the latter. 

Coureur de Bois. — An average day's voyage for the keel boat was 
from twelve to fifteen miles. It was the means of transportation used 
by the coureur des bois. It is claimed that as early as 1700, there were 
not less than one hundred coureur de bois, or trappers, domiciled among 
the tribes along the Missouri River. The coureur de bois was a French 
Canadian, sometimes a half-breed, and in his habits were blended the 
innocent simplicity of the fun-loving Frenchman and the wild traits and 
woodcraft of the Indian. Born in the woods, he was accustomed from 
childhood to the hardships and exposures of the wild life of the wilder- 
ness, and was a skillful hunter and trapper. 

His free and easy manners, peaceful disposition, and vivacity quali- 
fied him for associating with the Indians, whose customs he adopted, and 
often marrying into the tribe, himself became a savage. It was the 
ceureur de bois as he wandered up and down the Missouri River who gave 



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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 81 

the poetical and musical French names to its tributaries and prominent 
localities which they bear to this day, as follows: Bonne Femme, good 
woman; Lamine, the mine; Pmeem de terre, apple of the earth, the po- 
tato ; Moreau, very black ; Niangue, crooked ; Gasconade, turbulent ; Aux 
Vase, very muddy; Creve Couer, broken heart; Cote sans Dessein, hill 
without a cause; Petit sas Prairie, little cradle of the prairie; Marias des 
Cygnes, river of swans; Roche Percee, pierced rock; Petit Saline, little salt. 

The history of the Missouri for more than two hundred years is the 
history of the country through which it flows. On its muddy waters the 
Indians paddled their canoes for centuries before the advent of the white 
man. Then came the French voyageur and his pirogue, canoe, bateau, 
his mackinaw and his keel boat, without which the fur trade, the principal 
commerce in the early day, could not have attained its great proportions. 

Pioneer Roads and Travel. — In 1815, the tide of immigration, which 
had been halted by the War of 1812, began with increasing force to flow 
steadily to the Boonslick country. The settlers brought with them wagons, 
horses and mules, and by degrees they began to mark out roads and to 
cut their ways through the forest. Oxen were also used for transporta- 
tion, and continued to be so used for many years thereafter. 

The prairie presented few obstacles to travel, but to penetrate a 
primevial forest was an entirely different matter, and necessitated a wise 
selection of a route else arduous labor in felling trees and fording streams. 

No public roads were laid out in what is now Cooper County until 
1819. No work was done upon the roads nor were they thought of for 
a number of years thereafter. The first petition for a public road in 
Cooper County was presented by B. W. Levens. It asked for the location 
of a road leading from Boonville to the mouth of the Moniteau Creek. 
The second petition, for the location of a public road was by Anderson 
Reavis, presented on the same day. The road petitioned for ran from the 
mouth of the Grand Moniteau to the Boonville and Potosi road. Cooper 
County was then organized as a county. The stream of immigration then 
to the south side of the river was great. Travel was greatly increased 
and highways needed. 

However, prior to this, when what is now Cooper County was a part 

of Howard County, which was organized July 8, 1816, the first court held 

in Howard County was on the south side of the river in what is now 

Cooper County, at Cole's Fort, at which time the first road laid out by 

(6) 



82 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

authority of the court in what is now Cooper County, was the route from 
Cole's Fort on the Missouri River, to intersect the road from Potosi in 
Washington County at the Osage River. 

First Ferries. — Also at this same term of court and on the same day 
Hannah Cole was granted a license to conduct a ferry on the Missouri 
between Boonville and Franklin. This was the first licensed ferry in 
what had been known as the Boonslick country, although, for some time 
prior thereto, the Cole boys had operated one on this part of the Mis- 
souri. At the same term of the court, Stephen Turley was granted the 
right to keep a ferry across the Lamine River. B. W. Levens, Ward, and 
Potter, and George W. Cary were also granted a license to keep a ferry 
across the Missouri at the present site of Overton. However, for some 
years prior to this, a ferry had been operated across the Missouri River 
from Boonville to Franklin. The rates charged at the Levens ferry were 
as follows: For man and horse, fifty cents; for either separately, twenty- 
five cents ; for four horses and four wheeled wagon, two dollars ; for two 
horses and four wheeled carriage, one dollar; for horned cattle, four 
cents each, and for polled cattle, two cents each. 

First Steamboats. — Coincident with the opening of the first roads 
in Cooper County by the Cooper County Court, was the arrival at Franklin 
of the steamboat Independence, the marvel of marvels, and what seemed 
to our first settlers the acme of the evolution of transportation. Prior 
to this, however, and leading up to the navigation of the Missouri River, 
coincident with the first Anglo-American settlement on the Missouri in 
1807 was the first successful application of steam as a motive power, the 
trip of the North River steamboat up the Hudson from New York to 
Albany; and again, coincident with the first Anglo-American settlements 
in what are now Howard and Cooper counties in 1810, was Fulton's and 
Livingston's proposition to the legislature of Upper Louisiana, of which 
St. Louis was the seat of government, to operate steamboats on the 
Mississippi and Ohio. The proposition, however, was not acted upon. It 
seemed a visionary dream. It was not until seven years afterward, in 
1817, that the first steamboat, the Zebulon M. Pike, landed at St. Louis. 
Its hull was built like a barge. It had but one smokestack, its engine was 
of low pressure, and when the current was swift, the crew used poles to 
furnish additional power. The trip from Louisville to St. Louis took six 
weeks. 

Arrival of First Steamboat at Franklin. — The trip of the Indepen- 
dence from St. Louis to Franklin and return deserves more than ordinary 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 83 

mention. The Independence left St. Louis May 15, 1819, and reached 
Franklin opposite Boonville on May 29th. Captain John Nelson had charge 
of the steamboat. Among the passengers were Col. Elias Rector, Stephen 
Rector, Captain Desha, J. C. Mitchell, Dr. Stuart, J. Wanton, and Major 
J. D. Wilcox. 

The settlers on both sides of the river were wild with excitement 
and elation on the arrival of the boat at Franklin. A public meeting was 
held at which Asa Morgan who with Charles Lucas, laid out Boonville, on 
the first day of August, 1817, was chosen president and Dr. N. Hutchin- 
son vice-president. The "Franklin Intelligencer," May 28, 1819, speak- 
ing of that event says : 

"On Friday last, the 28th ult., the citizens of Franklin, with the most 
lively emotions of pleasure, witnessed the arrival of this beautiful boat, 
owned and commanded by Captain Nelson, of Louisville. Her approach 
to the landing was greeted by a Federal salute, accompanied with the 
acclamations of an admiring crowd, who had assembled on the bank of 
the river for the purpose of viewing this most novel and interesting 
sight. We may truly regard this event as highly important, not only to 
the commercial but agricultural interests of the country. The practica- 
bility of steamboat navigation, being clearly demonstrated by experi- 
ment, we shall be brought nearer to the Atlantic, West India and Euro- 
pean markets, and the abundant resources of our fertile and extensive 
region will be quickly developed. This interesting section of country, so 
highly favored by nature, will at no distant period, with the aid of science 
and enterprise assume a dignified station amongst the great agricultural 
states of the west. 

"The enterprise of Capt. Nelson cannot be too highly appreciated by 
the citizens of Missouri. He is the first individual who has attempted 
the navigation of the Missouri by steam power, a river that has hitherto 
borne the character of being very difficult to and imminently dangerous in 
its navigation, but we are happy to state that his progress thus far has 
not been impeded by any accident. Among the passengers were Colonel 
Elias Rector, Mr. Stephen Rector, Capt. Desha, J. C. Mitchell, Esq., Dr. 
Stuart, Mr. J. Wanton, Maj. J. D. Wilcox. 

"The 'day after the arrival of the Independence, Capt. Nelson and 
the passengers partook of a dinner, given by the citizens of Franklin, in 
honor of the occasion.." 

The trip of the Independence from St. .Louis to Franklin was the 
beginning of a stupendous river traffic upon the Missouri, and was the 



84 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

chief factor in the development of Boonville and Cooper County. How- 
ever, prior to 1831, only an occasional steamer ventured up the dangerous 
Missouri. The steamboat arrivals ascending the river at Boonville, in 
1831, were only five. 

Arrival of Second Steamboat. — The second steamboat to arrive at 
Franklin was the "Western Engineer," a small boat constructed for scien- 
tific purposes. It carried an expedition projected by the United States 
to ascertain whether the Missouri River was navigable by steamboat 
and to establish a line of forts from its mouth to the Yellow Stone. The 
vessel reached St. Louis, June 9, 1819, and proceeding on the voyage, 
arrived at Franklin June 13, of the same year. Its progress up the river 
excited the greatest fear among the Indians, many of whom flocked the 
river banks to see it, while others fled in fear to the forest or prairie, 
thinking it an evil spirit, a very devil with horned head, and breath of 
fire and steam. The St. Louis "Inquirer" of June 16, 1819, gives this 
description of it: "The bow of the vessel exhibits the form of a huge 
serpent, black and scaly, rising out of the water from under the boat, his 
head as high as the deck, darted forward, his mouth open, vomiting • 
smoke, and apparently carrying the boat on his back. From under the 
boat, at its stern issues a stream of foaming water, dashing violently 
along. All the machinery is hid. Three small brass field pieces, mounted 
on wheels, stand on the deck; the boat is ascending the rapid stream at 
the rate of three miles an hour. Neither wind, nor human hands are 
seen to help her; and to the eye of ignorance the illusion is complete, 
that a monster of the deep carries her on his back smoking with fatigue, 
and lashing the waves with violent exertion." 

Description of Early Steamboat. — Captain Joseph Brown, in a paper 
before the Missouri Historical Society, wrote what he had seen and known, 
as boy and man, of the primitive steamboat: 

"They had but one engine, and no 'doctor' or donkey engine. The 
boats themselves, and particularly those for the upper rivers, were small, 
sometimes made like a flat boat, with broad bow and stern, and a stern 
wheel. There was nothing above the boiler house deck but the pilot 
house and chimneys, or rather one chimney, for they had cylinder boilers ; 
that is, there were no flues in the boilers. Having but one engine, the 
shaft ran entirely across the boat, and when at a landing the engine bad 
to run the pump to supply the boilers with water, the wheels had to be 
uncoupled to let the engine work. As I said before, the donkey engine 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 85 

had not been invented, and I do not doubt but that many explosions oc- 
curred for the lack of it. 

"The cabin was a very primitive affair. It was on the lower deck, 
back of the shaft, in the after part of the boat. There were no state- 
rooms then, but, like a canal boat, there were curtains in front of th"e 
berths. It was quite common to see a bowsprit sticking out in front of 
the boat, such as are seen on ships, but, being useless, they were soon 
dispensed with. Stages had not been invented then. Two or three planks 
were used, if need be, tied together. Whistles were unknown, but bells 
were rung, and the captains were very proud of the big bell. For a num- 
ber of years there was no signal for meeting or passing boats, which 
resulted in many collisions. 

"There were no packets then. A boat started for Pittsburg was just 
as likely to go to St. Paul as anywhere, or up any of the other rivers, 
and they had no regular or even days of starting. I have known boats 
to have steam up for a week, telling people and shippers the boat was 
going in an hour, and even have their planks all taken in, all but one, 
and then launch out their planks again. All this was done to decoy 
people on board. The clanging of bells, the hurrah of agents and the 
pulling and hauling of cabmen and runners were most confusing, more 
particularly to unsophisticated emigrants. There was no fixed price for 
anything ; it was all a matter of bargaining, and very often deception was 
practiced. The engines being small and very imperfect in those days, 
the boats were very slow. I have known some boats in the case of a 
sudden rise in the river and consequently strong current, to be unable to 
stem it at the old waterworks point, which was at the foot of Carr Street. 
They would have to go over to the other side of the river and fight it 
out there, sometimes for hours, in sight of the city. * * * 

"In 1849, when the gold fever was at its height, there were fifty- 
eight fine steamers plying regularly on the Missouri River; on the Upper 
Mississippi, about seventy-five ; on the Illinois, twenty-eight fine steamers ; 
to New Orleans, about one hundred ; on the Ohio, about one hundred and 
fifty ; on the Tennessee, about fifteen. Owing to the rush of immigration 
at that time, boats could not be built fast enough. It was said of a cer- 
tain boat-yard at Freedom, Pennsylvania, that they kept a lot of straight 
bodies of boats put up. When a man wanted a boat, they took him down 
to the yard and asked him how long he wanted her; then just put two 
ends onto a body and he had a boat. But a really fast and fine boat cost 



86 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY v 

about $100,000 to $150,000 and took about eight months to build. The 
average life of a boat was about five years. After that they were com- 
pelled either to build a more modern boat, or raise and rebuild the one 
that had sunk or blown up. Need I tell you that in one bend of the river 
there lie the wrecks of one hundred ^nd three steamboats, between St. 
Louis and Cairo?" 

Greatest Era of Steamboating. — Steamboating reached its highest 
prosperity in the year 1858. There were then not less than sixty packets 
on the river, besides probably 30 or 40 transient boats called tramps, 
which came on the river from other streams and made one or two trips 
during the season. The packets carried the United States mail, express, 
freight, papers, both semi-weekly and daily, and their arrival was looked 
forward to along the Missouri River with a great deal of interest and 
people flocked to the wharves at the time of their arrival. 

So numerous were the boats on .the lower river during this period, 
that it was no unusual sight to see as many as five or six lying at the 
landing at the same time ; and during the boating season, which continued 
from March to November, at no time was a boat out of sight. These 
were prosperous days for the river towns. 

During this banner year of prosperity for steamboating on the Mis- 
souri River, some of the finest and most popular boats were : Kate Howard, 
John D. Perry, David Tatum, Clara, Platte Valley, Asa Wilgus, Alonzo, 
Child, F. X. Aubrey, Admiral D. S. Carter, Emigrant, E. A. Ogden, Em- 
pire, State, Isabella, James H. Lucas, Meteor, Minnehaha, Polar Star, 
Peerless, Spread, Eagle. War Eagle, Southwestern, C. W. Sombart, Twi- 
light, Thomas E. Tutt, White Cloud and Edinburgh. Those which came 
later were the R. W. Dugan, D. H. Dui-fee, Phil E. Chapel, Montana, Da- 
kota, A. L. Mason, State of Missouri and State of Kansas. These boats 
were built for some special trade. Some ran as late as 1888. when steam- 
boat navigation on the Missouri ceased. 

The Missouri is one of the most difficult streams in the world to 
navigate because of its shifting channel, its swift current and its many 
bends which with the innumerable snags therein were a continual menace 
to life in the days of the steamboat, and no pilot approaches one, espe- 
cially at night, without trepidation and fear. 

Primitive Boats, Canoes, Etc. — The pirogue, as used by the early 
French fur-trader, was really a double pirogue, or a double canoe, built 
in the shape of a flat-iron, with a sharp bow and a square stern. Two 
canoes, or pirogues, were securely fastened together a short distance 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 87 

apart, the floor being formed by boards, or puncheons, laid across. On 
the floor was placed the cargo, which was protected from the weather by 
hides. The boat was propelled upstream by oars or line, steered by an 
oarsman, who stood on the stern. A square sail was also resorted to 
going upstream, when the wind was in the right quarter, and a distance 
of from ten to fifteen miles could be made under favorable conditions. 

Such boats were usually from 30 to 40 feet long, and from six to 
eight feet beam, and being light, were good carriers. They were much 
safer than the canoe, because of their width they could not be easily upset. 

The bateau, used by the French trader, was a flat bottomed, clumsily 
constructed boat, especially adapted to transporting a cargo of fur down- 
stream, and did not differ materially from the flat bottomed boat. It 
was usually from 50 to 75 feet long, and 10 to 12 feet deep. Gunwales 
were hewn from cotton logs, and the bottom was spiked into cross beams 
running lengthwise of the boat. The bow and stern were square with a 
sufficient slant toward the bottom to make easier the progress of the 
boat through the water. The oars, the pole, the line and the sail were 
the appliances relied upon for motive power in ascending the stream, but 
in going down the boat was allowed to float with the current, being kept 
in the channel by the steersman. The flat-boats, when they reached 
their destination going downstream, were usually sold for lumber. 

Growth of Steamboating. — In the year 1836, on the 30th day of 
September, the arrivals at the same port had amounted to more than 70. 
The population along the Missouri River had increased so rapidly along 
about 1840, that there was demand for additional transportation facili- 
ties. This brought about the building of a better class of boats. They 
had full length cabins, double engines with a battery of boilers in place 
of the single engine. Great improvements were also made in the hulls, 
and they were so constructed as to have the same carrying capacity as 
before but to draw much less water. 

The same genius that had invented the steamboat was continually 
making improvements, both in the machinery and the hull, so as to add 
to the speed of the boat and also increase her carrying capacity. There 
were 26 steamboats engaged regularly in the lower river trade during 
the year 1842. They were generally from 140 to 160 feet long, about 30 
feet beam and six foot hold, and were a much better class of boats than 
those formerly built. They had side wheels and the cabins were full 
length. 

We have been unable to secure information concerning the arrivals 



88 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

and the departures of boats from Boonville during that year, but at Glas- 
cow there were 312. 

The years between 1850 and 1860 are popularly termed by some as 
the "Golden Era" in steamboat navigation on the Missouri River, but 
Capt. .A. J. Spahr thinks the period from 1866 to 1868, inclusive, to be 
the most prosperous. The improvements which had been made both in 
the machinery and in the construction of the hull, the adaptation of the 
state-room cabin, and the systematizing of the business all tend to lessen 
the danger of navigation and to increase the profits. 

The advance made in navigation on the Missouri River had kept 
pace with the march of commerce in other parts of the world. Phil E. 
Chappel says in a "History of the Missouri River:" 

"The first navigator on the Missouri River was the little blue-winged 
teal ; the next the Indian, with his canoe ; then came the half -civilized 
French voyageur, with his pirogue, paddling up stream or cordelling 
around the swift points. At a later day came the fur-trader with his 
keel-boat; still later there came up from below the little "dingey" — the 
single engine, one-boiler steamboat, which has been described. At last 
the evolution was complete, and there came the magnificent passenger 
steamer of the '50's, the floating palace of the palmy days of steamboat- 
ing, combining in her construction every improvement that experience 
had suggested or the ingenuity of man had devised to increase the speed 
or add to the safety and comfort of the passenger. 

"The fully equipped passenger steamer, in the heyday of steamboat- 
ing on the Missouri River, was a magnificent specimen of marine archi- 
tecture. She was generally about 250 feet long, 40 feet beam, and had 
a full-length cabin, capable of accommodating from 300 to 400 people. 
The texas, occupied solely by the officers, was on the hurricane roof. In 
addition to her passenger accommodation, she had a freight capacity 
of 500 to 700 tons. She was well proportioned, symmetrical, trim, fast 
and sat on the water like a thing of life. Her two tall smoke-stacks, 
with ornamental tops, between which was usually suspended some gilt 
letter or device, added much to her beauty. The pilot, on top of the 
texas, was highly ornamentel with glass windows on every side; a fence 
railing of scroll work surrounded the guards of the boiler deck and texas. 
The entire boat except the smoke-stack, was painted a dazzling white. 

"The cabin of the boat, a long, narrow saloon, was a marvel of beauty 
in its snow white splendor. The floors of the cabin were covered with 
the softest of Brussels carpets, and the state-rooms were supplied with 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 89 

every convenience. Indeed, the bridal chambers were perfect gems of 
elegance and luxury. The table was elegantly furnished, and the menu 
unsurpassed by that of any first-class hotel. Each boat had, in the ladies' 
cabin, a piano, and generally a brass band, and always a string band 
was carried. After the table was cleared away at night a dance was 
always in order, the old Virginia reel being the favorite dance. The social 
feature of a trip on one of these elegant boats was most charming." 

Costs of Steamboats. — The estimated cost of one of the boats above 
described, during the period between 1850 and 1860 was from $50,000 to 
$75,000. The captains received about $200 per month, clerks $150, mates 
$125, engineers about the same as mates. These wages included board, 
and were based on the size of the boat, labor and danger as well as the 
profits of the business. The pilot, however, received princely wages, 
sometimes as much as $1,600 per month. He was the autocrat of the 
boat, and absolutely controlled her navigation. It was for him to deter- 
mine when the boat should run or "lay by." 

However, piloting on the Missouri River was a science, demanding 
of the pilot great skill and a wonderful memory of localities. The river 
channel, its bends, cliffs, bars and obstructions were visualized in his 
mind as well in the darkest night and densest fog as if seen on the clear- 
est day. The weal or woe of the floating palace, with its rich cargo of 
merchandise and human freight, depended upon his skill and ever alert 
vigilance. 

Locally Owned Steamboats. — Capt. A. J. Spahr, known in the pros- 
perous river days as "Bud" Spahr, was one of the leading pilots on the 
Missouri. It is his opinion that the most prosperous period in steam- 
boating on the Missouri were the years 1866, '67 and '68. He tells of a 
certain pilot on the Missouri who entered into a contract to pilot at $1,600 
per month for eight months, "work or play." Also that Capt. C. H. 
Brewster of Boonville, who was clerk on the "Cora," a boat of about 
5,000 tons, on his return from St. Louis to Fort Benton, turned over to 
the owner of the "Cora," Capt. Joe Kinney, the sum of $45,000 — profits 
of the trip. 

From Captain Spahr, we gather the following information: Capt. 
Joe Kinney, who lived on the opposite side of the river from Boonville, 
was the owner of the following boats at different times: Kate Kinney, a 
side wheeler and a fine boat ; Kate Kinney, stern wheel ; St. Lake, Bacon, 
Fannie Ogden, Cora, stern wheel ; Cora, side wheel ; R. W. Dugan and 
Alice, and a large interest in the W. H. H. Russell, Twilight and Omaha. 



90 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Among those of our local citizens engaged and interested largely in 
steamboating were: Capt. Joe Kinney, as above stated; Capt. Henry 
McPherson, owner of, or largely interested in, the Jennie Lewis ; J. L. 
Stephens, Cavier, Lieut. Girard D. Allen, Captain St. John; Capt. Dave 
Kaiser, Wm. Linge, pilot; "Bud" Spahr, pilot; Geo. Homan, pilot; Jesse 
Homan, pilot; "Billy" Young, pilot; Capt. C. H. Brewster, C. W. Sombarts 
(owner of C. W. Sombart) , and Capt. D. DeHaven, captain of South West- 
ern owned by a company of Boonville citizens. There were doubtless 
others but we have been able to get information concerning only the 
foregoing. 

Wrecking of Steamboats. — Space will not permit us in this chapter 
to give the names of the boats wrecked and destroyed on the Mississippi, 
nor to give an account of any of these unfortunate events. Suffice it to 
say that the list of lost boats contains the names of over 300. Of those 
names, 193 were sunk by coming in contact with snags, 25 by fire, and 
the remainder by explosions, rocks, bridges, storms and ice. 

As most of the boats ran in the lower Missouri, more than three- 
fourths of the number were wrecked between Kansas City and the mouth 
of the river. It has been stated on authority that there are buried in 
the lower bends of the river the wrecks of more than 200 steamboats, 
covered with the accumulated sands of more than a half century. 

Santa Fe Trail, William Becknell Founder. — Next in importance to 
the magnificent steamboat traffic which so directly added to the growth 
and prosperity of Cooper County, was that of the Santa Fe trail. The 
first concerted organized effort to reach and open up trade and commerce 
with Santa Fe. New Mexico, was inaugurated by William Becknell, who 
lived on the north side of the Missouri, not far from Boonville. 

Becknell published an advertisement in the Franklin "Intelligencer" 
"to enlist a company destined to Santa Fe for the purpose of trading for 
horses and mules, catching wild animals of every description that might 
be for the advantage of the company." It was emphasized that all men 
joining the expedition were to bind themselves by oath to submit to such 
orders and rules as the company when assembled might adopt. The num- 
ber of men sought to be enlisted in this expedition was limited to 70, and 
applications were to be received up to Aug. 4, 1822. These applicants 
were directed to meet at the home of Ezekiel Williams, known as the 
"lost trapper," on the Missouri River, five miles above Franklin, to secure 
a pilot and appoint officers. At this meeting, however, only 11 men 
assembled, and Becknell was chosen captain. It was then determined 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 91 

that 30 men would be the number sufficient to undertake the expedition, 
and that the company as organized should cross the Missouri River at 
Arrow Rock on September the first. 

The expedition was highly successful, and the men returned in Jan- 
uary, 1822. William Becknell became the founder of the phenomenal 
Santa Fe Trail, of which Franklin, for a number of years, was the thriv- 
ing center. But, alas, for more than 80 years the treacherous waters of 
the Missouri have eddied the shifting sands of the treacherous stream 
and have covered the places where the restless, indomitable and adven- 
turous early settlers met and jostled, traded and trafficked, fitted and 
equipped the caravans for the great trade of the wilderness; and who on 
their return from successful trips, boasted of exploits and adventures, 
and displayed the evidences of their prosperity and wealth. 

Boonville Becomes Active Mart. — A few years after 1826, the year 
in which the waters of the turbulent Missouri commenced encroaching 
upon the beautiful city of Franklin, Boonville assumed its dominant posi- 
tion on the Santa Fe trail. Steamboats began to land in increasing num- 
bers along the river front, especially at the foot of what is now Main 
street, and there continued for years a wonderful activity. 

The hum of activity; the loud and strident voices of mates, frequently 
punctured with oaths as they drove the stevedores to greater activity ; 
the monotonous songs of the negroes chanting the river melodies, as they 
strove, heaved and perspired; the long line of prairie schooners with 
teams of patient, plodding oxen loading for the great trail of the wilder- 
ness ; the flare of the torches at night reflected in the waters ; and the 
indescribable grace of the steamboat as she gently pressed the wharf 
and lowered her gang-plank and the hurly-burly; the passengers crowd- 
ing the rail eagerly gazing on the shore scene, or with sparkling eyes 
ready to pass the gang-plank; all are now but sweet memories of halcyon 
days, .obscured by the sands of more than half a century. 

Use of Oxen. — Experience demonstrated along about 1821 that oxen 
were better adapted to the Santa Fe trail than mules, and from this time 
on the oxen were more generally used than the mules. 

When oxen were used, the day was divided usually into two drives 
of six or eight miles each day. As soon as early dawn approached, the 
first drive started and its termination was in a measure decided by the 
most favorable camping place where grass and water were to be found 
in plenty. About midday the wagons were corraled and the cattle were 
given food. In very hot weather the afternoon drive was not ordered 



92 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

until about three or four o'clock in the afternoon. On such days the 
drive continued until nine or ten o'clock at night. When the oxen were 
unyoked, they were turned over to the night herder, who kept watcn 
over them as they moved about seeking the best grass. As it was only 
necessary for the herder to keep track of the leader of the herd, one 
man could easily watch over as many as 300 or 400 head of oxen at night. 
In the herd on the trail, there developed, very soon after the start on 
the trail, one animal which all the others recognized as a leader. Wher- 
ever the leader of the herd went, the rest of the herd followed. The night 
herder always kept track of the leader, and frequently got off his mule, 
drove a peg in the ground to which he attached a long rope, that allowed 
the mule some range, rolled himself up in his blanket and went to sleep. 
Moreover, when the grass was scarce, the leader would wander about the 
plains, and all the herd would follow, thus requiring the night herder to 
follow and keep awake. 

If the grass was plentiful the herd would often obtain a sufficient 
supply in three or four hours, and would then lie down until morning. 
At the first appearance of dawn, the night herder rounded up the oxen, 
and started for the corral. When in close proximity, he would shout 
"Roll out, roll out, roll out." This was the signal for the men to prepare 
breakfast and be ready to yoke up. When all was ready, each teamster 
answered, "All set." Then came the order, "Fall in." The second order, 
"Stretch out." Then with creaking yokes and rattling wheels, the train 
moved on with the dignified pace of oxen. 

First Railroads. — The building of railroads in Missouri, commenced 
in 1859; this year marked the completion of the Hannibal & St. Joseph 
railroad, the first railway extending to the Missouri river. This sounded 
the death knell of steamboat traffic on the Missouri, and by the same 
token, there passed into the dimly remembered past, the trials and thrills 
of the Santa Fe trail. 

The first rail of the first railroad built in the United States was laid 
on July 4, 1828, by Charles Carroll, who was at the time the only surviv- 
ing signer of the Declaration of Independence. 

For a year or two, cars and coaches were drawn by horses, but after 
that the locomotive engine was introduced. Fifteen miles of this road 
had been completed by 1830. Other railroads had been planned, and in 
a few years were under construction, so that by 1850, a little more than 
9,000 miles of railroad had been built in the United States. 

Notwithstanding this progress in railroad building throughout the 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 93 

country, not one mile was constructed in Missouri until 1851. However, 
a peculiar i*oad was started in 1849 or 1850, which extended to a point on 
the Missouri opposite Lexington, was operated by horse power, and its 
rails and cross ties were built entirely of timber. Missouri was fortunate 
in having great natural highways of Commerce in the Mississippi and Mis- 
souri rivers and their tributaries. The steamboats then coming into gen- 
eral use made these natural highways all the more important and profit- 
able to Missouri by establishing connections not only with the outside 
world, but also between different parts of the state. Along the Mississippi 
and Missouri and their tributaries were thriving and prosperous towns, 
and these seemed well satisfied with the conditions, as they then existed. 
Eastern capitalists either were not able to take up railroad building in 
Missouri, or did not consider it to their advantage to do so. However, 
agitation for railroad building began as early as 1836. A railroad con- 
vention was held on April 30, of that year, at St. Louis. Delegates to the 
number of 59, representing 11 different counties, including Cooper, 
assembled at St. Louis at this time, and passed various resolutions in 
which the advantages of railroads were set forth. 

It seems to us at this day, rather strange that they recommended two 
lines of railroads running out of St. Louis, one to Fayette, by way of St. 
Charles, Warrenton, Fulton and Columbia, for the purpose of opening up 
an agricultural region, the other to the valley of Bellvue in Washington 
County, with a branch to the Merrimac Iron Works in Crawford County, 
for the purpose of developing the mineral region. 

Congress was also petitioned by this convention to grant 500,000 
acres of public lands to encourage these enterprises, and it was 
also urged that the state of Missouri place its credit at the disposal of 
the companies that would undertake to build these roads. 

Governor Boggs, in the fall of the same year, in his message to the 
Legislature, strongly urged a general system of railroad construction. 
Doubtless, inspired by this convention of railroad delegates,, and the 
recommendation of the governor, the Legislature proceeded to incorporate, 
during the months of Jan. and Feb., 1836, at least 18 railroad com- 
panies whose aggregate capital stock amounted to about $7,875,000. 

The early thirties were a period of general speculation throughout the 
United States, and the Missouri Legislature in granting franchises to rail- 
road companies so freely and generously, was only following the example 
of many other states. However, little progress was made, in railroad 
building by these companies, due doubtless, in a large part, to a panic in 



94 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

1837, and for 10 years thereafter, failing to do so, the public lost interest 
in railroad enterprises. The 500,000 acres of land granted by Congress 
to assist in internal improvements in Missouri, were divided among the 
various counties of the state, to be used in the construction of roads. 

It was not until 1850 that the people again became interested in rail- 
road building. At this time the population of the state had increased to 
682,044. This increase in population was not confined to the older settled 
portions of the state, that is along the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers, 
but also in the more inland sections. The country had recovered from 
the panic of 1837, and the spirit of enterprise was aroused throughout the 
country. St. Louis became roused. In 1850, her population was 80,081, 
and she was the leading manufacturing center in the Mississippi valley, 
but Chicago was rapidly gaining upon her. 

Missouri was being roused. Governor King proposed to the legis- 
lature in his message in 1850, that the state should lend its credit to the 
railroad companies by issuing bonds, and lending them the money realized 
from the sale of these bonds. The companies were to pay an annual 
interest at the rate of six per cent, and to pay off the principal in 20 years. 

On Feb. 22, 1851, a law was passed by the Legislature, granting aid 
to two railroad companies, the Hannibal & St. Joseph, and the Pacific. 
The first was granted $1,500,000, and the latter $2,000,000. The Hannibal 
& St. Joseph, which had been incorporated in 1846 was to build a road 
which would connect Hannibal, on the Mississippi, with St. Joseph, on the 
Missouri. The Pacific, which had been incorporated between 1847 and 
1851, was to construct a road which would run from St. Louis to Jefferson 
City, and from thence to the western boundary of the state. 

We shall follow the history of railroad building no further in the state 
of Missouri, save only where it directly affects Cooper county. 

It was in the building of the Missouri Pacific railway, that Boonville, 
and Cooper county, in all probability, lost her great opportunity. Boon- 
ville had the advantage of water transportation, and was the most im- 
portant and most popular town or city in this section of the state, and 
some of its business men, though farsighted and prosperous, thought that 
any railroad coming west from St. Louis through a region of country sur- 
rounding Boonville, or within 20 or 30 miles of its proposed route, would 
naturally deflect from its course, and take in Boonville. Efforts to secure 
the road was not characterized by that activity and enthusiasm usually 
manifested by men who were attempting to avail themselves of an enter- 
prise, the success of which would greatly and grandly enure for the 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 95 

benefit of their town, and the speedy building up of its material interest, 
as well as the interest of the county. 

The golden prize (the Missouri Pacific), with all its promised for the 
future, was really to be given to the Vine-clad city, upon certain condi- 
tions but, through the lukewarmness, indifference and tardiness of those 
who believed the Missouri Pacific road would come to Boonville whether 
solicited or not, it was bestowed upon another and far less pretentious 
raval and claimant. Had they acted upon the advice of the poet, who 
said: 

"Shun delays, they breed remorse," 

they would have taken the instant "by the forward top", and would have 
had no cause for repentance and regret. 

The citizens of Boonville had a meeting and instructed Dr. Wm. H. 
Trigg, one of their most wealthy and prominent business men, to go to 
St. Louis and confer with Mr. Allen, who was at the time manager of 
the Missouri Pacific railroad. The doctor waited upon Mr. Allen at his 
office in St. Louis, and had an extended interview with him in reference 
to bringing the road by way of Boonville. Nothing definite, however, was 
arrived at or agreed upon. 

The road was chartered Feb. 21, 1857, to run from a point between 
Jefferson City and Round Hill, in the direction of Topeka, Kansas. The 
first meetings of the company took place before the war. In 1860, the 
charter was amended, so as to permit the construction of the road north 
to Boonville. The county of Cooper then subscribed $150,000 in bonds to 
the road. During the war the road bed was graded, and after the close 
of the war the county subscribed the additional sum of $100,000 in bonds. 
The road was finally completed through Cooper County in the spring of 
1869. 

The road was commenced in 1870. Cooper County subscribed $100,- 
000 toward its construction through the county ; Boonville township, 
$100,000; Pilot Grove township, $40,000; and Clear Creek township, 
$30,000. The road was completed in 1873. 

Previous to 1870, a railroad bridge had been talked of by such prom- 
inent citizens of Boonville as Captain Jo L. Stephens, H. Bunce, J. L. 
O'Bryan, and others of Cooper County, Colonels Elliott and Estill, of 
Howard County, and Messrs. Marvin and Barrett, of Sedalia but no steps 
were taken to secure the building of the same until the months of October 
and November of that year. During these months a preliminary survey 
was made by General Wm. Sooy Smith, which fully demonstrated the 



96 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

practicability of constructing a bridge at moderate cost. The work, how- 
ever, did not begin in earnest until the road bed and franchise belonging 
to the Tebo and Neosho railroad passed into the hands of the Missouri, 
Kansas and Texas railroad company. That powerful corporation infused 
new life into the enterprise and determined to push the work to rapid 
completion. A charter was obtained, and an act of Congress passed 
authorizing the construction of the bridge. A proposal was made by the 
American Bridge Company, and accepted by the Boonville Bridge Com- 
pany for the building of the bridge. Men and machinery made their 
appearance about the middle of Sept., 1872. During the fall and winter 
following, cribs and caissons for the foundations were framed, the abut- 
ments built, quarries opened, and machinery and materials got in a gen- 
eral state of readiness for the spring and summer work. The bridge was 
completed about Jan., 1874. 

Rebuilding of Bridges — Road Improvement. — In Sept., 1905, the local 
rains were so heavy that all the streams within Cooper County were swollen 
beyond precedent. They overflowed the banks and covered much of the 
adjoining land in many places. Most of the bridges of the county were 
washed away or wrecked. Iron structures of which the county felt proud 
were but straws in the way of the surging waters in what were in ordinary 
times small streams. This was an unfortunate occurrence and seemed 
to be a severe blow to the county. A difficult problem faced the county 
court. There was nothing like sufficient money in the treasury nor funds 
to be anticipated to rebuild and reconstruct these bridges necessary to the 
traffic of the county. Necessity is truly the mother of invention, and the 
county court was compelled to pursue an ingenius course. All were 
clamoring for bridges in their respective localities. Being unable to meet 
the demands the county court informed those petitioning for bridges that 
as soon as the money was available the court would at once build the 
bridges but that it was impossible to construct all that were needed at 
once. In determining what bridge or bridges would be first constructed 
they informed the petitioners in the immediate locality of the bridges that 
they would construct first the bridge in the locality where the greatest 
subscription was raised and sent the court for such purpose. This at 
first met with some opposition, but the people realizing the wisdom of the 
court's action and that those in the immediate locality of the particular 
bridge would be benefited more than those further removed, they re- 
sponded to the court's suggestion and soon thereafter the action of bridge 
building across the streams of Cooper County began. Much sooner than 
had been hoped by the most optimistic. Every bridge in Cooper County 



HISTORY OF COOPEE COUNTY 97 

was restored. This also was the beginning of an aroused interest in bet- 
ter roads and a few years after bridges were constructed the court adopted 
a policy with reference to cutting down hills and establishing better grades 
for roads, in other words, it offered to the people for the purpose of reduc- 
ing the grade of any road as much from the county treasury as the local 
people would subscribe. This action on the part of the court met the 
hearty approval of the people and many bad grades throughout the county 
were greatly improved. About this time was also established and marked 
out the Santa Fe trail from Boonville through Cooper County to the 
Cooper County line on the road to Arrow Rock. This entire stretch of 
road was graded in the best and most approved manner. Drag districts 
were established. This highway was kept in the best condition for travel. 
Many tourists passing over it from other states pronounces it to be the 
best dirt road in our country. In different portions of the county the 
people then began to form special road districts and adopted the extensive 
use of drags. The automobile made its appearance among the farmers 
and every owner of an automobile became a "good roads" booster. It will 
be remembered that upon the first appearance of the automobile in our 
county the farmers were antagonistic to its use and so bitter and unrea- 
sonable was the opposition on the part of some that various and numerous 
obstructions were placed in the roads to make hazardous and impede the 
use of this, then, new mode of travel. However, it is now the farmer 
who owns the automobile. It is, to him, a necessity, as it in a measure 
eliminates space and time. There is at this time a strong sentiment and 
agitation for hard surface roads. In 1918 the Boonville special road dis- 
trict voted bonds to the extent of $100,000 which together with a like 
amount that will be received from the government, to-wit, another $100,- 
000 will go far to further improve our roads. 

No prophet of the present day, however great his vision, can foretell 
the transportation and mode of travel of the future. Even now man prac- 
tically dominates the air and, in speed and distance of flight, puts to shame 
its feathered inhabitants. It was but the other day that Captain John 
Alcock and Lieutenant A. W. Brown, in a bombing areoplane crossed the 
Atlantic from New Foundland to Ireland, a distance of l.TJOO miles in 16 
hours and 12 minutes. Our government is at the present time arranging 
for a flight around the world and mail routes by aeroplane are being estab- 
lished. 

Less than half a century back Jules Verne in his story of how the 
(7) 



98 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

imaginary Phileas Fogg had encircled the globe in 80 days, set the 
world to talking and marveling about the accelerated speed of life, yet less 
than 20 years after or about 30 years ago Nellie Bly, a reporter for a New 
York paper, in actual travel, clipped eight days off the record of the 
marvelous trip of Phileas Fogg. In 1911 Andre Jaeger-Schmidt made 
the planetary loop in a trifle less than 40 days. Thus from 1872 when 
Verne calculated Phileas Fogg record-setting tour until 1911 only a matter 
of 39 years, mankind had come a half nearer the flying heels of time. 
Thus the imagination and vision of Jules Verne has been discounted by 
actual facts. What we may yet expect we would not hazzard a conjecture. 



CHAPTER VI. 



THE WAR OF 1812 AND INDIAN TROUBLES. 



ERECTION OF FORT,S— KILLING OF SMITH— CAPTURE COURSAULT— TODD AND 
SMITH KILLED— DISCOVERY OF INDIANS— CHASED BY INDIANS— SETTLERS 
TAKE UP TRAIL— CAMPBELL KILLED— SETTLERS MOVE TO SOUTH SIDE OF 
RIVER— BRAXTON COOPER, JR., KILLED— JOSEPH STILL KILLED— KILLING 
OF WILLIAM McLEAN— ATTEMPT TO KILL AUSTIN— GREGG KILLED AND 
DOUGHTY CAPTURED— NEGRO "JOE" KILLED— COURSAULT KILLED— MURDER 
OF RAMSEY FAMILY — CAPTAIN SARSHALL COOPER MURDERED — TWO NE- 
GROES CAPTURED— RANGERS COME TO RELIEF— DODGE AND COOPER 
CONTROVERSY— LETTER TO GOVERNOR— SAMUEL McMAHON AMBUSHED— 
BUILDING OF HANNAH COLE FORT— INDIAN TREATY— ADDITIONAL INCI- 
DENTS. 

In time of profound peace, a British man-of-war of superior force, 
made a surprise attack upon the Chesapeake in the waters of the United 
States, and in consequence thereof, President Jefferson, in July, 1807, 
issud a proclamation of embargo. This caused much excitement among 
the people and fomentation among the Indians of the Northwest and on 
the borders of the territory. It naturally filled the minds of the settlers 
on the frontier with anxiety. 

The difficulties between England and the United States remaining 
unadjusted, and becoming greater with the lapse of time, war was 
declared in 1812. 

Erection of Forts. — The settlers in the Boonslick country began the 
immediate erection of forts. The largest fort of the settlement was 
Cooper's Fort, a stockade flanked by log houses erected in a bottom prairie 
near the present town of Glascow, near the Missouri River. About 150 
yards between it and the river, a common field of 250 acres was worked 



100 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

by all the inhabitants of this fort. Twenty families and a number of 
young men resided in the fort. 

McLean's Fort, afterwards called Fort Hempstead, was erected on a 
high hill near Sulphur Creek, on the bluff about one mile from the present 
town of New Franklin. Fort Kincaid was near the river, about one and 
one-half miles from the present site of Old Franklin; the first was so 
named in honor of David Kincaid. Then, there was Head's Fort, four 
miles above Rocheport on the Big Moniteau, near the old Boonslick trail 
from St. Charles, not far from what was then called the Spanish Needle 
Prairie. It was the most easterly fort of the settlement. 

These forts were on the north side of the river. On the south, the 
first fort erected was Cole's Fort, which was located in the "Old Fort 
Field", about one and one-half miles east of the present site of Boonville, 
north of the Boonville and Rocheport road. The second fort erected on 
the south side of the river, was the Hannah Cole Fort, located on a bluff 
overlooking the river, at a point of rocks, where a lime-kiln once stood. 
This last fort, however, was not erected until 1814. This place was selected 
by the settlers as the most suitable for defense, being located at the edge 
of a very steep bluff and easily defended, and also affording facilities to 
obtain a good supply of water. In order to make the supply of water 
,secure during an Indian attack, the settlers ran a long log over the edge 
of the bluff, and attached to it a rope and windlass to draw up the water. 

McMahan's Fort also was located on the south side of the river, sup- 
posed to be about five miles from Cooper's Fort, but we have been unable 
to determine its exact location. 

When Stephen Cole, assisted by his neighbors, had completed the 
erection of the first Cole fort, all the families living around, especially on 
the south side of the river, gathered at this fort for protection from the 
savages. 

The Cole fort consisted of a stockade flanked by log cabins, and here 
lived all the families south of the Missouri, during a greater part ot tne 
War of 1812. Many mouths were to be fed, and they were hearty feeders. 
Their meat consisted entirely of wild game, which they killed and secured 
from the forest, or fish caught from the river. For this purpose they 
sent out hunting parties from day to day. At this time all was not ease 
and comfort within the fort, and the white men were denied the freedom 
of the forest bv the wily savage. The hunter who sallied forth, as it was 
necessary for him to do was like Argus with his hundred eyes, and Briar- 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 101 

eus, with his hundred hands, first to watch and then to guard. When 
chased or surrounded by the Indians, figuratively speaking, he put on the 
helmet of Pluto, which made him, invisible. 

Killing of Smith. — A few months after Cole Fort was completed, 
Indians were reported in the neighborhood. The Indians consisting of a 
band of about 400, made, their appearance before the fort. At this time 
there were two hunting parties in the forest after game, in one of which 
were two men by the names of Smith and Savage, who on their return 
to the fort were espied by the Indians. Smith and Savage endeavored 
to break through the cordon of Indians surrounding the fort. They were 
pursued by the Indians, and the savages shot at them several times. In 
the first fire Smith was severely wounded, but struggling, he staggered on 
to within 50 yards of the fort, where the Indians again fired, two balls 
taking effect and felling him to the ground. Only Savage succeeded in 
attaining the fort. 

As soon as Savage saw his companion fall he ran to his assistance, 
but Smith, realizing that he was mortally wounded and that his end was 
near, handed Savage his gun and told him to flee and save himself. The 
Indians were in close pursuit, and in order to save himself, Savage was 
compelled to leave his unfortunate companion and make his escape. 
Although he was shot at perhaps 25 times, he succeeded in reaching the 
fort unhurt. The Indians scalped Smith, and barbarously mutilated his 
body, as was then their custom. They then withdrew to the adjacent 
woods and laid seige to the fort. 

The Indians, who pursued Savage in his successful endeavor to escape 
to the fort, came into full view of the settlers in the fort, and several of 
them might have been killed had the settlers deemed it wise and expedient 
to do so. 

Indeed, it is said that Samuel Cole, who was in the fort at the time, 
begged his mother to let him shoot an Indian. Samuel then was but a 
little shaver about twelve years of age. Doubtless he burned with ambi- 
tion and his little heart throbbed by reason of his eager and earnest desire 
to kill the red men, thinking not of the consequences. However his 
mother, Hannah Cole, with wisdom born of experience, forbade him to 
shoot. 

The Indians had as yet shown no disposition to fire upon the fort, and 
the inmates, there being but six men in the fort, did not wish to rouse 
their anger by killing any of them. They also hoped that before an attack 



102 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

was made by the Indians, that those settlers who were yet out hunting 
would arrive and thus augment the forces within the fort. 

They realized that against such overwhelming forces they could not 
long maintain themselves, and that their only hope was escape. During 
the following day the remaining settlers who were outside the fort evaded 
the vigilant cordon of savages, and doubtless following the route up or 
down the river reached the fort. However dire their straits, aid came 
fortuitously, or by act of Providence. On the following day a boat loaded 
with Indian goods and containing 25 kegs of powder, 400 pounds of balls, 
and a keg of whiskey, in charge of Captain Coursault and belonging to 
French traders of St. Louis, was going up the river for the purpose of 
trading these articles with the Indians. 

Capture of Coursault — Escape of Settlers. — This aroused the indigna- 
tion of the settlers, and Benjamin Cooper admonished Coursault of the 
danger and impropriety of supplying the Indians with ammunition under 
existing conditions, for with the ammunition the white settlers would be 
slain. Coursault seemed to see and appreciate the danger of this and 
promised to return down the river. It seemed to the settlers, however, 
that he agreed with reluctance, and as they were in doubt whether or not 
he would descend, they established a guard on the river. Their suspicion 
was well founded, and their caution well taken, for a day or so afterwards, 
about two o'clock in the morning, Coursault was intercepted attempting 
to go up the liver, the oars of his boat muffled. He was commanded to 
run his boat ashore, but he did not stop, and refused to obey the com- 
mand. Then Captain Cooper fired, but Captain Sarshall Cooper knocked 
the gun up, thus saving Coursault's life. Coursault, realizing that the 
settlers were in deadly earnest, brought his boat to the shore. The 
ammunition and whiskey were confiscated by the settlers and Coursault 
himself held captive for a short time.- He was finally allowed to return 
home with his goods, except the ammunition and the large keg of whiskey. 

After this, however, Coursault proved himself loyal to the Americans 
in the War of 1812. He bravely assisted in the defense of Cotesans Des- 
sein, when it was attacked by the Indians, and during the war he loyally 
aided in the defense of the country against the Indians. He was captairt 
of the Cote sans Dessein Company. In this engagement, an account of 
which is given in this chapter, Coursault lost his life. 

By reason of the capture of this boat, the settlers were enabled to 
make their escape from Fort Cole. They crossed the river in this boat to 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 103 

Fort Kincaid or Fort Hempstead, which was located about one mile from 
the end of the great iron bridge over the Missouri River at Boonville. 
They succeeded in taking with them their families, all their stock, furni- 
ture and belongings of other nature. The fort was surrounded by savages 
on all sides, save on the river front, and yet, in the face of all this, the 
white men saved not only themselves, but all their personal property in 
the fort, as well as their live stock. 

After they had crossed the river, the Frenchmen and their leader, 
Coursault, were permitted to return down the river with their boat, with 
the strong admonition that if thev ever dared come up the river again 
with supplies for the Indians they would handle them with "short shrift". 

The ammunition captured and confiscated at this time, was sufficient 
to last the settlers for a long time. 

Previous to this, Joseph Jolly had supplied them with powder, manu- 
factured by himself from saltpeter found in a cave near Rocheport. 
Whence came the saltpeter? "If true," as Houck says in his history of 
Missouri, "it is a fact also to be noted." 

Smith was the first man killed within the present limits of Cooper 
County. All the settlers on the south side of the river had now moved 
to the north side. 

Todd and Smith Are Killed. — In the early spring of 1812 prior to the 
killing of Smith on the south side of the river, Jonathan Todd and Thomas 
Smith started down the Missouri either to pick out a piece of land on 
which to settle, or to find a stray horse, possibly both. Todd and Smith 
lived on the north side of the Missouri. They had gone as far as the 
present line between Howard and Boone Counties, when they were unex- 
pectedly attacked by the Indians. The struggle was long and hard, and 
several Indians were killed, but Todd and Smith eventually paid the forfeit 
of their hardihood with their lives. The savages, after killing them, cut 
off their heads, and literally cut out their hearts and placed them on poles 
by the side of the trail. Soon the news of the killing of Todd and Smith 
was brought to the fort, and a party of men was sent out to recover their 
bodies. After they had traveled several miles, they captured an Indian 
warrior, who seemed to be spying on their movements, and they started 
to the fort with their captive in order to secure information from him. 
On their return, when they arrived within two miles of the fort, the Indian 
prisoner suddenly broke away from them, and attempted to make his 
escape. The Indian was fleet of foot, and although the settlers pursued 



104 • HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

him about one-half a mile, they found that they could not overtake him 
and capture him alive. Then with unerring aim they shot him, killing 
him instantly. 

The killing of these white settlers happened before the settlers on the 
south side had moved to the north side of the river. Immediately the 
settlers on both sides of the river organized and began to act with one 
accord. They sent out scouting expeditions in different directions to 
ascertain the lay of the ground, whether the Indians were in the neighbor- 
hood and whether they were really upon the warpath. 

Discover Indians. — James Cole and James Davis were sent out upon 
one of these scouting expeditions. After scouting around for some time, 
they were unable to discover any trace of the savages in the neighborhood, 
or to find out anything about their plans. They were preparing to return 
to the fort, when they discovered a large band of Indians in pursuit of 
them, and directly between them and the fort, in which were their fam- 
ilies and friends, unconscious of their danger. They could not withstand 
the attack of the large body of Indians in the open woods, and they knew 
that they would soon be surrounded. Their return to the fort was seem- 
ingly cut off. However, they started for what then was called Johnson's 
Factory, a trading post kept by a man named Johnson. It was situated 
on the Moniteau Creek, in what is now Moniteau County, about two hun- 
dred yards from the Missouri River. They reached the factory or trad- 
ing post that afternoon, and the Indians immediately surrounded the place. 
Cole and Davis knew, as true scouts, that it was their duty to warn their 
friends and neighbors, and that unless they received the warning they 
would easily fall prey to the savages. That the forts might be warned 
of their danger in time to prepare for the attack, which seemed certain, 
these hardy rangers and scouts determined at all hazards to escape and 
bear to them the tidings. As long as they remained at the trading post, 
they were safe from the shots of the enemy, at least for a time. To leave 
the fort, they ran the hazard of the scalping knife, and mutilated bodies. 
They resolved upon a daring method. At about midnight, with the utmost 
caution as to noise, they took up a plank from the floor of the factory, 
crawled through the floor, and with stealth and cunning reached the creek. 
Fortunately, there they found a canoe, and silently floated down to the 
river, evading the vigilance of the savages. But just as they reached the 
river, an unlucky stroke of the paddle against the side of the canoe, 
revealed them to the Indians, who at once started in pursuit in canoes. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 105 

The Indians pursued them to what is known as Big Lick, in Cooper County, 
where being closely pressed, Cole and Davis turned, and each killed an 
Indian. The Indians then left off pursuit. The two settlers reached 
Cole's Fort in safety, and announced to the astonished settlers that they 
were indeed on the verge of a long and blood war, with Indians on the 
war path in the immediate vicinity. 

From there the tidings were conveyed to the other forts. The hearts 
of the bravest were filled with dismay. They knew that their numbers 
were few, and that to withstand the attack of the great Indian nations 
living around them would try the courage and the sagacity of the stoutest. 

However, no attack was made by the band of Indians who had pur- 
sued Cole and Davis. Doubtless because they knew that their presence 
was known in the neighborhood, and they well knew that the forts would 
be prepared and expecting to receive them. 

Chased by Indians. — Nothing being seen or heard of Indians for some 
time, in the summer of the same year, Samuel Cole, Stephen Cole and 
Muke Box started from Kincaid's Fort on a hunting expedition and crossed 
the river where Boonville now stands, penetrating the forest t6 the Petit 
Saline Creek. They hunted and fished for two days and were preparing 
to return upon the third, when they heard the sound of shooting in the 
direction of the river, where they had left their canoe. Knowing that 
there were no whites on the south side of the river, except themselves, 
they concluded that the shots were fired by Indians. However they im- 
mediately started by a circuitous route to the river, to gain possession 
of their canoe. When they arrived at the residence where once lived 
Delaney Belin, they discovered that a band of Indians was in pursuit of 
them. Not knowing the number in pursuit, but supposing them to be 
numerous, they immediately separated, and took different routes through 
the woods. They agreed to meet at the place where they had left their 
canoe. Here they met, but the Indians had stolen their canoe. As the 
Indians were still in hot pursuit of them, they hastily lashed three cotton- 
wood logs together, placed their guns, clothing, equipment, etc., upon this 
small but hastily constructed raft, and swam over the river, pushing it 
before them, and landed on the north side of the river, about two and 
one-half miles below the present city of Boonville. They reached the fort 
in safety that evening, and reported their adventure with the Indians. 
The settlers then made their preparations against any attack by the 
savages. Next morning tracks of Indians were discovered around and 



106 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

near the fort, and it was found that the fort had been reconnoitred during 
the night by a band of eight Indians. 

At this time there were very few men in Fort Kincaid. They, there- 
foi'e, sent to Cooper's and McLean's Forts for reinforcements, as they 
supposed that this band of eight was but the scouting party of a large 
number of Indians. 

Settlers Take Up Trail of Indians. — The other forts sent reinforce- 
ments to the number of forty-two, which soon arrived, and together with 
the men belonging to Kincaid's Fort, they started in pursuit of the Indians 
of whom by this time they had discovered to be but a small band. They 
found their trail, pursued them for some distance, and surrounded them 
finally in a hollow within about four miles of the present site of New 
Franklin. 

The Indians concealed themselves in the brush and thickets, and 
behind timber, not being able to see the Indians, the fire of the settlers 
at first was very much at random. The fight continued for a long time. 
However, four Indians were killed, and the remaining four, though badly 
wounded, escaped. None of the settlers were killed and only one, a man 
named Adam Woods, was severely wounded, but he afterwards recovered. 

Night came on and the pursuit was deferred. The next day the 
rangers again took up the trail of the surviving four Indians, which was 
plainly marked with blood. They followed it to the river, and there found 
the canoe, which the savages had two days before stolen from Samuel 
Cole and his companion. In this canoe the Indians had hoped to make 
their escape. The sides of the canoe were covered with blood, showing 
that the Indians had attempted to push it into the river, but on account 
of being weakened by loss of blood, could not do so. After hunting them 
for some time in vain, the party returned to the fort. 

In August a band of eight Indians was followed by a party of 25 or 
30 men from Cooper's and Kincaid's Forts. These Indians had killed 
some cattle and had stolen about 10 or 12 horses. They drove the horses 
away to the high ground not over three or four hundred yards from the 
bottom to a place about three miles from the present town of Franklin, 
where they tied the horses in the thicket. 

Captain Cooper, with 25 or 30 men, among them Lindsay Carson, the 
father of Kit Carson; David Boggs, Stephen Jackson; William Thorpe, 
afterward a Baptist preacher; and James Cole, who in 1867 gave Draper 
this version of the affair, found the horses in the thicket, and then fol- 
lowed the trail of the Indians into the hollow below. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 107 

After going not much more than a quarter of a mile, they divided 
into three parties ; Captain Cooper, with one party, going up to the left, 
another party going direct up the hollow, and the third party up the 
eastern bank, skirting the hollow. 

After entering the mouth of the hollow, five of the men, whose feet 
had become blistered from long and hot pursuit, remained behind and sat 
down on a log, some one hundred yards above where the hollow commenced 
at the river bottom. Among them was James Barnes, whose horse had 
given out. As the three parties of whites advanced, the Indians, who as 
the event proved were in the hollow, seeing that the approaching settlers 
were too numerous for them, hid in the bushes till they passed. Then 
they ran out and came unexpectedly upon the men on the log, who when 
they saw the Indians fired on them. The Indians returned the fire and 
wounded Francis Woods through the thigh; they also wounded Barnes' 
horse. Both parties then sought the protection of the trees; this was 
about mid-day. When the three parties heard the firing they quickly re- 
turned, being but a short distance away, arrived nearly simultaneously 
and surrounded the Indians before they were aware of it. Captain Coop- 
er's party was on the high point skirting the western side of the banks, 
twenty or thirty feet above the Indians and fired down on them. The 
Indians concealed themselves in the thick fern grass which was three or 
four feet high and they would rise up and shoot, then drop down and 
reload their guns. 

Captain Cooper then oi-dered a charge and the whole party being near 
enough to hear, suddenly ran down upon the Indians. One Indian who 
had his ball about half way down his rifle was knocked down by Lindsay 
Carson, and David Boggs shot off his gun between Carson's legs, the 
muzzle close to the Indian's head, shattering his head beyond recognition. 
Just then, Lieutenant McMahan with savage ferocity ran up and plunged 
his knife into the Indian's dead body, broke off the blade and made a 
flourish of the handle. In this encounter five Indians were killed, all shot 
to pieces. 

A few days afterwards another dead Indian was found on the river 
two or three miles above the scene of Conflict. He had attempted to leave 
there, but was too feeble to do so, and had died on the bank of the river. 
Unquestionably he was one of the band Captain Cooper had encountered. 
The above account we take from Honck's History of Missouri. 

The party of whites then took possession of the horses and the Indians' 
guns and carried home Woods, who though badly wounded, recovered. 



108 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

It is not known to what tribe these Indians belonged. However, it is 
thought that they were affiliated with the Saukees and Renards, or they 
may have been, as General Dodge supposed, Miamis. 

Campbell Killed.— In July, 1812, a man by the name of Campbell, com- 
monly called by his associates, "Potter", because of his trade, was killed 
on the north side of the river, about five miles northwest of the present 
site of Boonville. He and a man named Adam McCord went from Kin- 
caid's Fort to Campbell's home to tie some flax. Savages, who were in 
ambush, concealed in some underbrush, fired upon them and shot Campbell 
through the body, but he ran about a hundred yards, climbed the fence, and 
pitched into the trunk of a tree which had blown down and there expired. 
The Indians, though they hunted for the body, did not succeed in finding it. 

Adam McCord escaped without injury, and going to the fort, reported 
the death of Campbell, and the circumstances under which he had been 
killed. 

The fact that later in 1814, Campbell's gun was found in the possession 
of the Miamis, by Colonel Cooper, when he had his altercation with General 
Dodge, on the south side of the river opposite Arrow Rock, leads us to 
believe that the savages that killed Campbell were a party of Miamis. The 
finding of Campbell's gun in the camp of the Miamis led up to the memor- 
able quarrel between Colonel Cooper and General Dodge. 

Settlers Move to South Side of River. — Not having seen any Indians 
for several months, in the spring of 1813 the settlers from the south side 
of the river who had gone to Kincaid's Fort in the previous spring, returned 
to their homes on the south side. 

The year before, no crops had been raised, and they were anxious to 
put in their crops for the coming year. In order that they might put in 
their crops with safety, and be advised of the approach of the Indians, 
they stationed a guard in each corner of the field in which they were at 
work. From this time on, even after the establishing of peace in 1815, the 
settlers were kept continually on the watch against the savages, tor every 
month or two, some small band of Indians would suddenly attack and slay 
some unsuspecting settler who had for the moment forgotten his usual 
caution, and who feeling secure from attack, because the Indians had not 
appeared for some time, suffered the severe penalty of his negligence. 

The Indians, from this time on, never marched in large bands against 
the settlements, but came in small scouting parties, with the hope of way- 
laying and shooting down some unsuspecting, unwary settler, or murder 
unprotected women and children. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 109 

Several men of the Boonslick country were killed by the Indians during 
the two or three years following the return of the settlers from Kincaid's 
Fort to this side of the river. There may have been others of whom we 
can gain no trace, or find any record. 

Braxton Cooper, Jr., Killed. — Braxton Cooper, Jr., was killed in Sept., 
1813, two miles north of the present site of New Franklin. The Indians 
attacked him as he was cutting logs to build a house. He was a young 
man of much physical strength and courage. He was armed with rifle 
and hunting knife. The trampled condition of the ground and broken 
bushes gave certain evidence that the fight had been fast and furious. The 
howling of young Cooper's dog attracted attention from the fort, and this 
faithful friend of his master stood watchful sentinel until David Boggs 
and Jesse Turner crawled out during the night to the place. There they 
found Cooper dead, lying on his face. By his side lay his gun, and in his 
clenched right hand was his knife, bloody to the hilt: He was not scalped 
nor mutilated, positive evidence that the savages were put to flight before 
Cooper succumbed to his wounds. Not far from him was found an Indian 
buckskin shirt, with two holes in it, saturated with blood. How many of 
the Indians were killed or wounded the settlers could not determine, for the 
savages had removed all that might have given information, except the 
hunting shirt. The Indian trail was followed for a short distance, but was 
soon lost, and the settlers abandoned the pursuit as useless. 

Joseph Still Killed. — Joseph Still and Stephen Cooper, the latter a 
youth of sixteen years, both belonging to the rangers of Fort Cooper, 
were sent up the Chariton River on a scouting expedition. On their return, 
when within about twenty miles of the fort, a band of one hundred Sac 
Indians intercepted them. The course that seemed most feasible was for 
them to break through the savage band and make for the fort. So the 
two rangers with cocked rifles unswervingly rode forward toward the 
waiting enemy. When within one hundred yards of the band, both fired 
and putting spurs to their horses charged furiously upon the Indians. 
Cooper killed one Indian brave and Still wounded another, but Still on 
reaching the Indian line was shot dead from his horse. Cooper, however, 
was more fortunate, and with waving rifle and strident battle cry suc- 
ceeding in escaping the shower of bullets, arrows, and missiles aimed at 
him. He rode a fleet horse, and thus soon outdistanced his pursuers and 
reached the fort. This was in October, 1813. 

Killing of William McLean.— William McLean was killed in Oct., 1813, 
by the Indians in what is now Howard County near the present site of 



110 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Fayette. William with Ewing McLean and four other men went to Mc- 
Lean's Fort, to pick out a piece of land, on which some one of them ex- 
pected to settle. When they arrived at a short distance southwest of the 
present site of Fayette, they were attacked by a band of about 150 Indians. 
As soon as McLean and his companions saw them, McLean retreated 
towards the fort, and just as the white men were ascending a slant lead- 
ing from a long, deep ravine, to the Moniteau Creek, the Indians fired a 
volley at them. One shot struck William McLean in the back of the head 
and he dropped dead from his horse. After satisfying themselves that he 
was dead, his remaining companions left his body, and continued their 
retreat to the fort, which they reached in safety. The Indians scalped 
McLean, cut out his heart, and literally hacked him to pieces. 

Attempt to Rill Austin. — Not long before the negro "Joe" was killed, 
a man by the name of Austin, who was stopping at McLean's Fort, while 
coming around the corner of a fence about two miles from the fort, dis- 
covered an Indian in the act of firing upon him. He suddenly reined up 
his horse and the ball passed through his horse's head. The horse fell 
upon Austin. 

One Hough and Nicolas Burckhardt, who were some distance in the 
rear, saw what had happened, and Hough shot and wounded the Indian 
as he was jumping over the fence to kill Austin. Austin soon extricated 
himself, and reached the fort; so did Hough, but Burckhardt, who ran 
into the woods, did not come in until the next morning. This man Hough 
remained temporarily in the Boonslick country. He was a hunter and 
trapper on the Upper Missouri. 

Gregg Killed and Daughter Patsy Captured. — Jesse Cox, and his son- 
in-law, William Gregg in 1814 made a settlement on the south side of the 
river above Arrow Rock. There they built a block house, a sort of family 
fort, and called it Cox's Fort. They began to make improvements, hunt- 
ing also for subsistence. Gregg and Cox killed a bear on the twenty-third 
of October, and the next day Gregg went out on his horse to get it. He 
subsequently went to feed his hogs, and while doing so, was shot by an 
Indian lying in ambush. Gregg ran to the blockhouse, a hundred yards 
off, got inside the stockade, grasped his gun, and fell dead. It is said that 
seven bullets hit the gate-post of the stockade. It is said that after the 
Indians killed Gregg, they made an attack on the cabin and captured his 
daughter Patsy, and took her away as a prisoner. A party was immedi- 
ately organized among the settlers to pursue the Indians. The girl was 
riding on horseback behind an Indian brave. One of her hands was tied 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 111 

to the Indian's hand. The horse, on account of this double load, lagged 
behind the others. She in the hope of seeing some of the settlers fol- 
lowing to rescue her, constantly looked behind. At last she discovered 
horsemen approaching, and prepared to escape, waiting until the white 
men were within 50 yards of her, when with her unbound hand, she sud- 
denly seized and extracted the Indian's knife from its sheath, and cut the 
thong which bound her hand to his. She sprang to the ground and rushed 
into the brush on the side of the trail and disappeared. The pursuing 
party then fired on the Indians, who fled precipitatly. Jesse Cox and 
William Gregg were members of Sarshall Cooper's company. 

According to another account, the Indians tomahawked their prisoner 
and fled, but she recovered. It is also said that Patsy Cox was the name 
of the young woman captured and that it was not Gregg. 

Negro "Joe" Killed. — A negro named Joe, belonging to Samuel Brown, 
was killed by the Indians near Mr. Burkhard't farm about three quarters 
of a mile from what is now Estil's Station on the M. K. & T. railroad. 

Coursault Killed. — Captain Coursault was killed in 1814 at Cote-sans 
Dessein in the attack on Roy's Fort. Cote-sans Dessein, now Bakersville, 
Callaway County, was a village of considerable importance and was located 
at the mouth of the Osage River. It is said that but for a Spanish land 
claim the capital of Missouri would doubtless have been located near this 
place. 

It was settled by French families about 1810. Several block houses 
were erected there. One was called Tebeau or Tebo's Fort and one Roy's 
Fort. These forts were about three hundred yards apart; between them 
was a log house that served as a powder magazine for both forts. 

One day Baptiste Roy went out to kill some venison, but when he had 
gone about a mile, he discovered that the Indians were hidden in the 
bushes, grass and weeds, so he immediately turned his horse and fled, and 
when nearing Tebo's Fort, he cried, "Indians, Indians." 

All the men of the fort who were armed, hastened at once to meet 
the enemy, leaving only a few old men and a half dozen unarmed and par- 
tially grown negroes in the fort. Louis Roy was at his block house which 
was some two or three rods from Roy's Fort, which was vacant at the 
time. 

When the others rushed forth to meet the Indians, Louis Roy excused 
himself by saying that he was fixing his ramrod, and kept busily at work 
scraping it. 

About a mile or two below the fort, the settlers met the Indians, and 



112 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

there the fight continued nearly all day, all fighting from behind trees. 
Finally the Indians were apparently driven away, but not before Captain 
Coursault and four or five others were killed. The number of Indians 
slain was never known. In the meantime, the Indians divided their forces 
and sent a band to attack Roy's Fort. They at once began the attack upon 
the block house in which were, at the time, Roy, his wife, Francois, and 
several other women. 
t Only two guns were to be had in the block house. These, however, 
Roy used effectively, the women keeping them loaded as fast as he fired. 
So accurate was his aim that he killed 14 Indians. The Indians 
disappeared, but warily returned, creeping up under the river bank. Sud- 
denly they emerged between the two forts and made for the log house, 
which was used as a magazine. They took dry cedar which they had 
found, split it with their knives and tomahawks, and piled it around the 
log house magazine and set fire to it. 

There were perhaps 40 or 50 Indians in this band. They were 
armed for the most part, with only bows and arrows. They yelled and 
capered with fiendish glee around the building as the fire spread. Soon, 
however, the flames reached the powder and their merriment and glee 
was changed to consternation. A tremendous explosion sent timbers and 
rafters flying into the air; Indians and parts of Indians were hurled in 
every direction; according to one account, about 20 of them, including 
those who ran and jumped into the river to soothe their anguish, were 
killed. The remainder of the party quickly disappeared. 

Murder of Ramsey Family. — The most horrible incident of this war 
was the atrocious murder of the Ramsey family. Although it happened 
on the Femme Osage in St. Charles county the news of the atrocity spread 
far and wide, and stirred the indignation and resentment of the settlers 
of the Boonslick country. 

Mrs. Ramsey having gone out to milk, was fired upon by the Indians 
and shot through the body. Her husband was a cripple, having but one 
leg. He saw his wife fall and managed to get her to the house, but as he 
reached the door, he received a wound in the thigh. At this time his 
three children were playing a short distance from his cabin. The Indians 
chased them around the house, and finally caught them and scalped them 
in the yard before the eyes of their parents. Ramsey and his wife both 
died from their wounds. 

Capt. Sarshall Cooper Murdered. — One of the saddest events of the 
war was the tragic death of Sarshall Cooper, after whom Cooper County 



a 

o 




HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 113 

was named. His death touched the hearts of the frontiersmen as had 
no other death in this section. He was, in fact, the beloved and acknowl- 
edged leader of the settlers north of the Missouri River. 

The night of April 14, 1814, was dark and stormy, and the watchful 
sentinel could not see an object six feet in front of the stockade. Captain 
Cooper lived in one of the angles of the fort, and one day while sitting at 
his fireside with his family, his youngest child on his lap, and the others 
playing around the room, his wife sitting by his side sewing, the storm 
raging without, a single warrior crawled up to the fort, and made a hole 
just large enough for the muzzle of his gun through the clay between the 
logs. The noise of his work was drowned by the howling storm; he dis- 
charged the gun with effect fatal to Cooper, and Sarshall Cooper fell from 
his chair to the floor, a lifeless corpse, amidst his horror-stricken family. 

Sarshall Cooper was a natural leader; he was about five feet 10 inches 
tall, of fine physique, a superior horseman, cool and deliberate. His wife 
was Ruth, a daughter of Stephen Hancock, the Boonsboro pioneer with 
Daniel Boone. 

The muster-roll of Capt. Sarshall Cooper's company, dated April, 
1812, is not without interest, and gives the names of the following officers 
and men: 

Wm. McMahan, 1st lieutenant ; David McQuilty, 2nd lieutenant ; John 
Monroe, 3rd lieutenant ; Ben Cooper, ensign ; John McMurray, 1st sergeant ; 
Sam McMahan, 2nd sergeant; Adam Woods, 3rd sergeant; David Todd, 
4th sergeant; John Mathews, 5th sergeant; Andrew Smith, corporal; 
Thomas Vaugn, corporal; James McMahan, corporal; John Busby, cor- 
poral ; James Barnes, corporal. Private Jesse Ashcraft, Jesse Cox, Sam 
Perry, Solomon Cox, Henry Ferrill, Harmon Gregg, Wm. Gregg, John Was- 
son, Josiah Higgins, David Gregg, Robert Cooper, Gray Bynums, David 
Cooper, Abbott Hancock, Wm. Thorp, Wm. Cooper, John Cooper, Jos. 
Cooper, Stephen Cooper, Wm. Read, Stehen Turley, Thos. McMahan, Jas. 
Anderson, Wm. Anderson, Stehen Jackson, John Hancock, Robert Irvin, 
Francis Cooper, Benoni Sappington, Jas. Cooley, Nathan Teague, Jas. 
Douglass, John Sneathan, Wm. Cresson, Jos. Cooley, Wm. McLane, Jas. 
Turner, Ervin McLane, Wm. Baxter, Peter Creason, David Burns, Price 
Arnold, John Smith, John Stephenson, Alfred Head, Gilliard Roop, Daniel 
Durbin, Jas. Cockyill, Jesse Tresner, Mitchell Poage, Townsend Brown, 
John Arnold, Robert Poage, Francis Berry, Lindsay Carson, David Boggs, 
Jesse Richardson, Robert Brown, John Peak, John Elliot, Jos. Beggs, 
(8) 



114 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Andrew Carson, John Colley, Reuben Fugitt, Seibert Hubbard, John Berry, 
Wm. Brown, Francis Woods, Wm. Allen, Robert Wells, Jos. Moody, Jos. 
Alexander, Amos Barnes, Daniel Hubbard, Harris Jamison, Abraham 
Barnes, Wm. Ridgeway, Enoch Taylor, Matbew Kinkead, John Barnes, 
Henry Waedon, Otto Ashcraft, John Pursley, Wm. Monroe, Isaac Thorn- 
ton, Stephen Feils, Dan Monroe, Giles Williams, Henry Barnes, Wm. Sav- 
age, Thomas Chandler, John Jokley, Stephen Cole, Wm. Robertson, Wm. 
Bolen, Mixe Box, Sabert Scott, John Savage, Jas. Cole, Stephen Cole, Jr., 
John Ferrill, Delaney Bolen, Jas. Savage, Jos. McMahan, Braxton Cooper, 
Robert Hancock. 

Every enlisted man furnished his own equipment and an order was 
promulgated so ,that "citizen soldiers may not be ignorant of the manner 
in which the law requires him to be equipped, he is reminded that it is 
his duty to provide himself with a good musket, with bayonet and belt, 
or fusil, two spare flints and a knapsack pouch, with a box thereon to 
contain not less than 24 cartridges ; or a good rifle, knapsack, powder- 
horn and pouch, with 20 balls and one-quarter of a pound of powder." 

Two Negroes Captured — Indians Chased. — Two negroes, belonging to 
James and John Heath, while cutting wood for making salt, were captured 
by the Indians in May. A party of fully 60 men assembled and on horse- 
back pursued these Indians, in a northerly direction 50 or 60 miles far up 
the Chariton. However the Indians escaped with their prisoners. 

Rangers Come to Relief of Settlers. — So great had been the depreda- 
tions of the Indians, so inhuman the murders committed by them in their 
predatory war in the central portion of the Boonslick country that Gen. 
Henry Dodge was ordered to take command of 350 mounted rangers 
and proceed to the relief of the settlers. This -was in September, 1814. 
There were in Dodge's command companies under Capt. W. Compton of 
St. Louis, Capt. Isaac Vanbibler of Loutre Island, Captain Daugherty of 
Cape Girardeau, and a company of the Boonslick settlers under Capt. 
Benjamin Cooper. Nathaniel Cooke and Daniel M. Boone were majors. 
In this campaign, Dodge carried with him blank commissions, and it was 
at this time that he appointed Benjamin Cooper, an elder brother of 
Sarshall Cooper, a major. According to Draper's "Memoirs" there were 
with Dodge's company forty friendly Indians, but John M. Peck says 
there were 50 Delawares and Shawnees. They were under four Indian 
captains: Na-kur-me, Kisk-ka-le-wa, Pap-pi-pua, and Wa-pe-pil-le-se. The 
two latter were fully 70 years old and both had served in the early Indian 
wars. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 115 

Dodge marched to the Boonslick country, and arrived on the north 
side of the Missouri opposite Arrow Rock, close to Coopers' fort, where 
he was joined by Captain Cooper and his company. Dodge and his men 
crossed the river to the southern bank by swimming the stream. The 
crossing was effected by selecting for the advance, six of his most active 
men, good swimmers on horseback, the others following flanked on both 
sides by canoes, and with a vanguard of canoes above and below the main 
body, stemming the swift current. About half way across, the men struck 
the current, which soon carried them to the southern bank in safety. Only 
two hours were thus consumed in crossing the river with horses and 
baggage. 

Having arrived on the south side, Dodge sent out his Indian allies as 
scouts. They soon located the hostile Mi-am-mis, and found that they 
had thrown up a small entrenchment. Dodge's men pushed forward sev- 
eral miles up the river, and surrounded the Indians at a point in what is 
now Saline County, since known as Miami's Bend. The Indians, seeing 
that the whites were in overwhelming force, proposed to the Shawnees to 
surrender themselves as prisoners of war. 

General Dodge called a council of his officers for the purpose of seek- 
ing their advice, and after explaining the whole matter to them, they all 
agreed to receive the Indians as prisoners of war, and agreed that the 
prisoners' lives should be sacredly preserved. The Coopers and other 
Boonslick officers assented. General Dodge then told all the officers that 
he would hold them personally responsible not only for their own conduct, 
but also for that of their men, particularly in their treatment of the sur- 
rendered Indians. 

Dodge understood quite well his responsibility. He was well acquainted 
with the disposition, temper and peculiarities of the western settlers. He 
knew that they had been harassed, and those near and dear to them 
slaughtered in ambush. He feared that something might occur to arouse 
their anger and stir them to reciprocal vengeance, should any untoward 
event occur, and in order to prevent a massacre, he exacted an explicit 
pledge from the officers of the several commands. 

Dodge and Cooper Controversy. — The Indians, consisting of 31 war- 
riors and 122 women and children, surrendered to him and were received 
under his protection as prisoners of war. The following morning, Cooper 
and other settlers under his command, began looking through the Indian 
camp, purposing, if possible, to find stolen property. In this search, the 
well known rifle of Campbell, whose murder, in the Boonslick region, we 



116 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

have previously referred to, was found. This discovery greatly infuriated 
Cooper and the settlers. They construed the finding of the gun evidence 
that these Miamis had perpetrated the killing of their friend and neighbor. 
They came galloping up to General Dodge and demanded the surrender 
of the Indian who had killed Campbell, their purpose being to make an 
example of him. This demand General Dodge peremptorily denied. Cooper, 
feeling outraged, threatened that his company, who surrounded him with 
cocked rifles, would kill the Indians unless his demand was acceeded to, 
and his men assumed a shooting attitude, Dodge, with commendable cool- 
ness, without even turning to the men, drew his sword, and thrusting it 
within six inches of Cooper's breast, reminded him of his pledge to protect 
the Indians on their surrender and treat them as prisoners of war. He 
then cautioned Captain Cooper that should his threat be carried out, he, 
Cooper, would be the first to feel the consequences. At this juncture, 
Major Boone rode up, and took his position at Dodge's side and announced 
that he would stand by him to the end. He also reminded Cooper of their 
pledge, and that the execution of his, Cooper's, threat would be an act of 
treachery. By this time Cooper's temper had abated, and he reluctantly 
yielded to superior authority, and with his company rode away. Cooper 
and his men took the position that Campbell had been treacherously mur- 
dered, and that the perpetrator of the deed was not entitled to the protec- 
tion afforded prisoners of war, but should be summarily dealt with as a 
murdered according to the custom of the west. 

It is said that by reason of this incident a strong attachment sprang 
up between Kish-la-lewa and Dodge, and that long afterwards at Fort 
Worth in 1835, there was an affecting recognition between the two men. 
Dodge is said to have looked upon his conduct in saving these prisoners 
as one of the happiest acts of his life. 

However, for many years, General Dodge, by reason of his magnani- 
mous conduct on this occasion, was exceedingly unpopular in the Boons- 
lick country. Dodge was afterwards governor of Wisconsin Territory, and 
twice United States senator from the state of Wisconsin. 

Cooper was a fearless man, and just, according to his standards. He 
and the settlers had been too long beyond the boundaries of civilization 
to yield readily to the reasoning of Dodge and Boone. They had been 
accustomed to rely solely upon themselves for protection and to adminis- 
ter justice according to western traditions, considering only the right and 
wrong in every instance. Their comrade and friend had been shot from 
ambush, and it was clear to their minds that these Miamias should pro- 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 117 

duce the murderers, or they should not be entitled to the privileges of 
prisoners of war. 

Letter to the Governor. — When at the outbreak of the war the gov- 
ernor of the Territory wrote Benjamin Cooper advising him and the 
settlers to move nearer to St. Louis to receive protection against the 
Indians, Cooper wrote in reply the following characteristic letter. While 
its literary merits are subject to criticism, yet it breathes in every word, 
whether correctly or incorrectly spelled, the brave spirit of the pioneer, 
and evidences a stamina and heroism of the soul superior to polite 
erudition : 

"We have maid our Hoams here & all we hav is here & it wud ruen 
us to Leave now. We be all good Americans, not a Tory or one of his 
Pups among us, & we hav 2 hundred Men and Boys that will Fight to the 
last and have 100 Wimen and Girls that will tak their places wh. Makes a 
good force. So we can Defend this Settlement wh. with Gods help we will 
do. So if we had a flew barls of Powder and 2 hundred Lead is all we ask." 

David Barton, afterwards United States senator, was a volunteer in 
Compton's company, refusing any rank, but offering General Dodge any 
service he was able to render him. 

Samuel McMahan Ambushed. — Samuel McMahan, who lived in what 
is now Lamine township in Cooper County was killed on Dec. 14, 1814, 
near Boonville. McMahan had been down to the settlement at Boonville. 
As he was returning home, he came upon a band of Indians who were lying 
in ambush for some of the settlers who were cutting clown a bee tree not 
far away. McMahan was on horseback and unsuspectedly rode into the 
midst of the Indians. The savages fired upon him, wounding him and 
killing his h6rse. He jumped when his horse fell, and though severely 
wounded, succeeded in reaching a ravine leading to the river. The savages 
soon overtook and killed him, sticking three spears into his back. They 
afterward cut off his head, and scattered his entrails over the ground. 
The Indians then scattered, and, pursuing different routes, made their way 
out of the countiy. 

The settlers, not knowing the numbers of the Indians, since roving 
bands of savages, large and small, had so frequently passed through this 
section, sent for reinforcements from the opposite side of the river, and 
on the following day sent out a party of men to secure McMahan's body, 
and get all information possible of the Indians. James Cole, the son of 
Hannah Cole, and the brother of Samuel Cole, secured the body and 
carried it before him on his horse. David McGee brought the head 



118 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

wrapped in a sheepskin. The body of McMahan was buried under the 
Linn tree, which formerly stood in the center ring at the old fairground. 
The child of David Buness who was burned to death, was also buried under 
this tree. 

Building of Hannah Cole Fort. — The next day after the killing of 
McMahan, all the settlers living near the present site of Boonville, assem- 
bled at the house of Hannah Cole which stood on the bluff in what is now- 
East Boonville. This was considered by the settlers as the most suitable 
and available place for strong defense against attacks of the Indians. All 
the men came with their teams, cut down trees, dragged logs to build 
the fort and were continuously at work until it was completed. It required 
them one week to finish the building. During the time that they were at 
work, it was necessary for them to keep men stationed around the fort 
at some distance to guard against the approach of the enemy, whom they 
expected to appear at any hour. 

As soon as the Hannah Cole Fort was completed, the old fort of 
Stephen Cole's situated on the bluff above the river, one mile above the 
new fort, was abandoned. All the families gathered into the new fort, 
so. as to be a protection one to the other. 

The treaty of peace between England and the United States was signed 
at Ghent on Dec. 24, 1814, nevertheless the Indians, emboldened by Black- 
hawk's repulse of the forces of Maj. Zachriah Taylor on Rock River al- 
though advised that peace had been declared, thought themselves able to 
cany on an independent warfare. 

Indian Treaty. — All treaties with the Indians which had been made 
regarding the cession of Indian lands prior thereto were ratified at this 
conference. It was not, however, until 1833 that every Indian claim to 
land title in the state of Missouri was eliminated. 

Major Stephen Cole was the acknowledged leader of the settlers living 
south of the Missouri River, and he survived the war. Having made every 
effort to protect his loved ones, and his neighbors, during the trying period 
of the War of 1812, when peace was declared in 1815, the love of wild 
adventure led him to become a pioneer in the trade with Santa Fe, in 
1822. He was killed by the Indians about 60 miles southwest of Sante 
Fe, on the Rio Grande River. With and associated with him at the time, 
was Stephen Cole, the son of Hannah Cole. Cole was also killed at 
that time. 

We have endeavored to give the names of all the men of whom we 
have been able to secure any record who were killed in the Boonslick 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 119 

country during the Indian War, from 1812 to 1815, together with a brief 
account of how they came to their death. The peculiar atrocities attend- 
ing the killing of some of them make even the stoutest shudder. 

During the war the Indians stole so many horses from the Boonslick 
settlement, that for two or three years after the declaration of peace, they 
were compelled to plow their corn with oxen, and even milch cows. 

The reader should remember that the Indian was a savage and was 
intellectually dwarfed. In the eyes of our forefathers, the Indians had 
no rights, at least none to impede the onward march of civilization. We 
had not then adopted the benevolent policy of treating the Indians as 
wards, the modern colonial policy affected by our government in the 
Philippines. The Indians were continually driven back, giving ground 
before the oncoming white colonists, until they retreated far inland. 
Through war, liquor and disease, their numbers have decreased. How- 
ever, amalgamation and benevolent assimilation have wrought a wondrous 
change. A humane policy has preserved them from extinction, and has 
changed once implacable, treacherous and cruel enemies into loyal friends, 
citizens and staunch allies in the cause of liberty and justice. In the 
World War, just ended, 1,000 Indians enlisted in the navy. In the army, 
6,500 Indians enlisted. They now hold a $50 Liberty Bond for every man, 
woman and child of their race. The romance of the American Indian is 
not ended. He is a striking, living illustration of what a humane policy 
will do to bury racial hatred in the land of the free and the home of 
the brave. 

Additional Incidents of the Period. — James Davis was an intimate 
companion and associate of Daniel Boone in many of his hunting expedi- 
tions. On this occasion to which we refer, Boone, by reason of infirmities 
of age, or disability, did not accompany Davis. It was in the winter of 
1813. None but a hardy and adventurous character would venture alone 
through the wilderness at this time. Davis was intrepid and experienced, 
and fearlessly started upon his expedition, and arrived near the western 
boundaries of the territory, where he was captured by the Otoes Indians. 

The Otoes were said to be the most civilized as well as the most 
sanguinary and cruel of all the tribes west of the Mississippi River. They 
lived in substantial log houses with roofs of dirt and sod, and were so 
fearless and warlike that no satisfactory treaty was ever made with them 
until the latter part of 1828. 

After having captured him, they stripped him of everything that he 
possessed, took his gun and ammunition and turned him loose as naked 



120 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

as he was when he came into the world. However, as if in mockery, they 
gave him an old English musket with one load. They did not torture him, 
but turned him loose to meet his fate. None but the most vigorous con- 
stitution could have stood successfully the trial. He traveled until about 
nightfall, and while seeking shelter in some place where he could protect 
himself from the winter winds, he saw a bear taking his winter sleep. 
With the cunning and caution of the frontiersman, born of experience, he 
approached the bear, and placing his old musket within a few inches of 
its head, fired the charge into the bear's brains, and killed it instantly. 
Necessity to him was the mother of invention. With the flint of his old 
musket he succeeded in skinning the bear. Having done this, he fashioned 
it as best he could, and before the heat had left the hide, he clothed him- 
self therewith, placing his feet and arms where the legs of the bear 
had been, and drawing the head well over his own head and face, he lay 
down by the side of the bear and slept through the night in the skin that 
he had appropriated. 

At daylight, feeling refreshed, he set out on his long journey to the 
settlement, taking enough of the meat to last him through the toilsome 
journey. He had more than a hundred miles of snow and wilderness to 
traverse, and no implement with which he could make a fire, but his fur 
suit kept him warm, and raw bear meat furnished him nutriment. 

It took him several days to make the journey, but finally he arrived 
at the house of Jonathan Bryan in the Boone settlement late in the eve- 
ning. Davis grasped the latch-string, which usually was hanging on the 
outside, and pushed the door open. Sitting alone by the fire was an old 
Scotch schoolmaster, who had evidently stopped at Bryan's for a few 
days. The opening of the door attracted the schoolmaster's attention, and 
by the light of the fire, he could plainly see the rough outlines of this 
weird figure, which to his excited imagination was transformed into an 
evil shape. Filled with fear, he jumped from his chair, and fled from the 
room, crying, "Devil, devil, devil." However, Jonathan Bryan, hearing 
the disturbance, rushed into the room, and recognizing Davis, soon quieted 
the apprehensions of the schoolmaster. The bear's skin had become so 
dry and hard that it required considerable effort to restore the old hunter 
to human shape. 

This story is said to have been handed down by tradition by Jonathan 
Bryan himself. James Davis was an eccentric and picturesque character. 
He was the first man indicted by grand jury that assembled in the Louisi- 
ana Territory under American auspices for the murder of William Davis. 






HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 121 

However as the evidence showed, it possessed none of the elements of 
murder, and Davis was acquitted by the jury that tried him. 

In an account of the expedition from Pittsburg to the Rocky Moun- 
tains in the years 1819 and '20, by order of Hon. J. C. Calhoun, Secretary 
of War, and under the command of Maj. Stephen H. Dong, compiled by 
Edward James, we take the following: 

"A Mr. Munroe of Franklin related to the party that in 1816 he found 
on a branch of the Lamine, (4) the relics of the encampment of a large 
party of men, whether of whites or of Indians he did not know. Seeing 
a large mound nearby, which he believed to be a cache for the spoils of 
the party, he opened it and found the body of a white officer, apparently 
a man of rank, which had been interred with extraordinary care. The 
body was placed in a sitting posture, upon an Indian rush mat, with its 
back resting against some logs, placed around it in the manner of a log 
house, enclosing a space of about three by five feet, and about four feet 
high, covered at top with a mat similar to that beneath. The clothing 
was still in sufficient preservation to enable him to distinguish a red coat 
trimmed with gold lace, golden epaulets, a spotted buff waistcoat, furnished 
also with gold lace, and pantaloons of white nankeen. On the head was a 
round beaver hat, and a bamboo walking stick, with the initials J. M. C, 
engraved upon a golden head, reclined against the arm, but was some- 
what decayed where it came in contact with the muscular part of the leg. 
On raising the hat, it was found that the deceased had been hastily scalped. 
To what nation he belonged, Mr. Munroe could not determine. We ob- 
served, however, that the button taken from the shoulder, had the word 
Philadelphia moulded upon it. The cane still remains in the possession 
of the narrator, but the button was taken by another of the party." 

Leven's and Drake, in their "History of Cooper County," written in 
1886, gives the following interesting incident: 

"In the year 1818, Joseph Stephens, who died in 1836, Maj. Stephen 
Cole and William Ross, the hatter, started west on a hunting and exploring 
tour, and traveled as far as Knob Noster. At that time, all the country 
west of the present boundary line of Cooper County, was a wilderness, no 
person living in it. About six miles southeast of the present site of 
Sedalia, in Pettis County, on a farm now owned by a man by the name of 
Warren, near Flat Creek, they discovered what appeared to be a large, 
high and peculiarly shaped Indian mound. They examined it pretty closely, 
and found on one side that the wolves had scratched an opening into it. 
After enlarging it, so as to admit them, they beheld a remarkable sight. 



122 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

They found themselves in what resembled a room, about eight feet square, 
with a ceiling of logs, just high enough to permit' a tall man to stand erect. 
On the side opposite where they had entered, sat an officer dressed in full 
military uniform, with gold epaulets upon his shoulders, gold lace fring- 
ing every seam of his coat, cocked military hat, knee breeches, lace stock- 
ings and morocco slippers. As he sat erect upon a seat hewed out of a 
log, nothing but the ghastly hue and leathery appearance of his skin 
would have suggested but that he was alive. By his side stood a heavy 
gold-headed cane. His features were complete, and his flesh free from 
decay, though dried to the consistency of leather. The place in which 
the body was found, was very peculiar. A place about eight feet square 
and two feet deep had been dug in the earth. The sides had been walled 
up with sod, until it was high enough for the purpose, reaching several 
feet above the surface of the ground. The. top was then covered with 
poles which ran up to a point in the center like the roof of a house. Then 
the poles and the surrounding walls were covered with sod two or three 
feet deep, cut from the prairie nearby, thus excluding entirely the rain 
and air. When they left the place, William Ross, being the eldest man of 
the party, took the cane as a momento, but nothing else was touched. 

"Who this officer was, from whence he came, what he was doing in 
this part of the country, what was the cause of his death, and when and 
by whom he was thus singularly entombed, has not, and perhaps never 
will be known. But he was supposed, by many, to have been a British 
officer, who, during the War of 1812, passed around by way of Canada 
into the Indian country, to incite the Indians against the whites; yet 
this is only conjecture, though those who discovered his body, account for 
him in that way. 

"Soon after this, Joseph Stephens, Sr., now living near Petersburg, 
on the 0. V. & S. K. Railroad, in company with James D. Campbell, went 
into that part of the country bee hunting, and visited the burial place of 
this officer. They found that part of the roof had fallen in, and that the 
wolves had eaten all of the flesh off the body, so that nothing but the 
skeleton and clothes remained. Joseph Stephens took the epaulets, as a 
momento, but nothing else was disturbed. As his mother objected to his 
keeping the epaulets, he melted them into a large ball, which was worth 
$15 or $20, as it was solid gold. This description of the burial place, &c, 
was obtained from the last mentioned Joseph Stephens, and is correct, 
although several different accounts have been published." 



CHAPTER VII. 



FROM 1815 TO 1819. 



IMMIGRATION — ORGANIZATION' OF COUNTIES — EARLY COURTS — PROCEEDINGS — 

OFFICERS— ELECTIONS— "NEW COMERS"— LAND SPECULATION— SALE OF 

PUBLIC LANDS— PREEMPTION CLAIMS — SAMUEL COLE'S EXPERIENCES — 
EARLY CHURCHES — A. FULLER'S LETTER. 

During the War of 1812, more properly called the "Second War with 
Great Britain," there was some immigration into the Boonslick country. 

When peace was established with England, and the treaty of peace 
was finally entered into with the Indians in 1815, a steady and ever in- 
creasing stream of immigration poured into the Boonslick country, and 
continued in an unending flow for many years thereafter. 

But even during the war with the Indians, some hardy and brave 
settlers settled in the Boonslick country, though few ventured to locate 
except near enough 'to reach the forts at the first approach of the Indians. 

Organization of Counties. — When the territory of Missouri was estab- 
lished in 1812, the eastern portion of the state was at once organized into 
counties, and the territorial law, by means of territorial courts, was ex- 
tended over them. But the Boonslick country had not been sufficiently 
settled to justify its organization, and the expense of holding terms of 
court within its limits. 

Now, however, conditions were different. With increasing immigra- 
tion the demand became strong and loud for organized courts. 

It will be remembered that from 1804 until Oct. 1, 1812, the territory 
of Missouri was divided into four districts. At that date, in accordance 
with an act of Congress, requiring him so to do, Governor Clark issued a 
proclamation, reorganizing the four districts into the five following coun- 
ties: St. Charles, St. Louis, St. Genevieve, Cape Girardeau, and New Ma- 



124 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

drid. In 1813 the county of Washington was created from a part of St. 
Geneveive. In 1814, the county of Arkansas was formed, and during the 
winter of 1814, and 1815, the county of Lawrence was organized from the 
western portion of New Madrid. 

Under an act of the General Assembly of the Territory of Missouri, 
approved Jan. 13, 1816, the county of Howard was created, being the ninth 
organized county of the territory, and was taken out of the counties of 
St. Louis and St. Charles. It included among other counties what is now 
Cooper County. Its territory was more than one-third of the present 
state of Missouri. It was almost an empire, presenting an area of nearly 
23,000 square miles. It was larger than Vermont, Massachusetts, Dela- 
ware, and Rhode Island. Missouri at that time had not been admitted 
into the sisterhood of states. From its territory have since been organized 
the following counties: 

Adair, organized Jan. 29, 1841. Called after Gen. John Adair, of 
Mercer County, Kentucky, who was elected governor of that State in 
1820 and died May 19, 1840. 

Audrain, organized Dec. 17, 1836. Called for James S. Audrain, who 
was a representative from St. Charles in the Missouri Legislature in 1830, 
and who died in St. Charles, Nov. 10, 1831. 

Bates (part), organized Jan. 29, 1841. Called for Frederick Bates, 
second governor of the State, who died Aug. 4, 1825, before the expiration 
of his term. Lieutenant-Governor W. H. Ashley, having resigned, Abra- 
ham J. Williams, of Columbia, president of the Senate, became Governor 
until the special election in September, same year, when John Miller was 
elected. Williams died Dec. 30, 1839, and an old fashioned box-shaped 
limestone monument marks his grave in Columbia Cemetery. 

Benton (north part), organized Jan. 3, 1835. Called for Thomas H. 
Benton, United States Senator, 1820-1850. Died April 10, 1858. 

Boone, organized Nov. 16, 1820. Named for the old pioneer and Indian 
fighter, Daniel Boone. Died in St. Charles County Sept. 26, 1820. 

Caldwell, organized Dec. 26, 1836. Called for Capt. Matthew Cald- 
well, commander of Indian scouts and a hunter of Kentucky. Joseph 
Doniphan, father of Gen. A. W. Doniphan, belonged to his company. Gen- 
eral Doniphan was chiefly instrumental in having the county named in 
honor of his father's old comrade. 

Camden (part) , first named Kinderhook, after the home of Martin Van 
Buren, organized Jan. 29, 1841. On Feb. 23, 1843, name changed to Cam- 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 125 

den, in honor of Charles Pratt Camden, an English statesman who was 
a warm advocate of the American colonies. 

Carroll, organized Jan. 3, 1833. Called for Charles Carroll, of Carroll- 
ton, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Died Nov. 
14, 1832. 

Cass, organized Sept. 14, 1835. First called Van Buren ; changed to 
Cass Feb. 19, 1849, in honor of Lewis Cass, United States Senator from 
Michigan. Died June 17, 1866. 

Chariton, organized Nov. 16, 1820. John Chariton was the name of 
a leader of the French fur-traders who at an early day located on the 
Missouri River at the mouth of the creek which was ever afterwards 
called Chariton. Hence the name of the creek and county. 

Clay, organized Jan. 2, 1822. Called for Henry Clay, of Kentucky. 
Died June 29, 1852. 

Clinton, organized Jan. 15, 1833. Called for Governor DeWitt Clinton, 
of New York. Died Feb. 11, 1828. 

Cole, organized Nov. 16, 1820. Called for Capt. Stephen Cole, an old 
settler, who built "Cole's Fort," near Boonville. 

Cooper, organized Dec. 17, 1818. Called for Sarshel Cooper, who 
was killed by an Indian in Cooper's Fort opposite Arrow Rock and near 
the present village of Boonsboro, Howard County, on the night of April 
14, 1814. 

Daviess, organized Dec. 29, 1836. Called for Col. Joe Hamilton Daviess, 
of Kentucky. Killed in the battle of Tippecanoe, Nov. 7, 1811. 

De Kalb, organized Feb. 25, 1845. Called for Baron John De Kalb, a 
Frenchman of Revolutionary fame, who was killed in the battle of Cam- 
den in 1780. 

Gentry, organized Feb. 12, 1841. Called for Gen. Richard Gentry, of 
Columbia, who was killed in the battle of Okeechobee, Fla., Dec. 25, 1837. 

Grundy, organized Jan. 2, 1843. Called for Felix Grundy, United 
States Senator of Tennessee. Died Dec. 19, 1840. 

Harrison, organized Feb. 14, 1845. Called for Albert G. Harrison, of 
Fulton, Mo., member of Congress from 1835 to 1839. Died Sept. 7, 1839. 

Henry, first named Rives in honor of William C. Rives, of Virginia, 
organized Dec. 13, 1834. Changed to Henry in honor of Patrick Henry, 
who died June 6, 1799. 

Jackson, organized Dec. 15, 1826. Named in honor of Andrew Jack- 
son. Died June 8, 1845. 



126 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Johnson, organized Dec. 13, 1834. Called for Richard M. Johnson, of 
Kentucky. Died of apoplexy, Nov. 19, 1850. 

Lafayette, first called Lillard and organized Nov. 16, 1820, after James 
Lillard, an old citizen. Changed to Lafayette, Feb. 16, 1825, who died at 
Paris, May 20, 1834. 

Linn, organized Jan. 7, 1837. Called for Lewis F. Linn, United States 
Senator from Missouri, 1830-1843, who died at St. Genevieve, Oct. 3, 1843. 

Livingston, organized Jan. 6, 1837. Called for Edward Livingston, 
Secretary of State under President Jackson. Died May 23, 1836. 

Macon, organized Jan. 6, 1837. Named in honor of Nathaniel Macon, 
of North Carolina, of the Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Congresses and 
United States Senator in the Nineteenth and Twentieth. Died June 29, 
1837. 

Mercer, organized Feb. 14, 1845. Called for John F. Mercer, a soldier 
of the Revolution from Maryland. Died Aug. 30, 1821. 

Miller (north part), organized Feb. 26, 1837. Called for Gov. John 
Miller, of Missouri ; was Governor from 1825 to 1832. Died March 18, 1846. 

Moniteau, organized Feb. 14, 1845. An Indian name, and doubtless 
a corruption of Manito, an Indian name for Deity or Great Spirit. 

Monroe (part), organized Jan. 6, 1831. Called for James Monroe, 
President. Died July 4, 1831. 

Morgan, organized Jan. 5, 1833. Called for Gen. Daniel Morgan, of 
the Revolution, who displayed great bravery at the battle of the Cowpens 
in the defeat of Tarlton and died in 1802. 

Pettis, organized Jan. 26, 1833. Called for Spencer Pettis, member 
of Congress from St. Louis from 1829 to 1831, who was killed in a duel 
by Maj. Thomas Biddle, Aug. 27, 1831, aged 29 years. 

Putnam, organized Feb. 28, 1845. Called for Gen. Israel Putnam, of 
Bunker Hill fame, 1775. Died, 1790. 

Randolph, organized Jan. 22, 1829. Called for John Randolph, of 
Roanoke, Va. Died May 24, 1833. 

Ray, organized Nov. 16, 1820. Called for John Ray, a member of the 
constitutional convention of 1820 from Howard County. 

St. Clair (north part), organized Jan. 29, 1841. Called for Gen. 
Arthur St. Clair, of the Revolution. 

Saline, organized Nov. 25, 1820. Named because of its salt springs. 

Shelby (part), organized Jan. 2, 1835. Called for Gov. Isaac Shelby, 
of Kentucky. Died July 18, 1826. 

Sullivan, organized Feb. 16, 1845. Called for James Sullivan, of Revo- 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 127 

lutionary fame, a member of the Continental Congress of 1782. Died 
Dec. 10, 1808. 

Worth, organized Feb. 8, 1861. Called for Gen. William J. Worth, 
of the Florida and Mexican Wars. Died at San Antonio, Texas, May 7, 1849. 

Also the following counties in Iowa: Parts of Taylor and Adams, 
Union, Ringgold, Clarke, Decatur and Wayne, and probably parts of Lucas, 
Monroe and Appanoose. 

Its boundaries were established as follows: Beginning at the mouth 
of the Osage River, which is about 10 miles below the city of Jefferson 
and opposite the village of Barkersville in Callaway county, the boundary 
uprsued the circuitous course of said stream to the Osage boundary line, 
meaning thereby the eastern boundary of the Osage Indian Territory, or 
to the northeast corner of Vernon County, where the Osage River, two 
miles east of the present town of Shell City, runs near said corner ; thence 
north (along the western line of St. Clair, Henry, Johnson and Lafayette 
counties), to the Missouri River, striking that stream west of and very 
near Napoleon, thence up said river to the mouth of the Kansas River 
(where Kansas City is now located), thence with the Indian boundary 
line (as described in. the proclamation of Gov. William Clark issued the 
9th day of March, 1815), northwardly along the eastern boundary of the 
"Platte purchase" 140 miles, or to a point about 36 miles north and within 
the present county of Adams, in the state of Iowa, near the town of 
Corning in said county, on the Burlington and Missouri River railroad; 
thence eastward with the said line to the main dividing ridge of high 
ground, to the main fork of the river Cedar (which is the line between 
Boone and Callaway counties in Missouri) ; thence down said river to the 
Missouri; thence down the river Missouri and in the middle of the main 
channel thereof, to the mouth of the Great Osage River, the place of 
beginning. 

Howard County was reduced to its present limits by an act of the 
Legislature approved Feb. 16, 1825. The history of what is now Cooper 
County is inseparably connected with that of Howard County until the 
organization of Cooper County in 1819. 

Early Courts. — The act under which Howard County was organized 
located the seat of justice at Hannah Cole's Fort. The first circuit court 
of Howard County, which was the first Court held in this section of the 
State, was held at the house of Joseph Jelly in Hannah Cole's Fort, which 
was situated in what is now East Boonville. The Court opened on the 
eighth day of July, 1816, and discharged under the territorial laws all 



128 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

the duties of the Circuit, County and Probate Courts of the present day. 

Hon. David Barton was the presiding judge; Nicholas T. Burkhartt, 
the sheriff; Gray Bynum, the clerk; and John G. Heath, circuit attorney. 
The attorneys who attended this term of court were Edward Bates, 
Charles Lucas, Joshua Barton, and Lucius Easton. Few in number, but 
their names became intimately and prominently associated with the fu- 
ture development of the state of Missouri.. 

The following are the proceedings of this term of court: — 

John Munroe was appointed coroner of Howard County, and Benjamin 
Estil, David Jones, David Kincaid, William Head and Stephen Cole were 
appointed commissioners to locate the permanent county seat, which was 
temporarily located by the territorial legislature at Hannah Cole's Fort 
as above stated. 

The following persons composed the first grand jury: Stephen Jack- 
son, foreman ; Adam Woods, Sr. ; Asaph Hubbard, John Pusley,' George 
Tompkins, Isaac Drake, William Anderson, Samuel Brown, Robert Wilde, 
Davis Todd, William Brown, Robert Brown, John Snethan, Ezekiel Wil- 
liams, William Monroe, Jr.; John O'Banon, James Alexander, Muke Box. 

The first license to operate and run a ferry was issued to Hannah 
Cole. The charges were fixed by the Court, and will be found in the chap- 
ter on "Transportation and Highways." 

Harper C. Davis was licensed to conduct a tavern at Kincaid's Fort. 

The first road laid out by the authority of the Court in the county 
was a route from Cole's Fort on the Missouri River to intersect the road 
from Potosi, in Washington County, at the Osage River. Stephen Cole, 
James Cole, and Jumphry Gibson were appointed commissioners to mark 
out this road. 

The first indictments returned by the grand jury were United States 
vs. Samuel Heirall, and United States vs. James Cockrell, both endorsed 
a true bill. 

At the first election held in the county, the electors voted at Head's 
Fort, McLean's Fort, Fort Cooper and Cole's Fort. The first civil action 
was styled Davis Todd vs. Joseph Boggs. The following amusing incident 
and example of retributive justice happened at this term of court: 

Maj. Stephen Cole was fined, by Judge Barton, one dollar, for con- 
tempt, for misconduct in the presence of the court. Cole objected to pay- 
ing the fine, but supposing he would be able to retaliate some time, at last 
paid it. And his time for retaliation came sooner than he expected. That 
afternoon, Cole, who was a justice of the peace, organized his court on a 



- 





- 




HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 129 

log in front of the fort. As Judge Barton was returning from dinner, he 
stopped in front of Cole and leaned against a tree, watching the proceed- 
ings of the justice and smoking his pipe. Cole looked up, and assuming 
the stern look of insulted dignity, said, "Judge Barton, I fine you one 
dollar for contempt of my court, for smoking in its presence." Judge 
Barton smilingly paid his fine, and went to open his own court, acknowl- 
edging that he had been beaten at his own game. 

The following order established the rate of taxation at that time: 

"Ordered by the court that the following rates of taxation for county 
purposes for the year 1816 be established in the county of Howard, to-wit: 

On each horse, mare, mule or ass above 3 years old $ .25 

On all meat cattle above 3 years old -0614 

On each and every stud-horse, the sum for which he stands the 

season -0614 

On every negro or mulatto slave between the ages of 16 and 45 — .50 

For each billiard-table 25.00 

On every able-bodies single man of 21 years old or upwards not 

being possessed of property of the value of $200 .50 

On water, grist-mills, and saw-mills, horse-mills, tan-yards and dis- 
tilleries in actual operation 40 cents on every $100 valuation." 

Five marriage certificates were recorded in the year 1816. We give 
verbatum copies of four. 

I do hereby certify, that on the 27th day of March last, I celebrated 
the rights of matrominy between Elijah Creason and Elizabeth Lowell, 
both of the county of Howard and territory of Missouri. 

Given under my hand, this 12th day of April, 1816. 

JAMES ALCORN, J. P. 
Territory of Missouri, 

Howard County, To-wit: 

Be it known, to whom it may concern, that on the 26th day of April, 
1816, by virtue of the power and authority vested in my by law, a preacher 
of the Gospel, I joined in the holy state of matrimony Abraham Barnes, 
and Gracy Jones, of the said territory and county, as man and wife, satis- 
factory proof having been given of the legal notice as requested by law 
and parents' consent obtained. 

Witness my hand, the 22nd day of April, 1816. 

DAVID McLAIN. 
Territory of Missouri, 
(9) 



130 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

County of Howard, To-wit: 

Be it remembered to all whom it may concern, that on the 10th day 
of May, 1816, by virtue of the power and authority vested in me by law 
a preacher of the Gospel, etc., I joined in the holy state of matrimony 
Judiah Osmond and Rosella Busby, of the said territory and county, as 
man and wife. Witness my hand, this 3d day of July, 1816. 

WILLIAM THORP. 

I hereby certify, that on the second of June last passed, I celebrated 
the rights of matrimony between John Cooley and Elizabeth White, both 
of the county of Howard and territory of Missouri. 

Given under my hand, this 12th day of April, 1816. 

JAMES ALCORN, J. P. 

The first election held in Cooper County after its organization was 
on the second day of August, 1819. It was held to elect a delegate to 
Congress from the territory of Missouri. John Scott and Samuel Ham- 
mond were the candidates. The townships which voted at said election 
were, as heretofore stated, Arrow Rock, Miami, Tebo (sometimes in those 
early days spelled Tabeaux, and Tabeau), and Lamine. The latter town- 
ship included the town of Boonville. The votes cast in Tebo township 
were thrown out because the poll-book of said township did not state for 
whom the votes were cast, and this poll-book was not put on file with the 
others; thei'efore the only votes counted were those cast in the other 
three townships. John Scott received 127 votes, and Samuel Hammond 21 
votes, making the total count, 138. 

We infer, and on a reasonable hypothesis, that this was nothing like 
the total vote of the county at that time. The county was sparsely settled 
and there was then no newspaper published in Cooper County. News of 
the election, in the main, had to be spread by word of mouth, and it is 
very probable that many of the voters 'did not know the day of the same; 
and again by reason of the distance from their voting places, failed to 
record their votes. 

Robert P. Clark, county clerk, called to his aid James Brufee and 
Benjamin F. Hickox, two justices of the peace, to assist him in counting 
the votes. 

The next election hold in the county was to select delegates to the 
state convention, called by proclamation of the Governor to frame a con- 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 131 

stitution for the state of Missouri, and was held on the first, second and 
third days of May, 1820. The following was the result in the county: 
Robert P. Clark, William Lillard and Robert Wallace were elected. The 
townships in which this election was held and the votes cast were as 
follows: Arrow Rock township, 120 votes; Lamine township, 408 votes; 
Tableaux township, 150 votes ; Moreau township, 101 votes ; Miami town- 
ship, 40 votes. Total vote of Cooper County, 819. 

At the time of this election, Cooper County was bounded on the east 
and south by the Osage River, on the west by the Indian Territory, and 
on the north by the Missouri River. Lamine township then included about 
all within the present limits of Cooper County, and some territory not 
now included in its limits. 

The next and third election was held on the 28th day of August, 1820, 
to elect a member of Congress, and State and county officers. The follow- 
ing townships voting at this election, and the votes cast, were as follows: 
Arrow Rock township, 57 votes; Lamine township, 503 votes; Jefferson 
township, 110 votes; Osage township, 78 votes; Miami township, 28 votes; 
Moreau township, 71 votes; Tableaux township, 125 votes. The vote of 
Cooper County, 972. Thomas Rogers, Thomas Smiley and William Lillard 
were elected representatives ; William H. Curtis, sheriff ; and Bryant 
Saunders, coroner. 

Immigration. — In writing of the immigration at this period, Dr. John 
Mason Peck has this to say: "The 'new-comers,' like a mountain torrent, 
poured into the country faster than it was possible to provide corn for 
breadstuff's. Some families came in the spring of 1815. But in the winter, 
spring, summer and autumn of 1816, they came like an avalanche. It 
seemed as though Kentucky and Tennessee were breaking up and moving 
to the "Far West." Caravan after caravan passed over the prairies of 
Illinois, crossing the 'gi^eat river' at St. Louis, all bound to the Boonslick. 
The stream of immigration had not lessened in 1817. Many families came 
from Virginia, the Carolinas and Georgia, and not a few from the Middle 
States, while a sprinkling found their way to the extreme West from 
Yankeedom and Yorkdom. Following in the wake of this exodus to the 
middle section of Missouri was a terrific excitement about land." 

Land Speculation. — This was a period of some wild and hazardous 
land speculations ; not only by reason of the large immigration into the 
Boonslick section, or rather into Howard County, but because of the earth- 
quake in New Madrid in the years 1811 and 1812. 

In 1815, Congress passed an act affording liberal relief for the suf- 



132 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

ferers from the earthquake. The land owners were permitted to give 
up their present holdings and to locate with the certificates received for 
their New Madrid possessions on other public land. This opened a wide 
door for fraud, speculation and litigation. The actual sufferers were in 
nearly every instance defrauded. Before they had knowledge of the pass- 
ing of the act of Congress, the New Madrid country was filled with 
speculators from St. Louis, who purchased their property at a rate of 
from $40 to $60 per claim, a claim sometimes embracing as much as 640 
acres. After acquiring the rights to the injured land, certificates of dis- 
location were issued by the St. Louis land office to the purchasers of these 
injured properties. The owners of these certificates, of course, hunted 
around for the most valuable property and located their certificates on 
it. The demand for certificates became very great, the more unscrupulous 
and dishonest New Madrid settlers would sell their claims several times 
to new speculators anxious to buy. All this led to endless litigation. 
Under New Madrid certificates so issued much valuable property was 
located in the Boonslick country. 

Sale of Public Lands. — Dec. 6, 1816, marked the setting for the first 
time of the Jacob Staff, to survey the public lands of this state, prepara- 
tory to placing the lands on the market for sale for home-makers. Prior 
to that time, nothing had been surveyed by legal authority, except those 
lands known as the old French and Spanish claims. The survey, however, 
progressed slowly and intermittently, and it was not until Aug. 3, 1918, 
when by order of the President's proclamation the land sale was held at 
St. Louis. The President also issued a proclamation that the land sales 
at Franklin. Howard County, would begin Sept. 7, 1818, but there was 
quite a spirited controversy about the legality of offering the lands for 
sale, as they were thought yet to be within the boundary lines of the Sac 
and Fox Indian Reservation, and one officer to conduct the sale resigned. 
The sales, in consequence thereof, were continud to Nov. 2, 1818. at which 
day the land sales began, Gen. Thomas A. Smith being receiver, and 
Charles Carrol, register. The crowd in attendance upon these sales was 
said to have numbered thousands of well-dressed and intelligent men from 
all parts of the east and south. At the first public sales, there seems to 
have been quite a spirit of competition among the bidders, but this was 
evidently caused by those from a distance, for the settlers had a tacit 
understanding not to bid against each other for the land they wanted, and 
in after years there seems to have been no competition for the lands at 
public sales. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 133 

Preemption Claims. — At this time there arose the very interesting 
question of preemption claims. The settlers in the Franklin, or Howard 
land district, had given notice to the officers of the land office of the pre- 
emptions. So universal was the preemption right claimed, that the settlers 
there were called "preemptioners." This disputed question was of such 
deep interest and import to the settlers and was so much discussed, that 
it became the all-absorbing question, to the exclusion of every other. 

On March 3, 1819, Congress passed an act confirming the right of 
preemption, to the people of this district. It is said that many of the 
most illustrious men of our state were among the preemptioners, and they 
in after years became potent factors in the evolution and progress of 
our great state. 

Levens and Drake, in their "History of Cooper County," give some 
amusing interesting incidents of this period: 

"Sometime during the year 1817, William Gibson, now living a short 
distance east of the city of Boonville, was appointed by the Territorial 
Court, constable of that part of Howard County lying south of the Mis- 
souri River. His jurisdiction extended from the Missouri, on the north, 
to the Osage River on the south. Soon after his appointment, there being 
some trouble down on the Osage, he was sent there with a warrant for 
the arrest of the man who had caused the trouble. The distance was 
between 60 and 70 miles. After arresting the man, he returned to Boon- 
ville with his prisoner. As he was on his journey back, having an execu- 
tion against- a man who lived on the road, he stopped at his house and 
proceeded to levy on the feather beds, as nothing in those days was 
exempt from levy under execution. But, as soon as he made his purpose 
known, four women, who were the only persons at home, threatened to 
give him a thrashing, so he was forced to retire as fast as he could, and 
return the execution unsatisfied. To add to this, the court only allowed 
him, for his journey of 140 miles, which occupied four days, the magni- 
ficent sum of 25 cents. Mr. Gibson thinking the office not quite lucrative 
enough to justify him in devoting his whole time to its duties, arid not 
wishing to risk his life at the hands of angry women, quietly sent in his 
resignation, thus establishing the precedent that officers should resign 
when not paid a living wage. 

"While Samuel Cole was living at his mother's fort in East Boonville, 
in the year 1817, there was a dance at William Bartlett's boarding house, 
on the flat near the ferry landing, at the mouth of Rupe's Branch. Al- 
though Samuel wished very much to attend, his mother refused to permit 



134 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

him, as his wardrobe at that time, was entirely too limited to permit him 
to associate with the "elite." He had no pants, his sole garment consist- 
ing of a long tow shirt, which reached entirely to his heels. But Samuel, 
though always, from his own statement, an obedient son, was not to be 
deprived of so great a pleasure, by this, to him, a very trivial excuse. So 
he determined to attend that dance, and then make the best arrangement 
he could to meet the "wrath to come." Not having any horse, he bridled 
a tame bull, which was at the fort, and thus mounted, rode up to the door 
of the house in which they were dancing. After looking in for some time, 
and by his strange looking steed and attire, attracting a large crowd about 
him, he drove his bull down to the river, and riding in, he slid back over 
its haunches, and caught hold of its tail. In this way they swam down 
the river to Hannah Cole's fort, when he and his strange companion came 
out of the water and sought their homes. This story has often been pub- 
lished, but never correctly, as all former accounts represented him as 
swimming the river to attend a wedding, but our version is correct, as it 
was obtained directly from Samuel Cole himself. 

"About the 15th day of November, 1817, Joseph Stephens, with his 
large family and several friends, crossed the river to where Boonville now 
stands, and camped near the foot of Main street. The next day after 
they crossed Samuel Cole, who was then a boy of sixteen years of age, 
appeared at their camp and asked Mrs. Stephens if she would like to have 
some venison. Upon her replying that she would, as she was nearly out 
of meat, Samuel shouldered his gun and marched off into the woods, tell- 
ing her to wait a few minutes and he would kill her some. Samuel Cole, 
at that time, although there was a slight snow on the ground, was bare- 
footed and bare-headed, his breeches reached only to his knees, the collar 
of his shirt was open, and he carried an old flint lock rifle. About fifteen 
minutes after he left the camp, Stephens and his family heard two shots 
in the direction in which he had gone. Pretty soon Samuel appeared, and 
told them that he had killed two deer, that they must go out and bring 
them to the camp, as he could not by himself bring in even one of them. 
So they started out and found the two deer lying on the side of the hill 
just north of the present residence of William H. Trigg. After they had 
skinned them and cut them up, the party brought them to the camp and 
presented them to Mrs. Stevens. This shows what little exertion was 
necessary at that day to obtain meat. 

A few days afterwards, Joseph Stephens moved, with his family, to 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 135 

the farm which he had bought about one-quarter of a mile north of the 
present site of Bunceton. About Christmas, in the same year, Samuel 
Cole rode up to Joseph Stephen's camp, and Mrs. Stephens asked him to 
alight and take dinner. He asked her whether she had any honey, and 
she told him she had not. He said he could not eat without honey. And 
although she insisted that he remain, he still refused. In the meantime, 
Larry and Joseph, two of her sons, and a negro named Basil, who had 
been cutting wood, came up to the camp carrying their axes. Samuel 
turned to them, and told them to go with him and get some honey for 
dinner. They at first, supposing him to be joking, refused to go. But as 
he still insisted, they consented. After going some two hundred yards 
east of the camp, Samuel suddenly stopped, and pointing to a tree, told 
them to cut it down. The others not seeing anything about the tree that 
would induce anyone to think that it contained honey, yet willing to accom- 
modate company, cut it down, and it was found to be filled with nice 
honey. While they were cutting down this tree, Samuel found another a 
short distance away, and having cut down this one also, they returned 
home with six buckets of fine honey, having taken nothing but the clear 
part. Before he left, Samuel taught them the way in which he found the 
trees. He told them, that if they would examine the ground around the 
tree, they would find small pieces of bee-bread, and occasionally a dead 
bee. This was an infallible sign of a bee tree. Then afterwards, following 
his direction, they searched and found, in a small space, thirteen trees 
which were filled with honey; and as they had no sugar, this was a great 
help to them. They sometimes had as much as four hundred pounds of 
honey on hand at one time." 

Early Churches. — It has been stated with authority, that on the 8th 
day of April, 1812, Mount Pleasant Church was organized in a log house, 
doubtless at Kincaid's Fort, situated a short distance from Old Franklin 
in Howard County. In the year 1817, there came renewed activity of 
church-building. Of the five churches in central Missouri: Mount Pleasant, 
Bethel, Concord, Mount Zion and Salem, all Baptist, which in 1818 united 
to form the Mount Pleasant Baptist Association, three had organized the 
previous year. 

The Concord Church was organized in 1817 by Elders William Thorpe, 
Edward Turner and David McLain, and was located in the settlement south 
of Boonville. In 1823, the church gave its name to the Concord Baptist 
Association. Elder Luke Williams was chosen pastor, at the second meet- 



136 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

ing of the church in 1817, and continued in this capacity until his death 
six years later. The second pastor was Elder Kemp Scott, who moved to 
the little settlement a year or two after the death of Elder Williams. 

Among the pioneers who helped to organize the church and who con- 
stituted its first membership, were: Luke Williams, Polly Williams, Wil- 
liam Savage, Mary Savage, Delaney Bolen, Judith Williams, Absalom Huff, 
Susanna Savage, Joseph Baze, Lydia Turner, Charles Williams, Patsey 
Bolen, Sally Baze and Elizabeth Williams. 

Judge Phillips, of imperishable memory, gives the following vivid de- 
scription of the old Bethel Church, typical of the church of the period, 
as he recalled it, after a lapse of more than seventy years: 

"Built of heavy, flawless ash logs, it did, indeed, stand 'four cornei'ed 
to every wind that blew.' Measured by the conception of its architects it 
was quite capacious, but in fact it was not over 24x34 feet. It had one 
door and two small windows in front, one window in each end, and a two 
pane window back of the pulpit. 

"That pulpit when the door of ingress and egress was shut, made the 
preacher look as if he were forted against assault from without; and it 
might be aptly termed a ministerial sweat-box. The men and women 
were entirely separated as they sat in church, the men on one side and 
the owmen on the other side of the single aisle. * * * It never oc- 
curred to the church committee in charge that to enable the occupants 
of the rear seats to see the speaker in front, the floor should be con- 
structed on a rising scale. Instead they made the pews on an ascending 
scale, so that the rearmost pew was about four feet from the floor, and 
the occupants had to vault or climb into them like getting into the upper 
berth of a Pullman sleeper without a step ladder. 

"The pastor of Bethel Church during the greater part of his attend- 
ance there, known as 'Father Jimmie Barnes,' was recalled by Judge 
Philips as a man 'powerful in exposition and fervid in delineation.' He 
seldom spoke less than an hour and it seemed to me that the hotter the 
day the longer the sermon. The seasons have their time to change and 
the leaves their time to fall, but Father Barnes never changed his garb 
of home made blue jeans, autumn, winter, spring or summer. He wore 
invariably the conventional high, stiff black stock, over which timidly 
peeped a fringe of shirt collar. 

"About one hundred yards to the northwest of the church was the 
camp ground. I can see the log huts, with bed quilts for partitions and 
straw for beds, covered with sheets and quilts. I can almost catch the 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 137 

aroma of roasting beef, chickens and sweet potatoes in the barbecue 
ditches. There was one figure about that camp ground indelibly fixed in 
my memory. It was 'Uncle Billie Street', the leader of revival songs. He 
was a mountain of flesh, weighing, when in good singing condition, about 
three hundred pounds. He had a voice that out-bellowed the bulls of 
Bashan, and when sinners were to be called to the mourner's bench, the 
very air vibrated with his Olympian verberation. I do not exaggerate in 
saying that I heard him one day from a pasture three quarters of a mile 
away singing his favorite revival song with the refrain, 'When this world 
is all on fire, glory Hallelujah.' " 

One hundred years ago a gentleman by the name of A. Fuller, who 
had been in the Boonslick country a few months wrote to his chum the 
following descriptive letter, which will doubtless be read with interest. 

"Franklin, Mo., Dec, 1819. 
Dear Tom : 

You need not scold; I have had too much to do to write to you fel- 
lows that live in civilized society. Here I am, on the extreme frontier of 
the settlements of our country, but would not exchange places with you 
for all your boasted luxuries. I can, within a mile or so, kill as many 
prairie chickens as I choose, and all other game of the season. 

The settlers of the country moved out of the forts last spring, and 
are about as happy a set as you can find on the earth to think that the 
Indians are to let them alone hereafter. I have become acquainted with 
most of the citizens of the town. The Hon. Judge Todd and family arrived 
here last summer, one of the most agreeable families that I have ever met. 
He is too liberal and kind for his own good; also Dr. Hutchinson, Dr. 
Lowry and General Smith. I do not think that you can understand the 
nobleness of such minds, as it is only here in the extreme west, where all 
have been accustomed to facing dangers every day, that they can be 
appreciated. We have three stores in this thriving place, an old gentle- 
man, Mr. Gaw; Stanley and Ludlow; and Sanganette & Bright, all doing 
fair business. We had two arrivals of steamboats during the summer, 
one a government boat. Western Engineer, on an exploring expedition. 
In place of a bowsprit, she has carved a great serpent, and as the steam 
escaped out of its mouth, it runs out a long tongue, to the pei-fect con- 
sternation of all Indians that see her. They say, "White man bad man, 
keep a great spirit chained and build fire under it to make it work a boat." 
The other was a boat loaded with government supplies, for the troops in 
the forts above here, also two hundred thousand dollars in specie. A 



138 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

large portion of her cargo was Monongahela whiskey. It looks like a 
dispensation of Providence that she should be sunk soon after leaving. 
The officers and visitors were desecrating the Sabbath by card playing and 
drinking. She left here and ran up to the head of the first island above 
here when she struck a snag and sank immediately, without the crew 
being able to save anything out of her. There she lies with all her silver 
and freight on her. There are in the neighborhood several forts, that 
were used by the people during the Indian difficulties. Fort Hempstead, 
about three miles back from the river; Cooper's Fort, ten miles above 
here, where were many of the hairbreath escapes of the wild west. At 
one time, when it was besieged by a large body of Indians, and they needed 
to communicate with the fort here, not having men to spare, a daughter 
of Colonel Cooper ventured to run the gauntlet, and mounting a fleet horse 
dashed through the Indians, reached the fort here, got the assistance 
needed, and was back in time to relieve her friends. Is there one of your 
city belles who could accomplish a similar feat? I guess not. I tell you, 
Tom, there is an independence and nobleness in the bearing of the young 
folks here, dressed in their home-made clothing, — the ease of gait and 
carriage, — that puts affectation and fine dresses in the shade. I am not 
carried away entirely by the nobleness of the wild frontier people, but 
there is a frank generosity with them that you in the east know nothing 
of, therefore you cannot appreciate it. There is also a fort across, the 
river from here called Cole's Fort, that had its share of trouble ; also one 
above the La Mine River. One of them, Mr. McMahan, from there, was 
coming down to Cole's Fort on business, when about two miles above here 
he was fired upon and killed by the Indians. One of the young Coles and 
one of the Roups were cutting a bee-tree in the woods near the path, and 
it is thought the Indians were crawling upon them, when Mr. McMahan, 
passing, was fired upon and killed. The men, Cole and Roup, hurried back 
to their fort for aid, and went to see what mischief the redskins had' been 
doing. Mr. McMahan was shot through the body. He ran his horse 
toward the river for about a quarter of a mile when he fell dead. The 
Indians, it is thought, saw the two men running for the fort and thought 
it safest to leave, which they did without following the flying men. I 
believe I could have set till this time, hearing of the hairbreadth escapes 
of the early settlers. They have laid out a town opposite here on the 
river, called Boonville, which they expect to eclipse this place, but the 
traders think Franklin will eclipse any town out west. I think likely it 
will if the river will let it alone. I went over the river last summer to 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 139 

attend the first sale of lots, intending to purchase some to build on, but 
they were run up to a fabulous price, away beyond my reach. There were 
some of the voters who appeared to be affected by patriotism acquired at 
the only (what was termed) tavern in the place, kept by a hard looking 
old fellow named Reames, who bowed politely to all who came in and asked 
for something to drink, and I was told the whiskey had actually not had 
time to cool before it was dealt out to the customers, having been brought 
all the way from a Mr. Houxe's where there is a horse mill and distillery ; 
so the people of Boonville, cannot only have liquor, but can have their corn 
ground ready for sifting. The mill and distillery are about a mile from 
the town. Adieu." 



CHAPTER VIII. 



FROM 1819 TO 1821. 



COOPER COUNTY FORMED— FIRST CIRCUIT COURT— FIRST RECORD OF CIRCUIT 
COURT— MARCH TERM, 1819— FIRST JUDGE OF ELECTION— FIRST CON- 
STABLE— JULY TERM, 1819 — FIRST LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION— FIRST 
JURY CASE— PROCEEDINGS TO DIVIDE PROPERTY ON WHICH BOONVILLE 
IS LOCATED. 

Two years after the organization of Howard County the immigration 
began to flow so steadily into the southern part of the county that there 
was a great demand for the division of Howard County and for the 
formation of another county south of the Missouri River. Yielding to 
and in compliance with this demand the territorial Legislature on Dec. 
17, 1818, formed the new county of Cooper which included all of Howard 
County south of the Missouri River or, in other words, that territory 
included between the Missouri River and the Osage River extending west- 
wardly to the western territorial boundary. This territory embraced 
what are now eleven whole counties and five parts of counties. However, 
the limits of Cooper County were gradually decreased by the formation 
of new counties and in 1845 the boundaries of Cooper County were as they 
are today. The counties formed from the original territory of Cooper 
and when organized are as follows: Bates County, Jan. 29, 1841; Benton 
County, Jan. 3, 1835; Camden County, Jan. 29, 1841; Cass County, Sept. 
14, 1835 ; Cole County, Nov. 16, 1820 ; Henry County, Dec. 13, 1834 ; Jack- 
son County, Dec. 15, 1826; Johnson County, Dec. 13, 1834; LaFayette 
County, Nov. 16, 1820; Miller County, Feb. 26, 1837; Moniteau County, 
Feb. 14, 1845, being the last county organized from the original Cooper 
County; Morgan County, Jan. 5, 1833; Pettis County, Jan. 26, 1833; St. 
Clair County, Jan. 29, 1841; Saline County, Nov. 25, 1820. leaving the 
present Cooper County with its present boundaries. Only parts of the 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 141 

counties of Bates, St. Clair, Benton, Camden and Miller were included in 
Cooper. 

Although the act of the territorial Legislature creating the county 
was passed and approved in Dec, 1818, it was not, in fact, fully organized 
as a county vested with all the powers, privileges and immunities of a 
separate and distinct political subdivision until March 1, 1819, when the 
first Circuit Court was held in the county. The commissioners appointed 
by the Legislature to locate the county seat were Able Owens, William 
Wear, Charles Canole, Luke Williams and Julius Emmons. 

First Circuit Court. — The act of organization provided, that "the 
courts to be holden in the said county of Cooper, shall be holden at such 
place in said county as the commissioners of said county, or a majority 
of them, shall adjudge most convenient, until a place be fixed on by such 
commissioners, and a court-house and jail erected thereon; provided, that 
the first court for said county or Cooper be held at Boonville," and in 
accordance therewith, the first court of the newly organized county of 
Cooper, was held in the present limits of the city of Boonville, on the first 
day of March, 1819. It was held at the boarding-house of William Bart- 
lett, called the Boonville Tavern, which was situated on the flat just east 
of the mouth of Rupe's branch, and south of the Missouri Pacific passenger 
station. This court under the territorial laws of Missouri, exercised the 
present duties of the county, probate and circuit courts. The duties of 
these three courts continued to be exercised by this one court until the 
year 1821, when the duties of the probate and county courts were separated 
from those of the circuit court, and a new court, called the "county court", 
was organized. 

First Record of Circuit Court — March Term 1819. — Be it remembered 
that on the first day of March in the year 1819 at the house of William 
Bartlett in the town of Boonville, in the County of Cooper, the place 
directed by an act of the Legislature of the Territory of Missouri entitled 
"an act to establishing a part of Howard County into a separate county by 
the name of Cooper, the Honorable David Todd produced a commission 
from the governor of this territory appointing him Judge of the North- 
western Circuit of the said territory, as also a certificate of his qualifica- 
tions which are in the words and figures following, to-wit: Frederick 
Bates, Secretary of the Territory of Missouri and exercising the govern- 
ment thereof, to all who shall see these presents — Greeting! Know ye 
that reposing special trust and confidence in the integrity, ability and 
diligence of David Todd, I do appoint him Judge of the Court of the North- 



142 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

western Circuit, composed of the counties of Cooper, Howard, Montgom- 
ery, Lincoln and Pike, and empower him to discharge the duties of the 
said office according to law: To have and to hold the said office, with all 
the powers, privileges and emoluments to the same, of right appertaining 
from and after the first day of February next. In testimony whereof, I 
have hereunto affixed the seal of the said territory. Given under my hand 
at St. Louis the first day of January in the year of our Lord 1819 and of 
the Independence of the United States, the forty-third — 

FREDERICK BATES. 
Territory of Missouri, 
County of Howard, 
ss: 

Be it remembered that on the first day of February in the year of 
our Lord 1819 personally came David Todd and took the following oath, 
to-wit: An oath to support the constitution of the United States, and an 
oath to discharge the duties of Judge of the Court of the Northwestern 
Circuit in Missouri Territory to the best of his abilities and understanding 
and without fraud or partiality. 

Given under my hand and seal at Franklin the day and year written 
above. 

AUGUSTUS STORES, Justice of the Peace. 

Who then proceeded to open and hold a court for the said County of 
Cooper. 

William McFarland produced in court his commission from the gov- 
ernor of this territory appointing him sheriff of Cooper County in the 
following words and figures, viz: Frederick Bates, Secretary of the Tei 
tory of Missouri and exercising the government thereof. To all who shall 
see these presents, Greetings! Know ye that reposing special trust and 
confidence in the integrity, ability and diligence of William McFarland, T 
do appoint him sheriff of the County of Cooper and to administer oaths of 
office, within and for- the said county and empower him to discharge the 
duties of said office according to law. To have and to hold the said office, 
with all the powers, privileges and emoluments to the same of right 
appertaining for two years from first day of February next unless sooner 
removed. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the seal of the 
territory. Given under my hand at St. Louis the first day of January in 
the year of our Lord, 1819 and of the independence of the United States 
the forty-third. 

FREDERICK BATES. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 143 

as also certificate of his qualification in the words and figures following, 

to-wit : 

Territory of Missouri, 

Northwestern Circuit, 

To-wit : 

This is to certify that on this 17th day of Feb., 1819, William Mc- 
Farland personally appeared before me, David Todd, the judge of the said 
circuit aforesaid including the County of Cooper, and took the oath to 
support the Constitution of the United States and faithfully to discharge 
the duties of his office of sheriff of said County of Cooper, according to 
law. Certified under my hand and seal the date above named. 

DAVID TODD, 
Judge of the Northwestern Circuit. 

And also a bond executed by him in vacation the words and figures 
following, to-wit : Know all men by these presents that we William McFar- 
land, Robert Wallace and Jacob McFarland, of the County of Cooper in the 
Territory of Missouri and held and firmly bound unto William Clark, the 
governor of the Territory of Missouri, and his successors in office in the 
penal sum of $5,000, current money of the United States, to which pay- 
ment well and truly to be made, we and each of us bind ourselves and 
our heirs executors and administrators jointly and severally firmly by 
these presents, sealed and dated this 17th day of February in the year 
1819. 

The condition of the above obligation is such that whereas the above 
bound, William McFarland hath been appointed and commissioned sheriff 
of the county of Cooper. Now the said William McFarland shall faith- 
fu'ly discharge the duties appertaining to his said office of sheriff of the 
said county of Cooper, according to law during his continuance in office, 
then this obligation to be void else to remain in full force and virtue. 
William McFarland, Robert Wallace. Witness, David Todd, J. N. McCart. 

March Term, 1819. — John S. Brickey produced his commission from 
the governor of this territory appointing him prosecuting attorney for the 
Northwestern Circuit, in the words and figures following, to-wit: "Fred- 
erick Bates, Secretary of the Territory of Missouri, and exercising the 
government thereof. To all who shall see these presents, Greeting. Know 
ye that reposing special trust and confidence in the integrity, abilities 
and diligence of John S. Brickey, I do appoint him Circuit Attorney for 
the Northwestern Circuit, composed of the counties of Cooper, Howard, 



144 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Montgomery, Lincoln and Pike and empower him to discharge the duties 
of said office according to law. To have and to hold the said office with 
all the power, privileges and emoluments to same of right appertaining 
during the pleasure of the Governor of the Territory. In testimony 
whereof I have hereunto affixed the seal of the Territory. Given under 
my hand at St. Louis the first day of January in the year of our Lord 
1819 and of the independence of the United States the 43d. 

FREDERICK BATES. 



As also certificate of his qualification as following, to-wit: 

Missouri Territory, 
Northwestern Circuit : 
ss: 

I do hereby certify that the within named John S. Brickey appeared 
before me this first day of March, in the year 1819 and took the oath to 
support the Constitution of the United States and also to discharge the 
duties of prosecuting attorney for the Northwestern Circuit of Missouri 
Territory according to law. 

Given under my hand and seal the day and date above written. 

DAVID TODD, 
Judge of Northwestern Circuit. 

Samuel Peters foreman and Muke Box, John Savage, James Cham- 
bers, Britan Williams, John Roberts, Carroll George, John Davis, James 
Savage, Clatian Hurt, Joseph Smith, William Gibson, Eliot Henry, Fred- 
erick Haux, Thomas Twentyman, William Noland and Delaney Bolin were 
sworn a Grand Jury of inquest for the body of this county and having 
received their charge retired and after some time returned and having 
nothing to present were discharged. 

Ordered that process issue against John Cathy, Zephmiah Bell, Henry 
Geiger, George Cathy, Daniel Doogan and James Campbell, to cause them 
to appear at our next term to show cause if any they have or can say why 
the court should not proceed to fine them for not attending at this term 
as Grand Jurors returnable here at the next term. 

Ordered that court be adjourned until tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock. 

DAVID TODD. 



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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 145 

Tuesday, March 2, 1819. 
Present the Judge. 

Ordered that county be laid off into five townships as follows, to-wit: 

Moreaa Township: Beginning at the mouth of Saline Creek thence 
up the creek till the range line between ranges 15 and 16 strikes it, thence 
with that line south to the River Osage down the same to its mouth and 
up the Missouri River to the beginning. 

Lamine Township: Beginning at the mouth of Saline Creek thence 
up the Missouri River to the mouth of Lamine River, thence up the same 
and its south fork, to where the range line between ranges 21 and 22 
strikes the same thence south with said line to Osage River and down the 
sarrte to range line between 15 and 16 ranges will strike it, thence north 
with the line to the Saline Creek and down to its mouth, the place of 
beginning. 

Arrow Rock Township: Beginning at the mouth of the Lamine 
River up the Missouri to where the range line between ranges 20 and 21 
strikes the river, thence with said line south to the south fork of Lamine 
River and down said river to its mouth, the place of beginning. 

Miami Township: All that part of Cooper County, bounded on the 
north by Missouri River, on the east by range line between ranges 20 and 
21, on the west by the range line, between ranges 24 and 25, and south by 
the Osage River and county line. 

Tebo Township: All Cooper County bounded north by the River 
Missouri, east by range line between ranges 24 and 25, west by county and 
territorial line, and south by Osage River and county line. 

First Judge of Election in Cooper. — Ordered that William Weir, John 
Vertain and John Alexander be appointed judges of the election in Moreau 
Township and that said elections be held at Paul Whitneys in said town- 
ship. 

Ordered that James Bruffey, Robert Wallace and Benjamin F. Hicock 
be appointed judges of election in Lamine Township and that said election 
be held at the house of William Bartlett in said township. 

Ordered that William Lillard, Benjamin Chambers and James Ander- 
son be appointed judges of election in Arrow Rock Township and that said 
election be held at the house of William Cooper in said township. 

Ordered that Col. Jno. R. Thomas, Paul Eastes and John Evans be 
appointed judges of election in the township of Miami, and that such 
election be held at the house of Andrew Rupels in the said township. 
(10) 



146 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Ordered that Julius Emmans, Gilliad Rupe and Abel Owens be ap- 
pointed judges of election in the Tebo Township and that such elections 
be held at the house of Mathew Coxe in the said township. 

First Constable Appointed. — This court appoints Paul Whitley 
constable in the Moreau Township upon his entering into bond and 
security in the clerks office in the penalty of $500 conditioned according 
to law. 

This court apoints John Potter constable in Lamine Township upon 
his entering into bond with security in the clerk's office in the penalty of 
$1,000 conditioned according to law. 

This court appoints Jacob Ish constable in Arrow Rock Township upon 
his entering into bond with security in the clerk's office in the penalty 
of $800, conditioned according to law. 

This court appoints Elisha Eva constable in Miami Township upon his 
entering into bond with security in the penalty of $400, conditioned as 
the law directs. 

This court appoints Green McCofferty constable in Tebo Township 
upon his entering into bond with security in the clerk's office in the penalty 
of $500 conditioned as the law directs. 

On the motion of Stephen Turley a license is granted him to keep a 
public ferry across Lamine River from the north side thereof, in the 
northeast quarter of section 10 in range 18 and township 48, to the south 
side of the river and it ordered that he charge and receive only the follow- 
ing rates for transportation, to-wit : For man and horse, 25c ; for each 
of either, 121/oc for wagons and teams of four horses, if loaded, $1.00; for 
wagon and team if empty with four horses, 75c; for each 2 wheel carriage 
with horse, 50c ; for horned cattle, 3c one head ; for meat cattle, 2c per 
head, and it is further ordered that he pay a tax therefor of five dollars 
who together with Henry Terrell his security entered into and acknowl- 
edges bond in the penalty of $400, conditioned according to law. 

On the motion of Bazadeel W. Leving, a license is granted Bazadeel 
W. Leving, Ward and Parker and Georgia Karr to keep a ferry from the 
south bank of the Missouri River in section numbered 33 of township 
numbered 49 of range numbered 15 west — to the opposite bank of the 
said river and it is ordered that he pay therefor a tax of five dollars and 
charge and receive only the following rates for transportation, to-wit: 
For man and horse, 50c; for either, 25c; for four wheeled loaded wagon 
and team of four horses or more, $3.00 ; if unloaded, $3.00 ; for 2 wheeled 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 147 

carriage and load, $1.00; for homed cattle, 4c per head; for meat cattle, 
3c per head — who together with Andrew Reaves their security entered 
into and acknowledged bond in the penalty of $500, conditioned as the law 
directs. 

On the motion of William McFarland, high sheriff of this county, 
ordered that Williamson H. Curtis be appointed under sheriff for this 
county, who took the oath as required by law for an under sheriff. 

On the motion of Bazadeel W. Leving who presented a partition for 
the same therefore' ordered that Richard Stanford, David Troller, William 
George and Benjamin Clark or any three of whom being first sworn do 
proceed to view and mark out a way for a road proposed to be opened 
from the town of Boonville to the bank of the Missouri River opposite the 
mouth of Moniteau Creek which enters into said Missouri River on the 
north side and make report to this court as the law directs. 

Bird Lockhart and George Tompkins who were appointed to examine 
the qualifications of the applicants for the office of surveyor, for the 
County of Cooper made their report, therefore this court doth nominate 
to the governor of this territory, William Ross as a fit and proper person 
to discharge the duties of the said office to be commissioned according to 
law. 

On the motion of Andrew Reaves who filed a petition therefor, ordered 
that Francis Travis, William Lewis and John Savage or any three of whom 
being first sworn do proceed to view and mark a way for a road beginning 
on the Missouri River, opposite the mouth of the grand Moniteau from 
thence in the most direct way towards Potosi so as to intersect the pro- 
posed road from Boonville to Potosi, near where it crosses little Moniteau 
Creek, and make report as the law directs to the court. 

John Potter with Ada Morgan and William Ross his securities entered 
into and acknowledged bond as constable in Lamine Township in the 
penalty of $1,000 conditioned according to law and also made law as 
directed by law. 

This court appointed James Bruffer, Benjamin F. Hicock and Robert 
Wallace commissioners to superintend the building of a court house and 
jail for this county and to perform all other duties as required by the act 
establishing Cooper County. 

On the motion of Peyton Thomas who filed a petition, therefor — 
Ordered that William Savage, David Reaves, Frederick Haux and Halbert 
Cole or any three of whom being first sworn do proceed to view and mark 



148 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

out a way for a road from Boonville to Turley ferry on Lamine River and 
reoprt the same to this court as the law directs. 

Ordered that court be adjourned until court in course. 

DAVID TODD. 

July Term, 1819. — At a court held within and for the county of 
Cooper, at the house of William Bartlett in the town of Boonville on Mon- 
day, the fifth day of July, in the year 1819. Present, the Honorable 
David Todd, Esq. 

Robert P. Clark produced in court a commission from the governor 
of this territory appointing him clerk of the Circuit Court for the County 
of Cooper. 

Peyton R. Hayden, Esq., produced in court a license and certificate 
of qualification as an attorney and counselor at law in this territory which 
was examined by the court. He is therefore allowed to practice as such 
in this court. 

James Bruffer, foreman ; Peter Stephens, Henry Small, Mansfield Hat- 
field, Stephen Tate, Joseph Biler, Benjamin F. Heckcose, James Turner. 
Joshua W. Butcher, Spear Fort, William Savage, Humphrey Gibson, 
Edward Robison, John Brock, Ephraim Elison, John Ross. 

David Burris, Joseph Westbrook and James D. Campbell were sworn 
a grand jury of inquest for the body of this county and having received 
their charge retired and after some time returned an indictment against 
Stanley G. Morgan for assault and battery, a true bill and having more 
business to consider of, retired. 

United States, plaintiff vs. John Cathey, defendant, for contempt. 
This day came as well the prosecuting attorney as the defendant in his 
proper person and after hearing the defense of the defendant it is con- 
sidered that he pay the cost herein expended, therefore it is considered 
that the United States recover against the said defendant the cost herein 
expended and defendant may be taken, etc. 

Same, plaintiff vs. Henry Geyer, defendant, for contempt. This day 
came as well the prosecuting attorney as the defendant in his proper 
person and after hearing the defendant it is considered by the court that 
he make his fine to the United States by the payment of one dollar and 
the cost hereof and may be taken, etc. 

United States, plaintiff vs. George Cathey, defendant, for contempt. 

This day came as well the prosecuting attorney as the defendant in 
his proper person and after hearing the defendant it is considered by the 
court that he pay the cost hereof and may be taken, etc. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 14!) 

United States, plaintiff vs. Zephimah Bell, defendant, for contempt. 
This day came as well the circuit attorney who prosecutes for the United 
States as the defendant in his proper person and after hearing the defend- 
ant it is considered by the court that the said defendant make his fine to 
the United States by the payment of one dollar and pay the cost herein 
expended and may be taken, etc. 

First Letters of Administration. — On the motion of Joseph Irwin, 
letters of administration is granted him on the estate of Joseph Irwin, 
deceased, who made oath and together with David James and William 
McFarlin his securities entered into and acknowledged bond in the penalty 
of $4,000 conditioned as the law directs. 

On the motion of Joseph Irwin, administrator of the estate of Joseph 
Irwin, deceased, ordered that Littleberry Estes, John Evans and Anthony 
Thomas, who being first sworn do inventory and appraise the personal 
estate and slaves (if any) of the estate of Joseph Irwin, deceased and 
make return thereof to this court as the law directs. 

First Case Tried Before a Jury. — United States, plaintiff vs. Stanley 
G. Morgan, defendant, case. This day came as well the defendant in 
discharge of his recognizance as the prosecuting attorney, whereupon the 
said defendant being arraigned upon the indictment in this cause plead 
not guilty and for his trial put himself upon God, and his country, and 
circuit attorney also, whereupon came a jury, viz: William Burk, William 
Black, Gabriel Titsworth, William Dillard, Michael Hornbeck, Nicholas 
Houck, William Reed, Alexander Dickson, David Reavis, Frederick Houk, 
David McGee, and Samuel Peters, who being elected, tried and sworn the 
truth to say, of and upon the issue joined upon their oaths do say that the 
defendant is guilty of the assault and battery whereupon it is considered 
by the court that the said defendant make his fine to the United States 
by the payment of the sum of five dollars and pay the cost hereof and be 
taken, etc. 

Proceedings to Divide Property on Which BoonviHe is Now Located. — 
Ada Morgan, plaintiff vs. Mary Gillman and the representative of Charles 
Lucas, defendant. Petition for division of land. The commissioners ap- 
pointed by an order of the Howard Circuit Court on the petition of Ada 
Morgan, to divide the land held jointly between said parties above named 
returned this day a report of having in part executed said order, and a 
majority of said commissioners, to- wit: Gray Bynum and Augustus 
Storis appeared in court and acknowledged the said report to have been 
signed and executed by them which being examined was approved of by 



150 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

the court and together with the plat of the town of Boonville the lots of 
which were divided and which plat was returned by them as a part of their 
report is ordered to be recorded. 

William Ross produced in court a commission from the governor of 
this territory bearing date the 28th day of April 1819, appointing him 
surveyor of the county of Cooper, who made oath as the law directs, and 
who together with William Gibson and Stephen Cole his securities entered 
into and acknowledged bond in penalty of $2,000 conditioned according 
to law. 

At the July term, 1819, the Grand Jury shows activity. The offenses 
were trivial. The early settlers were gradually learning obedience to 
written statutes. 

The Grand Jury impanelled and sworn this court returned again into 
court, presented an indictment against John H. Moore and Churchwell 
Box. Stephen Cole, Jr., Stephen Cole, Sr., and John Roberts "a true bill" 
and then they retired and after some time returned an indictment against 
Stanley G. Morgan "a true bill" also an indictment against William War- 
den "a true bill", also an indictment against Jesse Mann, "a true bill" also 
an indictment against Isaac Renfro "a true bill" also an indictment against 
William Bryant, "a true bill", also an indictment against Williamson H. 
Curtis, "a true bill" also an indictment vs. Samuel Potter, "a true bill" 
and having nothing further to present, were discharged. 

Further reproductions of the records of the court would doubtless be 
wearisome to the reader. There were a number of petitions for roads 
presented and as one would judge from the licenses issued for the estab- 
lishment of ferries across the Missouri River and other streams it would 
verify the fact that immigration south of the Missouri River was increas- 
ing from day to day. 

That the settlers were beginning to feel the force and effect of written 
statutes and courts is evidenced by the fact that at the March term, 1820, 
the following men were indicted by the Grand Jury for swearing: Jesse 
Mann, Isaac Renfro, William Warden, William Bryant, Thomas Brown, 
Stephen Tate, John S. Moreland, David Fine. This action, however, 
seemed to be more to caution than to punish. These indictments were 
afterwards dismissed by the court for want of jurisdiction. 

Up to Jan. 23, 1821, the following attorneys were enrolled and prac- 
ticing in this coui't: Peyton R. Hayden, being the first enrolled; George 
Tompkins, John S. Brickey, Cyrus Edwards, John S. Mitchell, Hamilton R. 
Gamble, Andrew McGirk, Robert McGavock, Abiel Leonard, John F. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 151 

Ryland, Arinstedd A. Grundy, Dabney Carr, William J. Redd and John 
Payne. Among these we find the names of many who afterwards occu- 
pied offices of trust in the state of Missouri. Indeed, all of them are noted 
as being fine lawyers and honorable men. 

The records of the court show that during the year 1819, there were 
but four peddlers and six merchants within the limits of Cooper County, 
and that the total amount of revenue on the tax-book for 1819, as charged 
to William Curtis, sheriff, at the July term of this court, 1819, was $488.34. 

All these terms of court were held at William Bartlett's boarding 
house called the Tavern of Boonville. This was but a crude log cabin 
but answered well the purpose of those early days. During the year 1819 
there were but seven marriage certificates recorded. We herewith give 
some of the (jrst marriages. On the 11th day of February, 1819, John 
Turner and Nancy Campbell were united in marriage by Benjamin Proc- 
ter, a minister of the gospel. On the 3d day of May, 1819, Peyton Newlin, 
M. G., joined together in the bonds of matrimony, John Smith and Sally 
McMahan. William Weir, on the 28th day of June, 1819, solemnized the 
nuptials of Jeremiah Meadows and Anne Music. The same William Weir, 
Justice of Peace, on the 8th day of July, 1819, performed the ceremony 
uniting Henry Cowin and Honor Howard. On the 6th day of May, 1819, 
Benjamin F. Hickcox, Justice of Peace, performed the marriage ceremony 
between John Green and Nancy Boyd. On the 12th day of Sept., 1819, 
James Bruffee, J. P., joined together in the holy state of matrimony, 
Charles Force and Betsy Connor. On the 13th day of April, 1820, David 
Coulter and Eliza Stone were united in marriage by William Weir, J. P., 
and on the 17th day of July, 1820, Finis Ewing, M. G., who was the father 
of Cumberland Presbyterianism, performed the marriage ceremony 
between Larkin Dewitt and Hannah Ewing. 

Beginning in 1817 the settlers of the territory of Missouri were 
clamoring steadily and strenuously for statehood. In Jan., 1818, a 
memorial was presented to Congress by the Hon. John Scott, the delegate 
from the territory. In this memorial the petitioners gave potent reasons 
why the new state should be organized. Other petitions were sent up 
from various sections of the state and many of the settlers of Cooper 
County were signers of the petitions, and active in the movement to have 
the territory admitted as a state. All these petitions § have been lost 
except one. A few years ago Representative Bartholt, of St. Louis, acci- 
dentally discovered one of these petitions, said to be the only one in exist- 
ence, in the capitol, at Washington, and had it sent to the M. S. S. Division 



152 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

of the Library of Congress where it has been framed and is thus perm- 
anently preserved. In Dec, 1818, the territorial Legislature of Missouri 
took up this subject and also adopted a memorial praying for the estab- 
lishment of a state government, supplementing the original petition. This 
agitation at this time marks the beginning of the great contest between 
the advocates of slavery and those who opposed that institution. The 
controversy in Congress was bitter and the admission of the territory 
into the union as a state was delayed by reason of slavery restrictions 
sought to be placed upon the admission of the Missouri territory as a state 
into the union. The admission of the territory into the union as a state 
thus became a national question, eliciting the deepest interests and 
energies of the greatest intellects of our nation. The anti-slavery move- 
ment was strong, especially in the east. So vital had beconfe this ques- 
tion which was involved in the formation of the new state of Missouri that 
Thomas Jefferson, erudite, scholarly and a deep student of governmental 
affairs, expressed the fear that it would eventually disrupt the Union. 
Cooper County at this time was a slave holding county and its citizens 
largely from the southern states, were deeply interested in the terms upon 
which the state would be formed. However, a bill was passed by the 
House and Senate generally known as the "Missouri Compromise" author- 
izing the people of the Missouri territory to form a constitution and state 
government and for the admission of such state into the Union on an equal 
footing with the original states and limiting slavery in other territory. 
This act was approved the 6th day of March, 1820. The state of Missouri 
had at this time been organized into 15 counties. An election was held 
on the first Monday and two succeeding days of May, 1820, to choose 
representatives to a state convention which was to meet at the seat of 
government (then St. Louis), on Monday, June 12th of the same year. 
Cooper County sent, as its representatives, Robert P. Clark, Robert Wal- 
lace and William Lillard. 

Forty-one representatives met at the designated time in St. Louis 
at the Mansion House on the corner of Vine and Third streets and con- 
cluded their labors by signing the constitution that was framed on the 
19th day of July. David Barton was the president of the convention. 
Barton was one of the ablest and most remarkable men that Missouri has 
ever produced. On the admission of the state into the union, he was 
unanimously elected to the United States Senate and it was through his 
influence that Benton, at the same session of the legislature, was elected 
to the Senate as his associate. He served in the United States Senate 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 153 

from 1821 to 1831, was afterwards elected to the State Senate while a 
citizen of Cooper County, and finally ended his brilliant career by depart- 
ing this life, demented, at the house of William Gibson, one mile from 
Boonville. His remains are interred in Walnut Grove cemetery at Boon- 
ville. 

It would be going too far afield for us to go farther into the history 
of the admission of our state into the Union. Suffice it to say that on the 
26th day of July, 1821, the territorial Legislature of Missouri in special 
session adopted a solemn public act declaring assent of the state to the 
fundamental condition of admission and forthwith transmitted to the 
president a copy of same. On Aug. 10, 1821, President Monroe proclaimed 
the admission of Missouri into the Union to be complete and the state 
took its rank as the 24th of the American Republics. 



CHAPTER IX. 



FROM 1821 TO 1834. 



SIZE OF COOPER COUNTY REDUCED— FIRST COUNT V COURT— FIRST OFFICERS- 
COUNTY SEAT LOCATED— FIRST COURT HOUSE— FIRST WILL PROVED— JOHN 
V. SHARP— ELECTIONS — PARTY LINES— FALL OF OLD FRANKLIN. 

The territory of Cooper County was considerably decreased in size 
in Nov., 1820, by the formation of the counties of Saline, Lafayette and 
Cole. 

The first county court held in the county was on the 8th day of Jan., 
1821, and its first session was held at the house of Robert P. Clark, on 
High street, in the city of Boonville. This court then exercised the powers 
and performed the duties of the present county and probate courts. Here- 
tofore these duties had been performed by the Circuit Court. 

The County Court continued to perform the duties of both County 
and Probate Court until the year 1827, when by act of the Legislature, the 
Probate Court was separated from the County Court, and invested with 
separate powers and prerogatives and was required to perform certain 
duties, and so continues separate till the present time. 

James McNair, the governor of the Territory of Missouri, appointed 
as the justice of the County Court, James Bruffee, James Miller and Archi- 
bald Kavanaugh. Robert P. Clark was appointed by the court as its 
clerk, and William Curtiss as sheriff. 

On the 9th day of April, 1821, Robert P. Clark produced his commis- 
sion from the governor, as clerk of the County Court, "during life or good 
behavior." 

After Missouri entered into the sisterhood of states, and these 
officers became elected, it would seem that the people confirmed the judg- 
ment of Governor McNair, for they kept Clark in office during life and 
determined that his behavior was good. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 155 

George Crawford was appointed assessor and Andrew Briscoe col- 
lector of Cooper county. On the same day the will of Thomas McMahan, 
deceased, was probated, this being the first will proved before this court. 
Also constables were appointed for the different townships of the county 
as follows: Boonville township, John Potter; Lamine township, Bryant 
T. Nolan ; Moniteau township, Martin Jennings ; Clear Creek township, 
James C. Berry. 

George C. Harte was appointed commissioner to run a dividing line 
between Cooper and Cole Counties. 

When Messrs. Morgan and Lucas laid out the town of Boonville, they 
donated fifty acres to the county on condition that the commissioners 
selected to locate the county seat would locate the same at Boonville. The 
commissioners, named in the preceding chapter, located the county seat 
at Boonville, deeming it the best place to hold the courts. A part of the 
land donated by Morgan and Lucas was sold by the county, and the County 
Court thereupon commenced the building of a court house, which was 
located on the land donated to the county. It was adequate for the courts 
of the period and sufficient for the needs of the officers of the court. 

It was a small two-story brick building, very much the style of the 
one recently torn down by the present generation, although much smaller. 
It was completed in 1823. It was torn down at the time the second court 
house was built, and some of the brick were used in the construction of 
the second court house. It will be remembered that the present court 
house is the third one erected by Cooper County. The second court house, 
which was situated on the same spot on which the old one was located, 
was completed in the year 1840. It was a large and commodious two-story 
brick building, and was situated on a high piece of ground overlooking the 
river, from the cupola of which an excellent view could be had of Cooper 
and Howard Counties. The present elegant court of justice occupied prac- 
tically the same location, being somewhat further west of the site of the 
second building. 

The first will proved in the County Court, which then had jurisdiction 
in probate matters, was that of Thomas McMahan, Sr. Its quaint phrase- 
ology, as well as the time it was made, may interest the reader, and we 
here reproduce it. "In the name of God, Amen, I, Thomas McMahan, Sr., 
of the Arrow Rock township in Cooper County and State of Missouri, 
being weak in body, but of sound mind and memory, thanks be given unto 
God, calling unto mind the mortality of my body, etc., do make and ordain 
this my last will and testament. That is to say principally and first of 



156 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

all I give and recommend my soul into the hand of Almighty God, who 
gave it, and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in decent 
Christian burial at the descretion of my friends. And as touching such 
worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life, I 
give demise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form. 

First, I lend to by beloved wife, Diana McMahan, during her natural 
life, the whole of my estate, real and personal for her own proper use and 
benefit. Under the care of my executors hereinafter named. 

Second. At the death of my wife, I will that all my personal estate 
be equally divided amongst my four children hereinafter named or their 
representatives. (That is) I will that all the children of my daughter, 
Elizabeth McGee, deceased, have one childs part equally divided amongst 
them. I will that my daughter, Mary McMahan, have one child's part, 
which I give to her and her children forever. I give to the children of 
my son, Samuel McMahan, deceased, one child's part of my personal estate 
to be equally divided amongst them as their property forever. I will 
that my daughter, Susannah McMahan, shall have a child's or fourth part 
of my personal estate to her and her heirs forever. 

Third. After the death of my said wife I give and bequeath unto 
my son, Thomas McMahan, my negro man, Samuel, instead of giving 
him any part of my personal estate, which negro Samuel, I give to him 
and his heirs forever. 

Fourth. After the death of my said wife, I give and bequeath to 
my son, James McMahan, my negro woman, Edey, instead of giving him 
any part of my personal property, which negro woman and her increase 
after the death of my wife, I give to him and his heirs forever; but in 
case either of the aforesaid negroes, Samuel or Edey, should die or 
lost before the death of myself and wife then, and in that case I will that 
my son, Thomas or James, or both, as the case may be should have an 
equal child's part of my personal estate with the afore named children 
that are to share my personal estate, or if my negro woman, Edey, should 
have any living children in the lifetime of myself or wife aforesaid, I 
leave it with my said children to divide such increase amongst them as 
they may think fit and proper, or should the personal estate amount to 
more by valuation at the time of the division, to each share than the value 
of one of the said negroes then my will is that after each sharer getting 
the value of one of said negroes the over plus, if any, be equally divided 
amongst all my children or their representatives as aforesaid. And lastly 
I do hereby constitute and appoint my two sons, Thomas McMahan and 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 157 

James McMahan executors of this my last will and testament, requesting 
and enjoining it on them to faithfully execute every part of this my will 
and make all such dividend with the other heirs as are herein mentioned. 

And I do hereby utterly disallow, revoke, and disannul all and every 
other former testaments, wills, legacies, bequests and executors by me 
in any wise before named, willed, or bequeathed, ratifying and confirming 
this and no other to be my last will and testament — IN WITNESS whereof, 
I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty-first day of January in 
the year of our Lord 1821. 

P. S. — Should myself or wife, or both, become helpless and dependent 
on our children, I also will that them that takes care of us should be paid 
for their trouble out of my personal estate before any division is further 
made. THOMAS McMAHAN. 

Signed and sealed in the presence of us who in his presence and at 
his request and in presence of each other have hereunto set our names. 
Peyton Nowlin, Bryan T. Nowlin, Pewton W. Nowlin." 

During the year 1821, John V. Sharp, a soldier who had served in the 
Revolutionary War, and who was living in Cooper County, became paralyzed 
and as helpless as a child. He soon, not having any means of his own, 
became a charge upon the county. The cost of to the County Court was 
two dollars per day for his board and attention to him, besides bills for 
medical attention. 

After having endeavored in vain to raise sufficient funds to take care 
of him, the County Court, in the year 1822, petitioned the General As- 
sembly of this state to defray the expenses of his support, stating in the 
petition, that the whole revenue of the county was not sufficient for his 
maintenance. This may sound strange to a person living in a county in 
which thousands of dollars are levied to defray its expense. But the 
whole revenue of the county for 1822, as shown by the settlement of the 
collector, was only $718, and the support of Mr. Sharp, at two dollars per 
day, cost $730 per year, besides the cost of medical attention, which left 
the county, at the end of the year 1822, in debt, without counting in any 
of the other expenses of the county. The petition not having been 
granted by the General Assembly, the court levied, for his support, during 
all the years from 1823 to 1828, a special tax of 50 per cent, of the state 
revenue tax, being an amount equal to the whole of the general county 
tax ; and in 1828, ten per cent, of the state revenue was levied for the same 
purpose. He must have died some time during the year 1828, as no 
further levy for his support appears upon the records of the county, thus 



158 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

relieving the county of a burdensome tax. If these facts were not matters 
of record, they would seem too incredible to be believed. 

In the heated contest for the presidency, between Clay and Jackson 
in the year 1824, Cooper County cast her vote for Clay. It was to pay a 
debt of gratitude to Henry Clay for his great services as a member of 
Congress in the struggle of the state of Missouri for admission into the 
Union. The vote of the county for President at this election cannot be 
found. Only four books of this election are obtainable. They show that 
Henry Clay had 136 and Andrew Jackson 53 votes according to these four 
poll books. Of course this was but a small part of the vote cast by the 
county at that election. 

On the eighth day of December, 1825, there was held a special elec- 
tion for governor, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Frederick 
Bates. David Todd, the first circuit judge of Cooper County and holding 
that office at this time, John Miller, Wm. C. Carr and Rufus Easton were 
the candidates. David Todd received a large majority in Cooper County. 
At the election on the first Monday in August, 1826, John Scott and 
Edward Bates were candidates for Congress. Scott had a majority of 
124 in the county. 

Michale Dunn, Jordan O'Bryan, James L. Collins and John H. Hutch- 
ison were candidates for representatives. Michale Dunn and Jordan 
O'Bryan were elected. W. H. Anderson and David P. Mahan were candi- 
dates for sheriff. Anderson was elected by 53 majority ; and Hugh Allison 
was elected coroner. 

This was the first election in which party lines were closely drawn, 
for before that, men had voted for the man whom they considered best 
qualified ; and not because he belonged to any party. The poll books of 
the presidential election could not be found, but the August election for 
Representative in Congress and county officers, having the same principles 
at issue, will show pretty clearly how the presidential election went. There 
were two tickets, viz: Adams and Jackson, and the tickets on which the 
men were, who were elected is marked opposite their names. 

At the election in Nov., 1828, the county voted for Jackson over 
Adams, by a majority of about 230 votes ; and also in 1832 Jackson was 
re-elected, and received a large majority in this county. 

It should be remembered that up to 1826, Franklin was the mart of 
commerce and the thriving metropolis of that section of territory formerly 
known as the central Boonslick country. It had sprung into opulence on 
the banks of the turbulent Missouri as if a magician had waved his magic 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 159 

wand over the wilderness. It became the center of a great trade, and 
here the caravans destined for Santa Fe and the great southwest were 
equipped and supplied for that trade. Its local trade reached out for 
many miles in every direction, and settlers of Cooper traded and bartered 
there. Boonville was then but a hamlet of log cabins of the period plain, 
unadorned, but comfortable. 

In 1826, Franklin had a population variously estimated at from 1,800 
to 3,000, a substantial population in part. Some of whom, however, were 
of the shifting, adventurous, speculating element. It numbered among 
its residents wealthy, enterprising and cultured men, mostly from Tenn- 
essee, the Carolinas, Virginia and Kentucky, and some from the eastern 
states, many of whom rose to prominence, and left their ineffaceable 
impress upon our state. 

In the spring of that year, the Missouri river overflowed its banks. 
Franklin was built upon shifting sand and because of its low and flat loca- 
tion, suffered greatly from the high water, and as well from the malaria 
which followed. 

The constant falling in and washing away of the river banks inun- 
dated the buildings. This occurred to a great extent in 1826, many 
houses going into the river. Its citizens became satisfied that every 
future effort to protect the banks from the river would be futile upon their 
part, and thus believing, many residents and business men left the place, 
some of them settling in the town of New Franklin, two and a half miles 
back from the river in Howard County, just in edge of the hills; some in 
Fayette, then the county seat of Howard; and some came to Boonville, a 
few of the latter bringing not only their goods, but their houses. 

This marked the beginning of the rapid growth of Boonville, and the 
time when she became the supply center for the Santa Fe trade and of the 
great southwest territory. 

Franklin had been greatly shorn of its influence. The county seat 
had been moved to Fayette. Much of the business which had been trans- 
acted by its merchants and tradesmen had been withdrawn and turned 
into other channels. 

James L. Collins, William Harlin, Andrew Adams and others, had 
located at Boonville and were conducting a successful and extensive trade 
with the Santa Fe country a trade which had heretofore contributed to 
the business of Franklin and the wealth of those who were thus engaged. 

This year also marked the beginning of a rapid settlement and de- 
velopment of Cooper County. 



CHAPTER X. 



FROM 1834 TO 1847. 



NATIONAL AND LOCAL POLITICS— VIGOROUS CAMPAIGNS— CLAY .VXD POLK— "O. K." 
—INDIAN ALARM— MORMON WAR— FLOOD OF 1S44— MEXICAN WAR— COOPER 
COUNTY COMPANY. 

The county gave a small majority to Martin Van Buren, in 1836. 
The county remained Democratic until 1840, when the Whigs made a clean 
sweep, electing their full ticket. Reuben A. Ewing, a Whig, was elected 
State Senator over David Jones, Democrat; and Jno. G. Miller, Jordan 
O'Bryan and Lawrence C. Stephens, Whigs, over John Miller, B. F. Hickox 
and Henry Crowther, Democrats, by an average majority of about 75 
votes. There was great excitement during this election and politics ran 
very high. The Whigs held public meetings in regular order on each suc- 
ceeding Saturday in each township, until the full rounds were made. They 
had a band of music engaged for the occasion, flags and banners, with 
mottoes inscribed thereon also with songs appropriate for the occasion, 
and eloquent speakers, the prominent ones among which were John G. 
Miller, Jordan O'Bryan, John C. Richardson, Robert C. Harrison and others. 

The Democrats, however, made little or no display, condemned the 
tactics of the Whigs as noisy, boisterous and unseemly; pronounced the 
Whigs as deceivers and humbuggers and taunted them with using cain 
efforts to win votes by exciting the people. The Democrats held their 
meetings and had frequent public speakings without any display or show. 
Their candidates for the Legislature were John Miller, Benjamin F. Hickox 
and Henry Crowther. The campaign was lively, vigorous, stormy and 
frequently the personal element entered bitterly in the discussion. 

The county remained Whig as long as the Whig party remained in 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 161 

existence. The last candidate on the Whig ticket was General Scott, who 
was succeeded by Franklin Pierce. 

The campaign of 1844 was lively with more parade and ostentation 
on the part of the Whigs than was exhibited in 1840 or the years before. 
For President, Henry Clay, of Kentucky, was the nominee of the Whig 
party, and James K. Polk, of Tennessee, of the Democratic party. 

During this exciting campaign, many songs were written, but none 
was more popular than the following, which was the effusion of some 
Boonville poet. It was written for the Boonville Register during the cam- 
paign of 1843. 

Henry Clay and James K. Polk. 

"The whigs call Henry Clay a coon, 
And say he'll be elected soon; 
But James K. Polk will got it alone, 
And make old Henry walk jaw-bone. 
So get out of the way, old Kentucky, 
And clear the track for one more lucky. 

"The whigs cried out for 'home perfection,' 
And think to gain old Clay's election. 
They hold conventions, shout and sing, 
'Huzza for Clay!' he is our king. 
But get out of the way, old Kentucky, etc. 

"The whigs of '40 did invent 
All schemes to elect their president, 
And were successful, it is true, 
But now 'humbuggery will not do. 
So get out of the way, etc. 

"Their coon-skins and barrels of cider 
Have opened the people's eyes some wider; 
They cannot now be gulled so soon 
By this very same old coon. 
So get out of the way, etc. 
(11) 



162 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

"The squatters on the public land 
Will all unite into one band; 
Then will the 'lawless rabble' say, 
You cannot come it, Henry Clay. 
So get out of the way, etc. 

"The people of this mighty nation 
Will not submit to coon dictation ; 
So Mr. Clay may rest content, 
He never can be president. 
So get out of the way," etc. 

Not long ago the following query appeared in the "Evening Post" 
of Indiana: "People constantly write the letters '0. K.' to say all right. 
How did this practice originate?" The Post gave the following answer: 
"The practice got its start in the days of General Jackson, known to the 
men of his time as Old Hickory. It was said that General Jackson was 
not as proficient in spelling as in some other things, and so in the abbre- 
viating which he practised, '0. K.' stands for 'all correct' ('Oil Korrect.') 
This is as near as our data at present allows us to come to the origin of 
the now wide practice. 

Reading this answer, a gentleman who signs his initials J. W. D., 
addressed the editor of the "Evening Post," the following: "I note what 
you say about the origin of the practice of using the letters '0. K.' to 
signify 'correct' or 'all right.' It seems to be that your informant is 
wrong. I am quite sure that this practice originated during the Clay 
and Polk campaign. At that time the writer was a boy, living in Boon- 
ville, Mo. You all know what a lively campaign the Clay and Polk cam- 
paign was. Mr. Clay was the idol of the Whigs, and was affectionately 
called 'Old Kentucky.' Those who favored his election put up their flags 
on ash poles, at all the cross-roads, country taverns and wood yards on 
the river, while the Dmocrats put up hickory poles with poke bushes 
at the top, the Whigs using for a flag a square of whole cloth with the 
letters '0. K.' signifying 'Old Kentucky.' The Democrats used a streamer 
with 'Polk and Dallas,' Oregon and Texas.' 

"The town of Boonville boasted two newspapers, one the 'Observer,' 
a Whig paper, conducted by one Caldwell, a very brilliant young man, 
the other the 'Boonville Register,' conducted by one Ira Van Nortrick. 
Toward the close of the campaign the editor of the 'Register' came out 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 163 

in a very salty editorial, denouncing the ignorance of the Whigs and 
demanding to know 'What does "0. K." mean anyhow?' Caldwell came 
back at him with the information that he would find out '0. K.' meant 
'Oil Korrect' in November. The expression took like wildfire; the boys 
yelled it, chalked it on the fences. Like other slang, it seemed to fill a 
want, and upon the inauguration of the telegraph, in '46, the adoption 
of '0. K.,' I was informed by one of the first operators in the country, 
Mr. E. F. Barnes, introduced to the business public, as he was one of the 
parties organizing the system of signals used by the company. Then it 
passed into general use. Of course Missouri was not the only place 
where Mr. Clay was called 'Old Kentucky.' A favorite song of the Whigs, 
both in Missouri and Kentucky, only a line or two of which I can now 
recall to mind, sung to the tune of 'Old Dan Tucker,' ran about thus : 

" 'The balky hoss they call John Tyler, 
We'll head him soon, or bust a biler !' 
"Chorus : 

" 'So get out of the way, you're all unlucky. 
Clear the track for "Old Kentucky" !' " 

An incident of this campaign, illustrative of the attendant excite- 
ment, and doubtless bitterness engendered among the thoughtless and 
reckless class, is referred to in an article we take from the "Boonville 
Observer." It will be noted that the "Observer" in no mincing or apolo- 
getic words condemns the rowdyism mentioned, though evidently com- 
mitted by one or more persons of its political persuasion: 

"One of the most shameful acts that we have ever known perpe- 
trated in any community or on any occasion, was committed in this city 
on last Friday night, at the Whig gathering in the court-house, where 
a part of the convention had assembled to hear speaking. Some debased 
' tch during the evening cut the Howard and Lafayette banners which 
had the portraits of Mr. Clay on them. They were cut about the throat 
of the picture, and also in other places. If a Democrat used the hand 
and knife that slit those banners, we do not know that it would be much 
too severe a punishment upon him to be served likewise. No prudent 
Democrat can object to the Whig party's emblem or banners. It is the 
privilege of all parties in this country to have them, and an uplifted 
voice of indignation should chase the wretch who will molest the banner 
of his opponent when exercising only the same privilege that our insti- 



164 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

tutions guaranteed to him. As a Democrat, we sincerely regret that so 
mean an act could have been committed here on that occasion. The 
Club here, we understand, has offered a reward of $100 for the detection 
of the man who committed this foul stain upon our community ; and the 
Democrats will do their utmost also, to detect him. In the political point 
of view it will do no harm, but good citizens want no man who is capable 
of such a deed among them." 

We will at this time continue no further the political history of 
Cooper County, but will revert to the year 1836. In that year, wild 
reports and rumors were circulated that the Indians had broken out, 
and were attacking the settlers living within the present limits of Pettis 
County, then part of Cooper and Saline counties, and were slaying men, 
women and children as they went. The excitement was great, and men 
began to assemble in that portion of the county to aid in the defense of 
the homes of their neighbors. The place of rendezvous for those who 
went from Cooper County was Wooley's Mill, on the Petit Saline Creek. 
Here they organized and elected their officers. After doing so, they 
marched to the supposed seat of war, but on their arrival, they found no 
Indians had been there, and that it had been entirely a false alarm. It 
was a practical joke. It seems that some men, for their own amusement, 
dressed themselves as Indians, and went down to a cornfield where some 
men were at work, and giving the Indian yell, shot off their guns, pointed 
in the direction of the settlers. They, supposing that the disguised men 
were hostile Indians, endeavoring to slay them, took to their heels, and 
spread the alarm, which, like a tale of scandal, traveled from mouth to 
mouth, and gathered momentum and new versions as it went from lip 
to lip. It is stated that a wealthy farmer of Cooper County, catching the 
alarm, buried his bacon to save it from the bloodthirsty savages. Then 
going to a field in which a large number of his negroes were at work 
waved his hand and shouted at the top of his voice, "Run. run, the In- 
dians will be upon you, the Indians will be upon you." The negroes tak- 
ing the alarm, stood not on the manner of their going, but scattered in 
every direction as though the frightful savages with tomahawks and 
hunting knives were close upon their heels. 

The Mormon War, in 1838, created considerable excitement in the 
State and roused to action the citizens of Cooper County. When the 
Mormons first came to Missouri, they located in Jackson County, and 
the citizens, liking neither their doctrines nor their customs, forced them 
to leave. They then settled in Caldwell County, Missouri, but the citizens 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 165 

in that part of the State, favoring them no more than did the citizens 
of Jackson County, determined to expel them from the State. They 
called upon Gov. Lilburn W. Boggs for assistance, and to furnish troops. 
Governor Boggs called for 7,000 volunteers to assist in driving the Mor- 
mons from the territory over which he had control. 

In response to this call three companies were raised in Cooper Coun- 
ty. One, called the "Boonville Guards," composed entirely of citizens 
of Boonville this, under the existing laws of the State, was a standing 
company, and equipped at the expense of the State government. The 
second, a volunteer company raised at Boonville, composed of citizens 
of Boonville and the surrounding neighborhood. Of this company, Jessie 
J. Turley was captain, Marcus Williams, Jr., first lieutenant, and J. Logan 
Forsythe, second lieutenant. The third was raised at Palestine, the offi- 
cers of which are not known. Of the forces raised in Cooper County, 
Joel E. Woodward was brigadier general, Joseph Megguire, inspector 
general, and Benjamin E. Ferry, aide-de-camp to Gen. Henry W. Crowther. 

These companies marched twice towards the Mormon settlement and 
the seat of war. The first time they marched as far as Jonesborough, 
Saline County, where the commanders, supposing from reports which 
reached them that there were sufficient troops already at the scene of 
war to conquer the Mormons, ordered them to return. They were shortly 
afterwards again ordered to the seat of war, and marched to Lexington, 
where they crossed the Missouri River. They then advanced about two 
miles into the prairie, and there camped for two days. The Mormon 
troops having in the meantime surrendered to Gen. John B. Clark, Sr., 
these companies returned home without having the pleasure of meeting 
the enemy or having the opportunity of testing their valor. On their 
arrival at Boonville these troops were disbanded. 

The Mormons during this short war were commanded by General 
Weite, an old British officer, who fought against General Jackson in 
the battle of New Orleans. The Mormons, after the conclusion of this 
war, left the State and located at Nauvoo, Illinois, where they remained 
for several years. Having had a difficulty with the authorities of the 
State of Illinois, and their prophet and leader, Joseph Smith, having been 
assassinated, they again "pulled up stakes" and emigrated to the shores 
of the "Great Salt Lake." where they have ever since remained, believ- 
ing and feeling that they are a persecuted people. 

The prisoners taken and retained in jail as the leaders of the Mor- 
mons were Joseph Smith, Lyman Weite, Hiram Smith, Sydna Regdon, 



166 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Roberts, Higby, and two others. These men were first imprisoned in the 
jail at Richmond, Ray County, and were afterwards removed to the jail 
at Liberty, Clay County, where they broke jail, escaped pursuit, and 
were never tried. 

The unprecedented and most disastrous rise in the Missouri, Missis- 
sippi, and Illinois Rivers occurred in 1844. About the tenth of June, the 
river at St. Louis commenced to rise rapidly, while intelligence was 
received of the rising of the Illinois and Missouri Rivers, and by the six- 
teenth, the curbstones of Front street were under water, and the danger 
to property and business became quite alarming. 

At first it was thought along the Missouri to be merely the usual 
June rise but the continued expansion of the flood soon convinced the 
inhabitants of its unprecedented and alarming character. All the bottom 
lands, or lowlands of the Missouri River overflowed and many farms were 
ruined, many being as much as 15 feet under water. Houses, barns and 
fences were swept away, and in many instances human lives were lost. 
In others, human beings clung to floating dwellings, or immense piles 
of driftwood, and some of them were rescued by passing boats, and 
devices improvised especially to save them. The front streets of many 
of the towns along the river were completely submerged. Between 400 
and 500 persons in St. Louis, and vicinity were driven from their homes, 
and great distress prevailed. 

At St. Louis the river reached its greatest height on the 24th of 
June. It was seven feet seven inches above the city directrix, and in its 
abatement the water did not reach the city directrix until the 14th day 
of July. 

A farmer who lived in the bottom about a mile south of New Frank- 
lin by the name of Lloyd, waited during the rise, thinking every day 
that the river would reach its highest point, and did not leave his cabin, 
until he was compelled one morning to make a hasty exit through the 
roof. While getting out some of his household plunder, he spilt some 
corn meal on the roof of this cabin. The third day after leaving, Lloyd 
returned, and found to his surprise that the roof of his cabin had been 
transformed into a menagerie of birds and animals. Among these were 
a cat, a dog, a coon, a fox, a rat, two chickens, and a turkey. He ob- 
served that the meal was gone and was greatly surprised to find these 
animals living together in amity and perfect harmony. A common mis- 
fortune had created among them a sympathetic feeling. The presence 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 167 

of the great flood had seemingly overawed and overpowered their antag- 
onistic natures, and like the lion and the lamb, of prophetic history, they 
were dwelling together in peace. 

Another farmer who resided in the bottoms, lost a very valuable 
horse. The day he left his cabin, this horse was driven, with other horses, 
and stock, to the hills for safe keeping. Some days afterwards the horse 
was missing, and was not found until the waters had receded, when he 
was discovered, or at least such portions of him as were left, hanging 
by one of his hind feet in some grape vines fully fifteen feet above the 
ground, having on the same halter that he wore when he left. The rise 
of 1844 obtained a greater elevation. 

History records three great disastrous floods prior to this one. The 
great flood of 1785, known as "L'anee des Grandes Eaux,' and the floods 
of 1811, and 1826; the latter being that which set the seal of fate upon 
the future prosperity of Franklin, now referred to as Old Franklin. 

Again the tocsin of war was sounded, in 1846. In the month of 
May of that year, the President of the United States called for volunteers 
to assist in the Mexican War. One company from Cooper County was 
called upon to join the troops in Mexico. 

The alleged cause of the declaration of war by Mexico against the 
United States in April, 1846, was the annexation of Texas, but the more 
immediate cause was the occupation by the American army of the dis- 
puted territory lying between the Nueces and Rio Grande River. 

On the 21st day of May, of that year, the "Boonville Observer" 
issued the following bulletin, or "extra," which we give verbatim: 

"Volunteers. — A proper spirit seems to animate the citizens of our 
country and especially the young men. 

The call for one company from the fifth division has been promptly 
responded to. Forty-three volunteers were raised by General Ferry on 
Monday in Boonville, and on Tuesday, at Palestine, under the direction 
of Generals Ferry and Megguire, the number was increased to 61. They 
then elected their officers, and the following gentlemen were chosen: 

Joseph L. Stephens, captain, without opposition, who delivered to 
the volunteers on that occasion a spirited and handsome address; first 
lieutenant, Newton Williams; second lieutenant, H. C. Levens; first ser- 
geant, 'John D. Stephens; second sergeant, William T. Cole; third ser- 
geant, Richard Norris ; fourth sergeant, James S. Hughes; first corporal, 
Tipton Prior; second corporal, A. B. Cele; third corporal, Wesley Amick; 



168 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

fourth corporal, A. G. Baber. The company, thus organized, assembled 
in Boonville on Wednesday, where they were exercised in military duty 
by their accomplished and gallant young captain. 

The following is a list of the privates: Thomas Bacon, Samuel D. 
Burnett, Jacob Duvall, Charles Salsman, Ewing E. Woolery, Heli Cook, 
Joel Coffee, Joel Epperson, Jesse Epperson, Hiram Epperson, John Mc- 
Dowell, J. R. P. Wilcoxson, T. T. Bowler, William Sullans, Horatio Bruce, 
William J. Jeffreys, James M. Jeffreys, Hiram Burnam, Edward S. D. Miller, 
John Whitley, Benjamin P. Ford, Philip Summers, George W. Campbell, 
Samuel R. Lemons, John R. Johnson, Thompson Seivers, Charles F. Kine, 
Jesse Nelson, John Colbert, Robert Rhea, Edmond G. Cook, John B. Bruce, 
James P. Lewis, Benjamin C. Lampton, Oliver G. Ford, U. E. Rubey, W. B. 
Rubey, W. H. Stephens, John M. Kelly, George Mock, Samuel , Elliott, 
Alpheus D. Hickerson, Edmond Eubank, Henderson C. Martin, Sprague 
White, William Woolsey, Martin Allison, Henry Francis, Robert H. Bowles, 
Justinian McFarland, Nathaniel T. Ford, James H. Jones, James C. Ross, 
Richard Hulett. 

They departed today (Thursday) on the steamer L. F. Linn for St. 
Louis, where they will be armed and equipped, and immediately trans- 
ported to the army of occupation on the Rio Grande. Our best wishes 
attend them. May victory ever perch upon their banners, and may they 
all return to their friends full of honors, with the proud reflection that 
they have served their country faithfully. 

When the steamer Louis F. Linn, Eaton, captain, Jewell, clerk, ar- 
rived in Boonville, on her downward trip, the company formed in line 
on the upper deck and many friends passed along the line, bidding fare- 
well and shaking each volunteer by the hand. The landing was crowded 
with people. The boat soon started, with cheers from the multitude, and 
waving of handkerchiefs by the ladies. 

The steamer laid up for the first night at Nashville, which is about 
fifteen miles below Rocheport. The members of the company were all 
jolly fellows, and jest and laughter made the time pass pleasantly and 
quickly. The most of them, had never been from home, and longed, with 
the anxiety of children, to see new countries and to take part in other 
than every day affairs of their lives. 

Lieutenant Levers being on watch the latter part of the night after 
they had left Boonville, heard a terrible splash in the water, and on 
inquiring for the cause discovered that one of his men had fallen over- 
board. The deck-hands rescued him, and soon afterwards one of the 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 169 

company folowed the example of his comrade, and was rescued by the 
same men. The lieutenant becoming alarmed for the safety of the men 
of the company, waked up the captain, informed him of what had hap- 
pened, and told him that if he did not take measures to prevent it he 
might have his company considerably diminished before they reached 
St. Louis, if the men continued to fall overboard as rapidly as they had 
commenced. The captain was greatly surprised at such unexpected acci- 
dents, and placed out a strong guard, which prevented any more occur- 
rences of the kind. The trouble was that some of the men before leaving 
Boonville had imbibed rather freely of intoxicants, and having never been 
on board of a boat before, imagined they were on land and walked off 
without being aware of their changed circumstances. 

They arrived at St. Louis without further accident, and were quar- 
tered at the court-house without any blankets to cover them, or any 
place except the naked benches on which to sleep. Most of the company 
expecting to draw their clothing and blankets at Jefferson barracks, had 
nothing but the shirt and pants which they had worn from home. 

Captain Stephen's company was mustered into service by Gen. Robert 
Campbell. General Taylor, having gained an important victory over the 
Mexicans, and it being thought that he would be able to conquer his 
enemies without any further reinforcements, Captain Stephens' company 
was ordered back, and directed to report to Adjutant General Parsons at 
Jefferson City, whither they hastened on the same boat, expecting orders 
from him to join Doniphan's expedition to New Mexico. General Parsons 
informed the captain that he had no f requisition for Cooper County, but 
to hold his company in readiness to march when called on. The members 
of the company were very much disappointed at being thus summarily 
dismissed to their homes, and felt very indignant at what they considered 
such shabby treatment; and though the company was ready and willing, 
during the whole of the war, to go to the field of battle on the shortest 
notice, it was not called upon. Some of the members of the company 
were so determined to go that they joined other companies of General 
Doniphan's command. The company, although gone from home only a 
short time, had a rough introduction to military life, having been forced 
to live on "hard tack" on the trip to St. Louis and return, without bedding 
of any kind, and many of the men without a change of clothes. Mrs. 
Andrews, an estimable lady of St. Louis, treated the company to as many 
pies as the men could eat, for which they felt always grateful to her. 

But very few of the company had ever seen St. Louis, or any other 



170 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

city, and it was a pleasing and wonderful sight to these men, who had, 
during all of their lives, been accustomed only to the quiet scenes of 
their every-day life. The company, as it passed through the streets, 
seemed, from the numbers who stopped to gaze at it, to attract as much 
attention as a fantastic company, on account of the queer costumes, arms 
and manners. As the company expected to draw its uniforms at the 
"Great City," and as the men expected to throw their citizen's suits 
away, they were not particular what they wore when they started from 
home. Most of them, being dressed in backwoods style, without uni- 
form or arms, made a rather ludicrous appearance to city folks. But the 
men cared little for that, and some of the city gents were made to meas- 
ure their lengths upon the pavement for their uncalled-for remarks in 
regard to the personal appearance and manners of the strangers. 

Some of the men of the company, while in St. Louis, had a row with 
some merchants on Water street for insulting one of their number. After 
some little quarreling, the merchants threatened to have them arrested 
and confined in the calaboose; but they were told if that threat was 
executed, they would level the calaboose, and if that was not sufficient 
to show their power, they would level the whole city, and that they had 
sufficient men to accomplish that undertaking. So, the merchants, be- 
coming alarmed, did not attempt to have the threat executed, and the 
difficulty was finally arranged without any serious consequences. On their 
return up the Missouri River, on the same boat on which they had gone 
down to St. Louis, a finely dressed "gentleman" unthoughtfully made the 
.remark that "these soldiers were a» rough set." The officers of Captain 
Stephens' and Captain Reid's companies demanded that he should be put 
ashore, and at the next landing he was made to "walk the plank," amidst 
shouts and cheers from the crowd. They thus gave him an opportunity 
of traveling on the next boat, where, perhaps, he might meet with pas- 
sengers more congenial to his nature, and where he would not be forced 
to associate with those whom he considered beneath him in the social 
scale. 

After this they proceeded without further incident to Boonville, 
where they were met by crowds of their friends and acquaintances, who, 
with loud cheers, welcomed them home. Soon after they arrived, the 
company was disbanded by the captain, with orders to be ready to as- 
semble and march to the seat of war on very short notice. From that 
time to the close of the war the members of the company were prepared 
at all times to march to the front, whenever their services should be 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 171 

required, but they were never ordered forward to take part in the great 
struggle which had then been transferred to the enemy's country. 

This is the only part the citizens of Cooper County took in the war 
of 1846, and though they did not partake directly in the struggle, they 
showed their readiness to do so, by organizing and keeping in readiness 
to march a company composed of some of the best citizens. 



CHAPTER XL 



CONTINUATION OF 1834-1847 AND UP TO 1861 



RISE OP BOOXVILLE— ERA OP PROSPERITY— KEMPER SCHOOL FOUNDED — COUNTY 
SEAT PERMANENTLY LOCATED— EFFORTS TO CHANGE COUNTY SEAT— MILI- 
TARY COMPANIES — TROUBLE BETWEEN COMPANIES — MAJOR FORSYTH 10 
KILLED— SECOND COURT HOUSE ERECTED— DISCOVERY OF GOLD IN CALI- 
FORNIA AFFECTS COOPER COUNTY— McCULLOCH'S COMPANY— TEMPERANCE 
EXCITEMENT — SLAVERY AGITATION — PRO SLAVERY CONVENTION— CONTRO- 
VERSY IN KANSAS— COOPER COUNTY PRO SLAVER V— ELECTIONS OF 1856-1860. 

It is not our intention, nor have we attempted to chronicle the events, 
that make the history of Cooper County, in absolute chronological order. 
Frequently historical data are so closely correlated, one with the other 
that we are forced to pass through a series of years to follow the logical 
chain of events, and are then compelled to "roll back the scroll of time" 
to take up another line of equally important facts. The preceding chap- 
ter deals with the history of Cooper County from 1834 to 1847, yet there 
are events of that period worthy of historical preservation not recorded 
therein to which we will now revert. 

The period between 1830 to 1847 marks a rapid and increasing tide 
of immigration to Cooper County. Large wholesale establishments were 
established at Boonville for the purpose of supplying the great trade of 
the southwest as well as to outfit and provision the great caravans bound 
for the Santa Fe trail. Among those who located here at that time are 
recalled A. L. and C. D. W. Johnson, who, in addition to their mercantile 
establishment operated a large grist mill which was perhaps the 'first 
flouring mill erected at Boonville ; J. Mansker and Company ; N. \V. Mack ; 
Thomas M. Campbell ; Charles W. Smith ; Caleb Jones ; Walter and H. B. 
Benedict, who were engaged in the sale of dry goods and groceries, etc. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 173 

Also Allen Porter, the druggist; H. and J. Rhea, tobacconist; H. W. 
Crowther, the rope-maker, which at that time seemed to be a profitable 
and necessary vocation; Jeremiah Rice, tanner; W. P. Roper, a saddler; 
Hook, a gunsmith; David Andrews, a tinner; George W. Caton, a tailor. 
John Dade and James Patton were among the principal hotelkeepers, yet 
at this time there were several others whose names we are unable to 
give. Isaiah Hanna was one of the blacksmiths yet there were several 
others at that time in Boonville and Cooper County. George C. Hart, 
John W. Martin and J. McCutchen are mentioned in the early records 
among the physicians who were then at Boonville, yet there were a 
number of other physicians in other sections of the county. The first 
newspaper in Cooper County was also established during this period, 
about the year 1834 and was called the "Boonville Herald," reference to 
which will hereafter be made in the special chapter on newspapers. 

The foregoing, located at Boonville, as above stated, between the 
years 1830-1840. From the years 1840-1850 the county enjoyed an era 
of prosperity that had not been known "in its prior history. The census 
of Boonville in 1840 gave the population as 1,660. Other newspapers 
were established and a number of educational institutions sprang up in 
different sections of the county. A number of new hotels were erected 
among which may be recalled the City Hotel, Peter Pierce, proprietor; 
The Union Hotel, Lewis Bendele, proprietor; The Virginia Hotel, 
John Dade, proprietor; and Baley's Mansion House. These were located 
in Boonville. The latter house was the central office of the stage line 
running from St. Louis to Independence, Mo. At this time Boon- 
ville was the most prosperous and flourishing town west of St. Louis 
and the prosperity and trade of Boonville materially effected and 
added to the thrift and enterprise of other sections of Cooper County. 
Business men were attracted and among those who came to Cooper 
County and settled in Boonville may be mentioned E. F. Gillespie, whole- 
sale and retail dealer in drugs and medicines ; Bremermann and Cuno, 
forwarding and commission merchants ; Dr. William H. Trigg, forward- 
ing and commission merchant, extracts from whose interesting diary 
will be found in the preceding chapter; Moseley and Stanley, forward- 
ing and commission merchants ; Hammond and Judd, lumber merchants ; 
N. Hutchison, wholesale druggist; S. D. Falls, dry goods; Thomas B. 
Veasey, hardware merchant; Aehle and Kuechelhan, wholesale druggists; 
Walter and Keill, liquors, dry goods and clothing; Nelson Jones and Com- 



174 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

pany, dry goods, groceries, etc. ; Peters and Hill, forwarding and commis- 
sion merchants; and Talbot and Lanny, clothing. 

In the year 1844, Prof. F. T. Kemper arrived in Boonville and estab- 
lished here a private school laying broad and wide the foundation for the 
Kemper Family School which through years of prosperity and to meet 
changing conditions became the Kemper Military School under the super- 
intendency of Col. T. A. Johnston. This prosperous military school has 
just closed the year and celebrated its 75th anniversary with about 500 
pupils and a graduating class of 77. 

It was during this period, at different times, that great interest was 
taken by the citizens of Cooper County in changing the county seat. It 
will be recalled that Boonville was made the county seat and the first 
court house was completed in 1823. Asa Morgan and Charles Lucas, 
when they laid out Boonville, agreed to donate 50 acres of land to the 
county provided that Boonville was made the permanent county seat. 
Lucas, however, did not live to carry out his agreement. He was killed 
in a duel with Thomas H. Benton on Sept. 27, 1817, on Bloody Island 
near St. Louis. However, on Aug. 13, 1819, in compliance with this agree- 
ment a deed was executed by Asa Morgan and Mary Gilman as the 
executrix of Charles Lucas, deceased, conveying to the commissioners 
of Cooper County 50 acres of land bound on the north by the Missouri 
River, on the west by the west line of Main street, and on the south by 
Chestnut street, on the east by a line 30 feet west of Eighth street, 
parallel with Eighth street. This tract of land embraced all of lots num- 
ber 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 
61, 62, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, also what was known as , 
the Court House Square, being that land lying and situated between 
Main and Fifth streets and Sixth street and High and Court streets, and 
also the following lots: 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 145, 146, 147, 1 
149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177 (being the 
lot upon which the jail is located), 178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 199, 200, 201, 
202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 211, 242, 243, 
244, 245, 246, 249, 250, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259, and 
a strip 60 feet wide off of the west side of lots 8, 63, 78, 129, 144, 183, 
198, 247 and 248, all in the city of Boonville, Cooper County, Mo. 

The commissioners to locate the permanent county seat were Robert 
Wallace, Benjamin F. Hickcox, and James Bruffee. The property above 
donated to the county is at this time the heart of Boonville and its value 
would run into hundreds of thousands of dollars. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 175 

Four distinct efforts were made to change the county seat from 
Boonville. The first attempt was made in 1832, the second in 1838, the 
third in 1842 and the fourth in 1844. These attempts to change the 
county seat resulted in spirited campaigns and aroused some temporary 
bitterness which is usually the result of county seat removal contests. 

The third campaign (in 1842) is of some historical interest and 
was very bitter. The bitterness arose largely from an unfortunate occur- 
rence that gave soul and life to the desire to change the county seat 
from Boonville. It had its origin in the intense excitement existing be- 
tween the militia and an organization known as the "Fantastic Com- 
pany," of which we here give an account. 

From the organization of the government of the state until the 
year 1847 there existed a militia law, requiring all able-bodied male citi- 
zens, between the ages of 18 and 45 years, to organize into companies 
and to muster on certain days. They had, during the year, at different 
times, a company, a battalion, and a general muster. A company muster 
was the drilling of the members of one company ; a battalion muster 
consisted in drilling the companies of one-half of a county ; and a gen- 
eral muster was a meeting of all the companies of a county. 

Muster day was, for a long time after the commencement of the 
custom, a gala day for the citizens, and was looked forward to with con- 
siderable interest, especially by the different officers, who appeared in 
full military dress, captains and lieutenants with long red feathers stuck 
in the fore part of their hats, and epaulettes upon their shoulders. The 
held officers mounted on their fine steeds, with continental cocked hats, 
epaulettes upon their shoulders and fine cloth coats ornamented with gold 
fringe, rode around among the men and gave orders, making themselves 
the "observed of all observers." Also the venders of Avhiskey, ginger- 
cakes, apples and cider took no small interest in the anticipated muster 
clay, for on that day, every person being excited, bought more or less 
of these things. Always on muster days, after the muster was over, 
the rival bruisers of a neighborhood tried their strength upon one an- 
other, thus furnishing a great deal of amusement for those who attended. 
The little folks were also happy in the anticipation, if not in the enjoy- 
ment, of being presented with a ginger-cake and an apple upon that day. 

But after a lapse of time these musters became tiresome to a por- 
tion of the citizens, as they were obliged to lose so much of their valuable 
time in order to attend them, or were compelled to pay a fine of one dollar 
for each failure to attend on muster day; besides they could see no real 



176 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

use in continuing the organization, as there seemed no prospect soon of 
the state requiring any troops, as all was peaceful and quiet within its 
borders. Also, at the elections for officers, many of them were chosen 
on account of their personal popularity, instead of their qualifications to 
fill the office for which they were elected. Musters, after their novelty 
had worn off, became very unpopular, the citizens believing them to be 
an unnecessary burden upon them. 

Therefore, some time before the battalion muster, which was to take 
place at Boonville, during the year 1842, a company, the existence of 
which was known only to its members, was formed at that place, among 
the members of which were some of the best citizens of the city. This 
company was styled the "fantastic company," on account of the queer 
costumes, arms, etc., of its members, they being dressed in all manner 
of outlandish costumes, carrying every conceivable kind of a weapon, 
from a broom-stick to a gun, and mounted upon horses, mules and jacks. 
The company was intended as a burlesque upon the militia, and to have 
some fun at their expense. 

The regiment of the state militia which was to be mustered out at 
the above mentioned time was commanded by Col. Jesse T. Turley and 
Maj. J. Logan Forsythe, and was composed of all the companies then in 
the north half of the county. On the morning of the muster day Colonel 
Turley formed his regiment in front of the court house. After they 
were organized and ready for muster and drill, the fantastic company, 
which was commanded by John Babbitt, each member dressed in his 
peculiar costume and carrying his strange weapon, marched up into full 
view of Colonel Turley's command, and commenced preparations to drill. 
Colonel Turley, feeling indignant that his proceedings should be inter- 
rupted by such a "mob," and believing that it was intended as an insult, 
ordered his command to surround the fantastic company. 

There was a high fence on the eastern side of the vacant lot on 
which they were mustering, and Colonel Turley's command surrounded 
the "Fantastic Company." by approaching on High street, on the alley 
between Fifth and Sixth streets, and on Sixth street, thus hemming them 
in on the vacant lot. The latter, being closely pressed, retreated back 
across the fence, and then commenced a fight by throwing brickbats. The 
fight immediately became general and promiscuous, and resulted in seri- 
ous damage to several members of the State militia. Col. J. J. Turley 
was struck in the side by a stone, and two or three of his ribs broken. 
Maj. J. Logan Forsythe was struck by a brickbat in the face, just below 



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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 177 

his right eye, and died the next day of his wounds. The members of 
the fantastic company then dispersed and scattered in every direction. 

The death of Major Forsythe caused great excitement throughout 
the county, and great indignation was felt against the citizens of Boon- 
ville, so much so, that a- petition was immediately circulated, asking that 
the "county seat of Cooper County be removed from Boonville," to a 
more central point of the county." So great was the excitement that some 
persons living within three miles of Boonville signed this petition. But 
the county seat, after a severe struggle before the County Court, was 
retained at Boonville. 

The death of Major Forsythe was greatly regretted by all parties, 
for he was an excellent citizen and a very popular officer. It produced 
an ill-feeling throughout the county, which lasted many years. After 
the fight was oVer, the militia went through with their usual exercises, 
under the command of their subordinate officers, as Colonel Turley and 
Major Forsythe were unable, on account of their wounds, to drill them. 

The last effort was as stated, in 1844, by the people of Palestine 
township. The citizens of that township held a meeting in March of 
that year, and agreed to submit the question of changing the county seat 
to a vote of the people, which was accordingly done at the succeeding 
August election. The question was decided adversely to those who favored 
the change. 

The second court house erected was completed in the year 1840. The 
County Court at its May term ordered that the public square be laid off 
into lots and sold to raise money to build a new court house and at the 
same time it was ordered that the old court house (the first court house) 
be sold. The money, however, realized from the sale of these lots and 
the sale of the old court house was not sufficient to erect the new build- 
ing. The first appropriation made in money for this purpose by the 
court was the sum of $10,800. Other appropriations were made from 
time to time until the completion of the building, the entire amount appro- 
priated being about $30,000. This building, now wrecked and upon whose 
site stands the present handsome court house, was the scene of many 
political gatherings of the past and spirited legal contests by the best 
legal minds of the state. It will be cherished in the memory of the pres- 
ent generation. A picture of this building appears in this volume, as 
well as one of its successor, the present elegant structure. We can but 
wonder how those that come, after us will look upon our last effort in 
(12) 



178 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

erecting a court of justice. In 50 years will they consider it as inade- 
quate, as antiquated, as dangerous and unsanitary, as we of today con- 
sidered its predecessor? Doubtless more so, for the human race, not with 
mincing steps but with giant strides, is moving forward. 

There are few living at the present time who recall the intense 
excitement of the years 1849 and 1850 caused by the discovery of gold 
in California. At this time, the period of its greatest excitement, the 
people generally throughout the American Union became deeply inter- 
ested and thousands upon thousands were filled with the lust for gold. 
It would be strange indeed, if this mania did not penetrate Cooper County 
and arouse to action the hardy and adventurous settlers of that day. 
While it may not be a beautiful sentiment, yet in a measure mankind 
responds to the expression of the poet, 

"Gold is the strength, the sinews of the world ; 
The health, the soul, the beauty most divine." 

Cooper County sent forth to the gold fields of California many of 
her sons, some of whom were past the middle age with silvered locks, 
others were boys still in their teens, all animated with the hope and 
strong desire that their labors, their sacrifices, their dangers, and their 
bravery would be rewarded with an abundance of the glittering and 
precious ore. The desert plains over which they traveled to reach the 
gold fields were littered with broken wagons and carcasses of beasts of 
burden and here and there the mouldering remains of men. Joaquin 
Miller, the poet of the Sierras, has said, "The coward never started and 
the weak did not arrive." We are unable to give the names of all those 
hardy seekers after gold who left our county at this time, however, we 
here give the names of a portion of the companies of Capt. Robert Mc- 
Culloch and Solomon Houck: 

Robert McCulloch's company: Spotswook McCulloch, Joseph McCul- 
loch, John McCulloch, Robert Douglass, Charles Lewis, Merriweather 
Lewis, Nicholas Lewis, Abraham Weight, John Simmons, Joseph Potter, 
Nelson Potter, John Hornbeck, Perry Taylor, Alfred Hornbeck, C. W. 
Sombart, Julius Sombart, Robert Allison, Love Wadly, Erhart, Sr., Au- 
gust Erhart, Albert Erhart, William Hardcastle, Reuben Stevens and 
James Humes, of Moniteau County; Ewing Kelly, Joseph Hess, John 
Kelly, Peter Kelly, Bear, Sr., Frank Bear, John Carey, William Son, George 
Kelly, Oldhausen and son and Richard Bidel, of St. Louis County; Louis 
Brant, Dr. Antrim, and Abraham Reidmeyer, William Reidmeyer and 
John Hahn, from Ohio ; Joseph Byler, Calvin Wilson, Simon Boyd, Doctor 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 179 

Cooper, Universalist preacher; C. B. Combes, Thomas Chambers, Charles 
Mitchell, Absalom Meredith, John Baldwin, Jacob Gype, John Mars, Cal 
Mason, John Oglesby, Thomas Mitchell, Jacob Harrier, Horace Hutchin- 
son, William Samuels, William Wheatley, Samuel Row, John Porter. 

Upon the eve of his departure for California, one of the Cooper 
County boys thought to be the late Col. Horace A. Hutchison penned the 
following beautiful and touching farewell: 

Farewell, farewell, my native land, 
I leave thee only with a sigh, 
To wander o'er a foreign strand, 
Perchance to live, perchance to die. 
Adieu, my friends, whom kindred ties 
Unite, though distant we may rove, 
• How ardent as time onward flies, 

Fond memory clings to those we love. 

O'er the broad plains, far away, 
Beyond the Rocky Mountain's crest, 
Our wayward feet awhile shall stray, 
And press the gold-besprinkled west. 
But 'mid the gaudy scenes of strife, 
Where gold to pride enchantment lends, 
We'll ne'er forget that boon of life — 
Companions dear and faithful friends. 

And in the lapse of coming years, 
Should fortune be not too unkind, 
We'll hope reward for parting tears, 
In smiles from those we left behind. 
We go — yet hoping to return, 
Friends of our youth, to home and you, 
For these do cause our hearts to yearn, 
E'en when we sigh Adieu — Adieu. 

There are few now living in Cooper County who were old enough 
in 1853 to remember the intense excitement and the bitterness incident 
thereto, caused by the temperance movement inaugurated by the Crystal 
Fount division of the Sons of Temperance in that year. 



180 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Sixty-six years ago saloons were common in Boonville, and in all 
probability, there were four times as many as at the present time. 
Whiskey was cheap, and its use was common. The "worm of the still" 
could be found wherever the thirst demanded. As a rule drug stores, 
grocery stores, general merchandise stores, dry goods stores, and nearly 
all mercantile establishments carried their barrel or barrels of whiskey. 
Although a merchant may have depreciated the sale of intoxicating 
liquors, he was practically forced to yield to the common custom by 
reason of the practise of his competitors. 

The Sons of Temperance secured the services of Rev. William Ross, 
Deputy Grand Worthy Patriarch of Missouri, who delivered a number 
of stirring lectures in the Methodist, Episcopal and Presbyterian 
churches in this city. The Reverend Ross was pugnacious, possessed of 
fervent eloquence, and used a trenchant tongue. Like the woodman 
he cared not where the chips flew. He was more belligerent than dis- 
creet, but withall, his methods were well calculated to arouse intense 
interest and excitement in his hearers. He was radical in his views, and 
by the bold and denunciatory manner in which he spoke of the liquor 
traffic, and those who drank, incurred the resentment and displeasure of 
the saloon-keepers of the town, as well as those who patronized them. 

The interest in his subject by his listeners deepened and continued 
to increase from day to day until it reached its culminating point on 
July 17, 1853. Upon that Sunday, a meeting of the friends of temper- 
ance was advertised to be held at the Presbyterian Church, where Rev. 
William Ross would deliver one of his interesting lectures. 

H. D. Benedict was the mayor of the city of Boonville at that time. 
Fearing serious results from the bitterness manifested on both sides, 
on the 16th of July, the day preceding the day of the lecture, he had 
published the following proclamation, which speaks for itself: 

"Whereas, a certain itinerant lecturer, calling himself "Billy Ross," 
has been disseminating discord and dissention in this community, by 
vituperation and abuse, under the guise of temperance lectures; and, 
whereas, it is said that sundry persons have armed themselves and 
threatened to assemble for combat — some to encourage and others to 
stop said Ross in his course — these are therefore to forbid all such riotous 
and unlawful assemblages. And the police of this city are hereby re- 
quired to suppress and disperse all riotous and unlawful assemblies in 
this city. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 181 

In testimony whereof, I, H. B. Benedict, mayor of the city of Boon- 
ville, have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the seal of the 
city, at office, this 16th day of July, 1853. 

"H. B. BENEDICT, Mayor." 

Following his proclamation by action, the mayor immediately organ- 
ized a force numbering 62 men, of which he was the leader, and marched 
to the Presbyterian Church on the 17th of July, where he took posses- 
sion of the church and premises. Many came to the church, at the ap- 
pointed hour, but were prevented from entering the building by the 
mayor and his force, and the assembled crowd was quietly dispersed. No 
resistance was offered nor was there any riotous demonstration. The 
partisan of the respective parties to the controversy commended and 
condemned in turn the action of the mayor, according to the respective 
inclinations, and their interest in the imbroglio. 

However, a committee was appointed by the temperance organiza- 
tion of Boonville, and in the following language., gave vent to their feel- 
ing, and thus expressed their views of the action of the police force: 

"Who made up that (so-called) police force? Everybody in Boon- 
ville knows. Whisky traders, grog-shop keepers and their bloated cus- 
tomers, black-legs, infidels — some known long and truly, to be infidels 
alike towards all that is divine in Christianity, and pure and sacred in 
the principles of a well-ordered domestic and social life. When Mr. Ross 
together with his peacable, forbearing, but deeply outraged audience, 
assembled at the church-yard gate, around the church enclosure, and 
looked over, they saw men who for weeks before had been breathing 
"threatenings and slaughter" against Mr. Ross (for no other reason 
than this only; that he had assaulted within the walls of the churches 
of this city, the Hydra monster whisky), herded together, all who heart- 
lessly trade in, and fatten upon the profits of the poison. 

"Large numbers of ladies, with the general multitude, lingered 
around the gate, and gazed with mingled feelings of pity, suppressed 
indignation and contempt upon the motley mass of disgusting, animan 
and moral putrescence that made up almost the entire number of the 
legalized mob that invested, by barbarian, bacchanalian authority the 
peaceful premises of that deeply dishonored sanctuary." 

From the past, we often learn the present. Thus it is seen that in 
those years long past, the men and the women who passed their brief 
hour upon the stage, and whose memory we honor and revere, gave vent 



182 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

to their feelings and convictions, in language at times virile, vigorous 
and bitter, much as we today are wont to do, losing sight of the senti- 
ment and the poet's vision, 

"Life is too brief 
Between the budding and the falling leaf, 
Between the seed time and the golden sheaf, 
For hate and spite. 

"Life is too swift 
Between the blossom and the white snow's drift, 
Between the silence and the lark's uplift, 
For bitter words." 

As heretofore stated, the admission of Missouri into the Union 
aroused such intense and bitter agitation throughout the whole country 
that it was feared by some of the wisest statesmen of the day that it 
would disrupt the Union. Thi-oughout the years succeeding the admis- 
sion of Missouri until the close of the Civil War, the pro-slavery and 
anti-slavery agitators were busy and active. In 1855 the feeling became 
intensified. Cooper County at that time was settled mostly by people 
from the southern states and their deep sympathy was with the pro- 
slavery cause. At this time the German population of Cooper County 
was not large, yet not being slave holders nor attached by tradition to 
the slave holding cause, they were not in sympathy with the pro-slavery 
movement. 

At a meeting of the citizens of Cooper County, held at Bell Air, on 
Saturday, June 30, 1855, for the purpose of appointing delegates to attend 
the pro-slavery convention to be held at Lexington, Mo., on the 12th day 
of July, 1855, the following delegates were appointed: Boonville town- 
ship. J. L. Stephens, W. Douglass, A. W. Simpson, J. M. Nelson, J. W. 
Torbert, W. N. Ragland, Isaac Lionberger, John Combs, T. V. Hickox, 
Benjamin Tompkins; Lamine township, Freeman Wing, Jesse B. Tiuiey, 
S. W. McMahan; Saline township, John L. O'Bryan, W. T. Thorton, J. K. 
Ragland, A. W. Lucky; Clarks Fork township, Robert McCulloch, Henry 
Mills, A. Greenhalgh, Charles Q. Lewis; Moniteau township, A. K. Longan, 
D. Jones, D. P. Swearingen, J. Baughman, Dr. William H. Ellis: Kelly 
township, W. McCurdy, A. Nelson, Dr. E. Chilton; Palestine township, 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 183 

William Bradley, R. L. Bradley, B. C. Clark, R. H. Menefee, James L. 
Bell, L. C. Stephens, R. A. Ewing; Clear Creek township, James B. Harris, 
George S. Cockrill, Samuel B. Mahan; Pilot Grove township, Dr. W. W. 
Harriman, Dr. J. K. McCabe, W. M. Taylor, John Miller; Blackwater 
township, N. Sutherlin, Thomas L. Williams, Richard Marshall, John A. 
Trigg; Lebanon township, Richard Willis, Thomas McCulloch, Dr. Sam- 
uel H. Saunders, H. W. Ferguson, Geo. Harland. L. C. Stephens, presi- 
dent; William Bradley and J. M. Nelson, vice-presidents; Bennett C. 
Clark, secretary. 

About this time great efforts were being made by both the contend- 
ing forces in the slavery controversy to settle the State of Kansas with 
their respective adherents. It would be difficult and it is not the purpose 
in this volume to portray the unreasonable bitterness arising therefrom, 
but that our old citizens of Cooper were active in the controversy and 
the Kansas troubles of 1856 is evidenced by the fact that on Aug. 20, 
1856, a call was made in Boonville for men and money from the citizens 
of Cooper County to aid the pro-slavery party in Kansas. One of the 
posters announcing the call is as follows: "A meeting of the citizens 
of Cooper County will be held at the court-house, in Boonville, on Satur- 
day, the 23rd, for the purpose of raising men and money to aid the law 
and order men in Kansas. Let every pro-slavery man attend. Bring 
your guns and horses. Let us sustain the Government, and drive back 
the abolitionists who are murdering our citizens." The above was signed 
by some of the prominent citizens of the town, who sent men and money 
to Kansas. 

The practical unanimity among the citizens of Cooper County as to 
the slavery issue was manifested in the elections of 1856 and 1860. In 
1856 there were three candidates for President in the field, namely: 
James Buchanan, Democrat; Millard Fillmore, American; and John C. 
Freemont, Republican. There was no ticket in Cooper County for Free- 
mont. Millard Fillmore carried the county over James Buchanan by 
about eight votes, so nearly even were the two parties, but so small 
the adherents of the Republican pai'ty that no ticket was in the field. 

At the next presidential election in 1860 the candidates were Stephen 
A. Douglas, Union Democrat; John C. Breckenridge, Southern Democrat; 
Abraham Lincoln, Republican; and John Bell, Union. 

Douglas carried Cooper County by a small majority, Bell running 
him close. Breckenridge had a small vote and Lincoln but twenty votes. 



184 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

So strange it seemed at that time that any one should vote for Lincoln 
that the names of those who voted for him were afterwards published 
in the newspapers as an item of curiosity. The result of the foregoing 
elections demonstrates that while the citizens of Cooper County were 
for slavery, yet they were against secession and loyally in favor of the 
Union. 



CHAPTER XII. 



CIVIL WAR PERIOD 



CIVIL WAR A MEMORY— BATTLE BELOW BOOXVILLE— HOME GUARDS IN COOPER 
COUNTY— PRICE'S RAID— SHELBY'S RAID— PRICE'S RAID INTO COOPER 
COUNTY. 

The novelist will take the most fragile thread of fact, and from this, 
with cunning skill, weave a fabric of romantic and surpassing beauty. 
The historian in comparison must be prosy, eschewing all of the myths, 
and avoiding legends, the essence of poesy and songs. As one has said, 
he must "nothing extenuate, nor set down aught in malice." History is 
a skeleton of the past. It is not in the power of man to visualize it 
with flesh and blood, make the dead past the living present. 

After the lapse of more than half a century, the bitterness of the 
Civil War is but a memory, and with the younger generation, only a 
tradition. It is not intended in this chapter to discuss the causes and 
long chain of events that led up to the sanguinary and internecine war of 
1861-65. Suffice it to say that human slavery is abolished. Who can 
now regret it? The Union is established, one and inseparable. The 
hand of God has fashioned a nation. In the time of need, He has been 
the giant of strength, to stay the ruthless onward rush of might. To 
the peoples of the earth, and the powers of the world, our country pro- 
claims the doctrine that the right of man must prevail over the might 
of kings and classes. 

To give a detailed account of all that transpired here in the war of 
rebellion, or the Civil War, would require a much larger volume of space 
than we have at our command. The following pages only profess to 
give without comment, some of the facts as they occurred. 

Cooper County suffered a great deal during the war. Her territory 
was nearly all the time occupied by either one party or the other, and 



186 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

the citizens were called upon to contribute to first one of the contending 
forces and then the other. Again, some of the most inexcusable crimes 
and murders were committed within the territory of Cooper County, 
which, while not a part of the war proper, will be given in another chapter. 

Battle Below Boonville. — Governor Jackson and General Price, on 
June 11, 1861, left Jefferson City, where the Legislature was in session, 
sought an interview with Generals Lyon and Blair, and made proposi- 
tions for a compromise, on the basis of neutrality, etc. The two last 
mentioned generals refused to make any compromise whatever. They 
claimed the "unrestricted right to move and station the troops of the 
United States throughout the State, whenever and wherever, in their 
opinion, they thought it to be necessary, either for the protection of 
loyal citizens of the Federal Government, or for the repelling of an 
invasion. 

Governor Jackson and General Price, after this unsuccessful en- 
deavor to bring about peace, returned to Jefferson City, and the Governor 
issued a proclamation, calling into the active service of the State 50,000 
men. General Lyon, a few days afterwards, issued a counter proclama- 
tion, in justification of his course in refusing to compromise with Gov- 
ernor Jackson and General Price. 

General Lyon then moved his troops to Jefferson City, and on his 
arrival at that place, he found that Governor Jackson had moved his 
forces 50 miles above, to Boonville, cutting the telegraph lines, and 
destroying the bridges on the railway as he proceeded. General Lyon, 
leaving Colonel Boernstein in command of a small force at the capital, 
on the afternoon of the 16th day of June, 1861, embarked his forces on 
three steamers, and ascending the Missouri River, they arrived at Roche- 
port about six o'clock on the following morning. There he ascertained 
that the State troops, under General Marmaduke (Price at that time 
being sick), were in full force a few miles below Boonville, and that 
resistance might be expected from them 1 , should he attempt to reach 
Boonville by that road. Leaving this place, and taking the steam ferry- 
boat, Paul Wilcox, General Lyon's command ascended the river to the 
island, eight miles below Boonville, which was reached at about seven 
o'clock a. m., and on the southern shore of which the command disembarked. 

No enemy being in sight, and the scouts reporting no sign of any, 
the troops at once marched up the Missouri River towards Boonville, and 
followed the road about a mile and a half, to the place where it ascends 
the bluffs, from the river bottom. At this place, several shots from 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 187 

General Lyon's scouts announced the driving in of General Marmaduke's 
pickets. General Lyon then advanced for nearly a mile, and found Gen- 
eral Marmaduke well posted at the brow of the ascent. Captain Totten 
opened the engagement by throwing a few nine pound bombshells into 
the entrenchments of the State troops, while the infantry commenced 
a heavy volley of musketry, which was well replied to, the balls flying 
thick and fast among the ranks of the troops, and wounding several on 
both sides. 

The State troops, under the command of General Marmaduke, were 
posted in a lane running from the Rocheport road in the direction of 
the river, and west of the residence of William M. Adams, on the north- 
west corner of the junction of the two roads. During the fight a couple 
of bombs were thrown through the east wall of Mr. Adam's house, caus- 
ing the inmates to retreat to the cellar for protection. A heavy fire from 
Colonel Shaefer's German infantry, General Lyon's company. of regulars, 
and part of Colonel Blair's regiment which were stationed on the left 
of the road, compelled the troops of General Marmaduke to retreat. 

His force then clambered over the fence into a field of wheat, and 
again formed in line just below the brow of the hill. They then advanced 
some twenty steps to meet the Federal troops, and for a short time the 
artillery of Captain Totten was worked with great rapidity. Just at this 
the State troops opened a galling fire from a grove just on the left 
of the Federal center, and from a shed from beyond and still farther 
to the left. 

What had been before this a skirmish now assumed the magnitude 
of a battle, which continued only about a half hour. The State troops 
finding the Federals too strong and too well armed and drilled to be 
successfully opposed by raw recruits (most of them had never been under 
fire) and having no artillery with which to return the fire from General 
Lyon's batteries, abandoned the fight and retreated. Captains Cole and 
Miller took possession of "Camp Bacon," where the State troops had been 
encamped for two days. 

General Lyon continued his march towards Boonville. He was met 
on the hill near the residence of T. W. Nelson, by James H. O'Bryan, 
acting mayor of Boonville, Judge G. W. Miller, and other prominent citi- 
zens, who formally surrendered the town to him, and he immediately 
marched into and took possession of it. 

General Marmaduke commanded the State troops on this occasion. 
General Price was in ill health, and on the day on which the battle 



188 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

occurred he left Boonville on a steamboat for Lexington. Governor Jack- 
son was on the battleground in the forenoon, but left Boonville on the 
Georgetown road about 11 o'clock of that day. In this engagement two 
of Lyon's men were killed and nine wounded. Among the State troops, 
three were killed and several wounded, but the number of these is 
unknown. 

Kelly's was the only well organized and well drilled company under 
the command of General Marmaduke, and it did not participate in the 
battle. It is said that General Price was opposed to making a stand 
against General Lyon at the time, as all of his troops, except Kelly's 
company, were raw recruits and very poorly armed and drilled, having 
rallied at Boonville during the preceding three days. There was consid- 
erable controversy among the officers and men, whether, considering the 
circumstances, a stand or retreat should be made; but some of the most 
enthusiastic, whose counsel prevailed, said that they had come to fight 
and they intended to do so. There were several prisoners taken by Gen- 
eral Lyon, but they were afterwards released on parole. 

The next day after the battle, General Lyon issued a proclamation, 
offering full pardon to all who would lay down their arms, return to 
their homes, relinquish their hostility to the United States Government, 
and persons who did this were assured that they would not be molested 
for past offenses. Many w'ho had taken part in this battle availed them- 
selves of the opportunity offered by General Lyon, and some of them 
never took up arms again during the war. 

General Lyon remained at Boonville for several weeks, during which 
time he purchased a large outfit of wagons, horses and mules, paying 
fair prices for them, no pressing or forced sales being made. He a] 
captured every steamboat that passed down the river. On the third day 
of July, having received reinforcements of an Iowa regiment, he took 
his departure for the southwest, his objective point being Springfield. 
A short time before, General Blair left for Washington, to take his seat 
in Congress, he having been elected a representative from St. Louis. 

This being the first battle of the Rebellion which was fought on 
land, the taking of Fort Sumter having occurred only a short time before, 
produced great excitement throughout the United States, and General 
Blair on his way to Washington was met by great crowds of his friends, 
and lionized, feasted, and toasted, as the "hero of the hour." 

Before General Lyon left Boonville, Maj. Joseph A. Eppstein organ- 
ized two companies of home guards, composed entirely of Germans, which 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 189 

were commanded by him. They thi-ew up fortifications at the old fair 
grounds. When he moved to Springfield, he left Major Curly, who was 
shortly afterwards succeeded by Col. John D. Stephenson, in command 
at the fortifications. 

Doctor Quarles was among the killed of the State troops. His body 
was found in the wheat field late in the evening after the battle, he hav- 
ing been severely wounded in the thigh, and not being discovered, bled 
to death. Young McCutchen was also wounded in the thigh, and although 
properly cared for, all their efforts could not save him. He died a few 
days after the battle. The death of these two gentlemen, so young, so 
.remising and kindhearted, cast a gloom over the entire community, 
and their loss was universally regretted by all parties. The other gentle- 
man killed, who was from Pettis County, was shot in the head, and his 
name is not remembered. 

General Parsons, with the artillery belonging to the State troops, 
arrived too late to engage in the Battle. He came in on the Boonville 
and Tipton road, via Wilkin's bridge, and halted at the top of the hill, 
south of Boonville, near Dr. William Trigg's present residence, where, 
learning that General Marmaduke had been defeated and was retreating, 
he took the road leading from Boonville to Prairie Lick in a southwest 
direction, and soon formed a junction with Governor Jackson's state troops. 

General Lyon, two days after the battle of Boonville, sent a detach- 
ment of his force southwest, by way of Syracuse, as far as Florence, 
Morgan county, in pursuit of Governor Jackson. But finding that the 
state troops had moved still farther south, the command returned to 
Boonville without meeting any of Jackson's command. 

Home Guards in Cooper County. — General Nathaniel Lyon, on the 
20th day of June, 1861, organized and mustered into service a company of 
German home guards, consisting of 135 men. Of this company Joseph A. 
Eppstein was elected captain ; Emil Haas, first lieutenant ; Ernest Roeschel, 
second lieutenant; and John A. Hain, orderly sergeant. This company 
was, on the fourth day of August, ordered to Jefferson City for the pur- 
pose of aiding in the protection of the capital. They together with Colonel 
Brown's 7th Missouri regiment, wei-e, a short time afterwards, ordered to 
Otterville. They went by rail to Syracuse, and marched on foot the bal- 
ance of the way to Otterville, which they immediately occupied. 

A large number of southern men living in the vicinity had organized 
a company, and under the command of Captain Alexander, James B. Harris, 
and others, were camped near by. These two commands for some reason 



190 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

not wishing to attack each other, made the following compromise which 
was suggested by the southern commanders, and after some parley, ac- 
cepted by Colonel Brown. It was agreed that if the Federal troops would 
withdraw from Otterville, Captain Alexander would disband his forces, 
and Colonel Brown ordered his command back to Jefferson City. 

Afterwards, the home guards, with part of Colonel Worthington's 
command, were ordered to Boonville. They ascended the Missouri River 
in a steamboat, and arrived at Boonville very early on the morning of 
the day following their start from Jefferson City. The morning was very 
foggy, so that the boat could hardly be seen from the shore. It passed 
Boonville under cover of darkness and the fog, and landed at Haas' brew- 
ery, situated about one-half of a mile west of the city. Here the home 
guards disembarked, and from thence marched around and surrounded 
the town before the citizens were aware of their presence. Colonel 
Worthington, with the men of his command, dropped down on the steam- 
boat landing at the foot of Main street, and marched up into the town. 
He then took a number of prominent citizens prisoners, and confiscated 
the contents of two tin stores and one shoe store, the owners of which 
were charged with selling goods to the Confederates ; he also took posses- 
sion of the Observer printing establishment, then owned by A. W. Simp- 
son and had the presses, type, etc., boxed up and shipped to Jefferson City. 
This was all done under the orders of Colonel U. S. Grant afterwards 
president of the United States, who was then in command at Jefferson 
City. The home guards, together with Colonel Worthington's command, 
on the afternoon of the same day, took with them the prisoners and the 
property which they had confiscated. The prisoners were afterwards 
released, and returned home; but most of the property, except that be- 
longing to the printing establishment, was never seen again by its owners. 

Aug. 28th, in the same year, Gen. Jeff C. Davis ordered the home 
guards to reinforce Colonel Mulligan at Lexington, Missouri. Two days 
before the 2d Illinois regiment of cavalry had been ordered to the same 
place, and had started. When Colonel Eppstein, the commander of the 
home guards, arrived at Tipton, he heard that a part of the 2d Illinois 
cavalry was at Boonville, and concluded to go there also, and reported to 
headquarters, that if they had any orders for him, to forward them to 
him at that place. 

Colonel Eppstein was ordered by Gen. Jeff C. Davis, then stationed 
at Jefferson City, to remain at Boonville and occupy the breastworks, 
which he did. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 191 

Sept. 1, 1861, the troops around Boonville formed themselves into a 
battalion, consisting of two and one-half companies; companies A and B, 
infantry, and one-half a company of cavalry. The officers of the battalion 
were Joseph A. Eppstein, major; Emil Haas, surgeon; and John A. Hayne, 
adjutant; of company A, infantry, were John B. Keiser, captain; John 
Roterd, first lieutenant; Charles Koch, second lieutenant; of company B, 
infantry, were Charles Beihle, captain; Joseph Weber, first lieutenant; 
John Fessler, second lieutenant. The half company of cavalry was com- 
manded by Peter Ostermyer. 

About four days afterwards, this battalion received information that 
it would be attacked by the Confederates from several surrounding 
counties. Colonel Eppstein immediately arrested a number of the most 
prominent southern men in Boonville, viz: N. H. Ells, Rev. H. M. Painter, 
William E. Burr, J. W. Draffen, James Harper, and Joseph L. Stephens, 
and held them as hostages, hoping thereby to prevent the contemplated 
attack. But about six o'clock on the morning of the 13th day of Sept., 
1861, while Eppstein's command was at breakfast, the pickets having all 
come in, the breastworks were attacked by a force of about eight hun- 
dred men under the command of Colonel Brown, of Saline County. The 
fortifications were attacked on the west, southwest and southeast sides. 
The first attack was from the southwest, the next through Lilly's field 
on the southeast, and finally extended around to the west side. At first, 
the firing was very rapid from the southwest and southeast, and soon 
afterwards from the side of the fortifications, the balls falling thick on 
every side. Colonel Brown led the attack on the southeast, and made 
two charges upon the breastworks, but was compelled to fall back each 
time under the heavy fire from the intrenchments. In the second attack 
Colonel Brown was mortally wounded, and fell within 50 feet of the breast- 
works. A short time afterwards, his brother, Captain Brown, was also 
mortally wounded, and fell about ten feet behind him. The Browns were 
both brave men, and fought with desperation and with utter disregard 
of their own safety. After the two Browns had fallen mortally wounded, 
and Major Poindexter been left in command of the Confederates, Mr. 
Burr, who was one of the prisoners at the breastworks, having become 
satisfied that the entrenchments could not be taken, asked, and was 
granted pel-mission to visit the Confederates, under a flag of truce, in 
order to see what arrangements could be made so as to bring about a 
cessation of hostilities. The two commanders finally agreed upon an 
armistice for seven days, Major Poindexter's troops to be withdrawn from 



192 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

the breastworks and city, a distance of three miles, and were not to enter 
town only for medicine during that time; Poindexter was to return all 
horses taken from Union men, and surrender the arms of the men who 
had fallen in the engagements. If the terms of the armistice were broken 
by Poindexter, then Rev. H. M. Painter was to be shot. 

The home guards numbered about 140 effective men. Their loss was 
two killed and seven wounded. The names of the killed were John A. 
Hayne, adjutant, and Kimball, a private. The number of Colonel Brown's 
command who were killed and wounded is not known. Colonel and 
Captain Brown were, after the battle, taken to a hospital at Boonville. 
The colonel died of his wounds the same evening; the captain lingered 
until the next day, when he too died. Their bodies were taken to Saline 
County for burial. 

At the commencement of the battle, messengers were dispatched by 
three different routes, viz: by way of Tipton, Jefferson City road and 
down the river in a skiff, asking for reinforcements. Of these messengers, 
none reached Jefferson City except Joseph Read and Joseph Reavis, who 
went down the river. Those who went by the way of Tipton and the 
Jefferson City road, were captured by Colonel Brown's men while they 
were on the way. 

On the 14th, at 10 o'clock p. m., the force at Boonville was reinforced 
by the 5th Iowa regiment, under the command of Colonel Worthington, 
which came up the river on a steamboat. After the armistice had ex- 
pired, Major Poindexter drew off his men and marched up the river to 
join General Price, at Lexington. 

In Nov., 1861, a scouting party of three men belonging to the home 
guards, started out to gain information in regard to a band of bush- 
whackers, who were thought to have their headquarters somewhere in 
Clark's Fork township, in this county. While approaching the house of 
William George, in said township, they were fired upon from the house, 
and one of their number killed. The scouts then returned to Tipton, and 
having obtained reinforcements, returned and burned William George's 
house. 

On Sept. 16, 1861, Colonel Eppstein's battalion was commanded by 
Colonel Worthington to take possession of and guard the bridge across the 
Lamine River, on the road from Boonville to Arrow Rock. Before their 
arrival at the bridge, they heard the firing of several minute guns behind 
them, which were intended to warn the. state troops of the approach of 
Colonel Eppstein's men. They reached the bridge in the night, and were 



> 



o 



n 



o 
o 




HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 193 

fired upon from the opposite side of the river by the state troops, who 
seemed to have taken possession of the bridge. Colonel Eppstein returned 
the fire, and mortally wounded a young man named Herndon, who lived in 
Lamine township, in this county. He was taken to the house of Mr. 
William Higgenson, where he soon afterwards expired. The state troops 
soon retreated and left Colonel Eppstein's troops in possession of the 
bridge, where they remained, until Sept. 19th, when they were ordered 
to return to Boonville. 

Soon afterwards, Colonel Worthington ordered Colonel Eppstein to 
take his command with him and burn this same bridge, it having been 
reported that General Price's army was marching towards Boonville from 
that direction, and would probably cross the Lamine at this point. Colonel 
Eppstein endeavored to dissuade him from this purpose by telling him 
that this would only delay Price a single day, as he could cross a short 
distance above; but Colonel Worthington replied that it must be done, 
as he deemed it to be a military necessity. So the bridge was burned 
according to his order. This proved to be a false alarm, as Price was not 
on his way to Boonville, and did not attempt to march in that direction. 

Under a special law of congress, passed on account of a general dis- 
satisfaction among the home guards all over the state, Colonel Eppstein's 
battalion was reorganized, and became a part of the Missouri state militia. 
Six companies were raised and organized at Boonville, and to these were 
added two companies from St. Louis, thus forming the 13th regiment 
of the Missouri state militia cavalry. The company of infantry which was 
commanded by Capt. Charles Biehle, joined the 1st Missouri state militia 
infantry. Afterwards the 13th infantry was consolidated with four com- 
panies of the 12th regiment, and Schofield's "hussars", and from that 
time formed the 5th regiment, the old 5th having previously been dis- 
banded. 

The officers of this regiment were Albert Sigel, colonel ; Joseph A. 
Eppstein, lieutenant-colonel; John B. Kaiser, major; and John Fetzer, 
surgeon. This regiment after being thoroughly organized and fully 
drilled and equipped, was ordered to Waynesville, in the Rolla district, 
where they remained and from which place they operated during the war. 
Part of this regiment was under the command of Colonel Brown during 
his pursuit of Shelby, when in October, 1863, he made his raid through 
the state in the direction of Boonville. 

Price's Raid. — Six companies of the 5th regiment, under the command 
(13) 



194 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

of Colonel Eppstein, composed a portion of the forces of General Sanborn 
during his operations against General Price in his raid through Missouri 
in the fall of 1864. General Sanborn, at first supposing that General 
Price would march in the direction of Rolla, concentrated his forces at that 
place, but finding that General Price was making for Jefferson City, he 
moved his command to the latter place, on the way marching nearly 
parallel with the Confederates ; for while he was crossing the Osage River 
at Castle Rock, General Price was crossing the stream eight miles below. 
Colonel Eppstein's command had a slight skirmish with the Confederate 
advance guard between the Osage and the Moreau creek, but he succeeded 
in reaching Jefferson City first. 

General Sanborn had concentrated at that place, 3,000 infantry and 
4,000 cavalry, most of them regulars, and all of them well-armed and 
drilled. General Price's army numbered about 20,000 men, yet there were 
thousands of them who had no arms, and had never seen anything like a 
battle. Neither had his troops been organized and placed under com- 
manders, as many of them had flocked to his standard as he had marched 
through the state. As he was continually on the march, he had no oppor- 
tunity to effect organization in the ranks at this time although shortly 
afterwards he had them under perfect control. 

Price only made a slight attack on Jefferson City with a small por- 
tion of his forces, then withdrew without a general battle, and marched 
across the country in the direction of Boonville. General Sanborn, as 
soon as he learned the true state of affairs, started his cavalry in pursuit 
of the Confederates. The cavalry had skirmishing with the Confederal e 
rear guard, which was commanded by General Fagan at Stringtown, Rus- 
selville, and California, on the 10th clay of Oct., 1864. During these 
skirmishes, three of Colonel Eppstein's men were killed and 13 wounded. 
The loss of the Confederates is unknown. Price camped, on the night of 
the 10th, on the Moniteau creek just within the limits of Cooper County, 
and on the next day marched to Boonville. 

The P'ederals moved west and camped on the upper Tipton road, 
about eleven miles south of Boonville, at Crenshaw's farm. On the 12th 
of Oct., Colonel Graveley, with about four hundred mounted men of San- 
bora's command, advanced by way of the Tipton road to within about 
one-half of a mile of Boonville, to test the strength, and if possible, to 
find out the contemplated movements of General Price's command. At 
what is known as the Vollrath place, about one-half mile south of Boon- 
ville, Colonel Graveley came upon some Confederate companies in camp, 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 195 

and some lively fighting ensued, but finding the Confederates too strong 
for them, the Federals retreated to the main army. 

On the 12th, Colonel Eppstein with about 350 men of his command, 
moved toward Boonville, and camped at Bohannon's farm, about seven 
miles south of Boonville. Early on the morning of the 13th, he was 
ordered to advance as far as he could in the direction of Boonville, and 
reconnoitre General Price's position. Immediately upon receiving this 
order he commenced his march with the above mentioned number of men 
and two mountain howitzers, and on arriving at Wilkin's bridge, across 
the Petite Saline creek, his command was fired upon by a band of about 
400 men under the command of General Fagan, who were guarding the 
bridge. Colonel Eppstein returned the fire, and ordered four mounted 
companies to dismount and deploy as skirmishers. After some little 
skirmishing along the banks of the creek, General Fagan, leisurely re- 
treated toward Boonville. After going north about one-half of a mile, 
to where a lane crosses the main road, south of Mrs. McCarty's house, 
Colonel Eppstein, who was in pursuit, found that General Fagan had barri- 
caded the road with trees, etc. Here Miller's and Murphy's companies 
had a close fight with the Confederates, even using swords and bayonets. 
These two companies were surrounded at one time and ordered by the 
Confederates to surrender but the other two companies of Colonel Epp- 
stein's command coming up to their aid, General Fagan again fell baei,\ 
At this place two of the Federals were wounded, but none hurt upon the 
other side. 

General Fagan next made a stand at Anderson's branch, and here 
the two forces had a more severe battle. Three of the Federals were 
killed, and seven wounded. The killed were: Fred Hoecher; a man 
named Jones ; while the name of the other is not known. The loss of the 
Confederates, as was afterwards learned, was considerable. 

General Fagan by this time had brought up four pieces of artillery, 
and commenced shelling the woods .-".long Anderson';, branch in which 
cnel Eppstein was stationed. The Federals then received orders to f?.ll 
back, and retreated to California, Moniteau County, to obtain supplies. 
They soon afterwards returned to Crenshaw's farm, and there halted 
and took dinner. Here General Sanborn learned that Price had left Boon- 
ville, so marching west he camped for the night at New Nebo church. The 
next morning he continued his march in the direction of Georgetown. 

In. Aug., 1864, Captain Parks with two companies, of which Franklin 
Swap was first lieutenant and provost marshal, being a part of the Iowa 



196 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

cavalry, had command of the post at Boonville. Finding but little to do 
on this side of the river, they crossed over into Howard County, in search 
of Anderson's bushwhackers — passed through New Franklin, and took 
the road east leading to Rocheport. Although warned by the citizens of 
his danger, as Anderson was known to be in full force 'in the neighbor- 
hood, Captain Parks marched on. When about one mile east of > T 
Franklin, his command was suddenly attacked by Anderson's men, and 
cut into two parts, seven of them being killed by the first fire. The 
greater part of his command retreated to a house in the Missouri River 
bottom, and kept Anderson at bay by firing through the cracks of the 
house. Captain Parks, at the outset, became separated from his men. 
and retreated towards Fayette until he met Major Leonard's command, 
which happened to be marching in that direction. With this he returned 
to the relief of his company, and Anderson having learned of his approach, 
drew of his men and retired. 

The part of Captain Park's company which had been besieged in the 
house, finding that Anderson had drawn off his men, mounted horses, 
came back to Old Franklin in the night, and crossed the river in safety, 
although several men were missing. This part of the company knew 
nothing of Captain Parks until the next day, when he made his appearance. 
They then recrossed the river, and having recovered the bodies of their 
companions who had ben killed, buried them in one grave at the city ceme- 
tery, in the southwest part of Boonville. 

In the winter of 1862 and 1863, Colonel Pope was the commander of 
several companies of home militia, with headquarters at the fair grounds 
at Boonville. They disbanded in 1863, and Colonel D. W. Wear formed a 
battalion and was commander of the post at Boonville. The battalion did 
considerable scouting, the details of which are not sufficiently known to 
be given. 

Lieutenant-Colonel Reavis, while under Colonel Pope, learning that 
some Confederate recruiting forces had crossed the river, making their 
way in a southern direction, immediately started in pursuit and overtook 
them while in camp in the brush, near Thomas Tucker's house, about two 
miles east of Bunceton in Cooper county. He fired upon them, killing two 
men and wounding one. The recruits then separated and made their way 
out of the country by different routes. The names of the Confederates 
who were killed were Joshua Lampton and Jones, from Boone County. 
They were buried at the "Vine" or Concord church. The wounded man, 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 197 

after recovering, was paroled by Colonel Pope, and l-eturned to his home 
in Boone County. 

Shelby's Raid. — General Joseph Shelby, of the Confederate army, 
made a raid into Cooper County during the month of Oct., 1863. He 
passed through Otterville on the night of the 9th of said month, and 
burned the Pacific railroad bridge near that town. On the night of the 
10th, he camped near Bell Air, in a pasture belonging to Mr. Nathaniel 
Leonard, and on the next day he marched to Boonville. His movements 
becoming known in Boonville the night before, a meeting of the citizens 
was called by Mayor McDeramon. After some delay, the conclusion was 
reached that the only alternative was to surrender the city to General 
Shelby. Citizens were sent out to meet him, who returned without being 
able to gain any information as to his whereabouts, and they conveyed the 
impression that he would not pay his compliments to the city during this 
expedition. 

Therefore, his arrival at Boonville on the 11th day of October, was 
quite a surprise to the citizens. Several of the citizens had crossed the 
river into Howard County the night before, having concluded that dis- 
cretion was the better part of valor, that their presence in Boonville would 
accomplish no good, and that there would be more safety in making them- 
selves scarce. J. L. Stevens, R. F. O'Brien, A. H. C. Koontz, Alex Frost, 
D. C. Koontz, Leonard Ware and D. S. Kcontz were in this party. 

Just as General Shelby marched into Boonville from the south, Major 
Leonard, with about 250 Federal troops, appeared on the north side of the 
river and commenced crossing his men. The first boat load had almost 
reached the Boonville shore, when some one called to those in the boat 
that the town was full of Confederates, and that they had better retreat. 
The pilots immediately turned the boat around and made for the Howard 
shore. At this time some of Shelby's men appeared and commenced firing 
upon the boat with muskets. But the boat, having gotten out of reach 
of this fire, the Confederates brought up some artillery and opened fire on 
the boat, two shots striking it before it reached the shore. As soon as 
Major Leonard landed his forces, the artillery was turned upon them, and 
they were soon forced to retire beyond the reach of the shells. 

At the same time, Colonel Crittenden, with about one hundred men, 
was seen steaming up the river in a boat, but on learning the situation 
of affairs at Boonville, he droped down the river and landed a short dis- 
tance below, in Howard county. 



198 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

General Shelby remained in Boonville the balance of the afternoon 
of that day, and encamped for the night west of the city on the George- 
town road. He came here to obtain supplies, such as clothing and pro- 
visions, which they found in great abundance, and which they took, 
wherever found. M. J. Wertheimer and Messrs. Lamy & McFadden were 
the greatest sufferers, each losing about $4,000 in clothing. The Con- 
federate troops did not molest any person during their stay ; not a single 
man was killed or wounded, and they were very polite and gentlemanly 
to every person. 

While the Confederates were in Boonville, the Federals, under Gen- 
eral Brown, were close behind them, and on the 11th day of October, were 
within eight miles of Boonville, on the Bell Air road. On that day Gen- 
eral Brown moved a portion of his troops west to the junction of the 
Sulphur Springs and the Boonville and Georgetown roads, which is about 
seven miles southwest of Boonville. But during the night he marched 
his command back again to the Bell Air road, and camped near Billings- 
ville. The next morning after General Shelby had left, the Federals 
passed through Boonville in pursuit, their advance just behind the Con- 
federate rear guard. Two of General Shelby's men who had stopped at 
Mr. Labbo's house, about one and one-half miles west of Boonville to get 
their breakfast, were killed by some Federal scouts as they appeared at 
the front door, in order to make their escape. 

A running fight was kept up at intervals, all along the route from 
Boonville to Marshall. The fight became pretty spirited between the Sul- 
phur Springs and Dug Ford; and at Dug Ford two Federals were killed 
and fell from their horses into the water. During the long running fight 
there was quite a number killed on each side, but the number is not known. 

At Marshall, a battle took place, in which a number were killed and 
wounded on each side. But General Shelby succeeded in escaping from 
his ursuers with the loss of only a small portion of the stores which he 
had obtained at Boonville. 

This raid, of course produced great excitement, and in the heat of 
passion, considerable censure was heaped upon the commanding officer, 
whether justly or unjustly, is left to the reader to determine. General 
Shelby succeeded in getting back to the lines without any great loss, but 
whether his entire anticipations in regard to obtaining supplies and rein- 
forcements were fully realized, is not known. Major Leonard and Colonel 
Crittenden crossed their commands over the river to Boonville about ten 
o'clock on the morning of the 12th, and after stopping for dinner, they 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 199 

started in the direction of Marshall. Boonville, then was once more clear 
of troops, and the citizens had time to gather together provisions to feed 
the next lot of hungry soldiers who happened to land whether Federals 
or Confederates. Thus ended the famous "Shelby's Raid," as far as 
Cooper county was concerned. 

Price's Raid Into Cooper County. — The Federal troops in the fall of 
1864, having all abandoned Boonville, three companies of home guards 
were organized for the protection of the city against what were known 
as the bushwhackers. Two of these companies were composed of 
men belonging to both parties, who had joined these companies with the 
understanding that they would only be required to protect the city against 
bushwhackers and plunderers, and would not be compelled, against their 
wills, to fight against the regular southern troops. 

Although there were frequent alarms, the bushwhackers never 
attacked Boonville, but often during the war made raids through the 
county, in which many citizens were killed. They always took anything 
they wished, no matter in whose hands it was found. There were also 
bands of robbers moving continually through the county, who cared noth- 
ing for either party, and who robbed and killed without discrimination or 
regard to party. During the year 1864, many good citizens, belonging to 
each side, were shot down, first by one party and then by another, and 
many citizens abandoned their homes, seeking places of more security. 
The details of these murders and robberies are too disgraceful and sicken- 
ing to enumerate in this brief history. 

On the 11th day of October, 1864, scouts brought information that a 
large hostile force was approaching Boonville. These three companies, 
being under the impression that these were Andersons bushwhackers, 
immediately erected a strong barricade across Fifth street, at Thespian 
hall, in Boonville. They were strengthened in the belief that these were 
bushwhackers from the fact that they had received a dispatch that after- 
noon from Mexico, Missouri, stating that General Price had been repulsed 
at Jefferson City, and was retreating by way of Tipton. 

So these companies of home guards, expecting no quarter from Ander- 
son's men, prepared to sell their lives as dearly as they could, thinking 
anyway, that it would be certain death to fall into the hands of Bill Ander- 
son. Soon afterwards Shelby's command entered the town with a dash, 
killing a German scout near Mrs. Muir's residence, about one mile east 
of Boonville. The home guard fired one round at the advance guard of 
Shelby's command as they advanced along Vine street near the Baptist 



200 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

church, but their fire injured no one. 

Learning that this was but the advance guard of General Price's large 
army, and that resistance would be useless, the home guards surrendered 
as prisoners of war. These prisoners were quartered at the court house 
and closely guarded, but the commissioned officers were paroled. General 
Shelby, with his command, entered about sundown on the above mentioned 
day. General Price and his staff made their headquarters at the City 
Hotel, on Morgan street. On Tuesday, the 13th day of October, the prison- 
ers were marched in front of the city hall, ranged in line, and General 
Price made them a speech and gave orders for their parole, on the condi- 
tion that if they were ever found with arms against the south they would 
be shot. 

Price had about 20,000 men, many of them late Missouri recruits, 
without arms. Some of his command were well armed and drilled, but 
the greater part were very poorly armed. Their general conduct toward 
the citizens during their stay in Boonville was good. 

On the night of the 13th, while Captain Shoemaker, who was on 
parole, was going from Capt. John Porter's house to his residence, on the 
corner of Central avenue and Sixth streets, he was captured by some men 
who were afterwards discovered to be Anderson's men, taken to the fair 
grounds, killed and his body thrown into the river. Two men, named Neef 
and Boiler, were killed near their homes about four miles west of Boon- 
ville also a negro man who was concealed in a corn-shock on the farm of 
J. M. Nelson, situated two miles west of Boonville. These were all the 
persons killed in this part of the county, who were not slain in battle, 
whose names are now recollected. 

Thousands of volunteers in Missouri flocked to the standard of Gen- 
eral Price, believing that he would be able to hold the state. The rear 
guard of General Price's army and the advance guard of General San- 
born's command, skirmished, at intervals, from Jefferson City to Boon- 
ville. General Sanborn's command consisted of about 4,000 mounted men. 
The infantry command under Gen. A. J. Smith, was also in pursuit, but 
never came within fighting distance of the Confederates. 

There was considerable skirmishing and some hard lighting south and 
southeast of Boonville, during Price's three day's sojourn at that place, 
in which a number were killed and wounded on both sides. The Arkansas 
militia, under the command of General Fagan, who were left to protect 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 201 

the rear of General Price's army, were the greatest sufferers among the 
Confederates. 

A dash was made upon General Price's outposts by a few companies 
of Federals, who came so near Boonville that the firing could be heard and 
the smoke of the battle seen from the city. General Price's artillery was 
brought into requisition and soon compelled the Federals to retire. The 
greater part of Price's regulars was then called out, and a general charge 
having been made all along the line, the Federal army fell back on the road 
leading from Jefferson City to Georgetown, via Bell Air and following that 
road, camped about four miles west of Bell Air, near the farm of A. J. 
Read. 

Price's army left Boonville during the night of Oct. 14th, having 
remained three days. His army took all the horses in the northern part, 
and the Federal troops all in the southern part of the county. Both parties 
foraged upon the people of the county for the support of their respective 
armies, and left the county pretty destitute, especially of horses, hardly 
a good one being left. This was virtually the end of the war as far as 
Cooper county was concerned, no more battles being fought in it between 
organized armies. 

Tompkin's Inn was known in the early days as a hostelry of some 
importance. The stage coach that used to run between Boonville and 
Jefferson City in the very early days, during the Civil War times, made a 
stop at Tompkin's Inn. 

This inn was situated just below Prairie Home and was known as the 
Albert G. Tompkins Inn, and was located on the site of the residence of 
W. F. Carpenter. Here were not only the stage coach horses changed, 
but the hungry travelers were fed from the substantial fare of the times, 
and frequently were bedded for the night. 

During the Civil War, a squad of Federal troops came from Boonville, 
and lodged at this inn one night. Captain Boswell, who lived at the time 
on the Henry Kuhn farm, west of Prairie Home, in command of a squad 
of Confederates made an attack upon these Federal troops, and in the fight 
Captain Boswell was wounded. A few days thereafter, he died from the 
effects of the wound. The Union troops had guards out, one of them 
being Felix Imhoff, who after faithfully patrolling his beat, until relieved, 
lay down on the ground, weary, and went to sleep. So sound and peaceful 
were his slumbers, during these war times, especially on this particular 



202 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

occasion, that the fight above referred to was all over before he came 
from slumberland. He was aroused from his sleep by one of the men, 
and told of the fight. The story goes that he was intensely indignant 
because he had been thus neglected, and it was several years before he 
was restored to good humor. It seemed to be a matter of deep regret to 
him that he had missed the fun. 

Captain Boswell was buried in the Pisgah cemetery and Albert G. 
and Tompkins, who was the proprietor of the inn, is buried about 150 
yards south of the Carpenter residence. 



CHAPTER XIII. 



INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 



JOSEPH SIFERS KILLED — RELIGIOUS SERVICES INTERRUPTED — PETER MITZEL 
AND OTHO ZELLER MURDERED— JOHN DIEHL. NICHOLAS AND THOMAS 
COOPER KILLED— MURDER OF ELLIS AND GRAVES— KILLING OF WILLIAM 
MAYO BY BILL ANDERSON— THOMAS BROWNFIELD'S EXPERIENCE— McDEAR- 
MON AND A SOLDIER KILLED— OTHER DEPREDATIONS AND MURDERS BY 
BUSHWHACKERS— KROHN AND BASS KILLED— ANDERSON'S MEN AND HOME 
GUARDS CLASH— JOHN BALLINGER KILLED— TRAGEDIES IN CLARKS FORK 
AND PRAIRIE HOME TOWNSHIPS. 

The following narration of the incidents and killing during the Civil 
war, of the citizens of our county, by lawless bands, upon either side, is 
doubtless correct in the main, yet in view of the considerable lapse of time 
since the occurrence of these events, the fallibility of the human memory, 
and many other circumstances which would have their effect, it would not 
be strange should error exist in some of the more minute details. 

Considering in the order of time in which it occurred, we mention first 
the killing of Joseph Sifers, two miles north of Pilot Grove, which took 
place about the beginning of the war. He was a Union man, whose house 
was surrounded at night by unknown men, who demanded of him his fire- 
arms. Purporting to have them hidden upon the outside of his dwelling, 
he went out intending to discover who they were, when, doubtless, under 
the belief that his life was in danger, he ran, endeavoring to reach a corn- 
field adjacent, but in the attempt was shot down by a sentinel of the party. 
It was never known who perpetrated this outrage. 

In the summer of 1864, during a revival meeting in the Southern 
Methodist Episcopal church at Pilot Grove, Captain Todd, one day during 
the hour of service, surrounded the building with a company of about sixty 
savage looking bushwhackers, who rudely entered the sacred house, stopped 



204 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

the services, and uncermoniously ej'ected the worshipers. Aftei refresh- 
ing themselves with the eatables prepared for the occasion, and selecting 
such horses as they desired, from the many secured to the trees near by, 
they departed, taking with them two citizens, Peter Mitzel and Otho Zeller 
as hostages, as they called them, whose safety would depend on the good 
conduct of the citizens, in not pursuing, intercepting or informing on 
them, there being at that time, state militia stationed at various places 
around. 

These two unfortunate men were that night barbarously butchered 
some miles east of Pilot Grove, near Lone Elm Prairie, and their bodies 
found a day or two later. Zeller had belonged to the state militia, which 
fact, to those who knew the character of the guerrillas, accounts for the 
reason of his being killed. Mitzell was loyal, though a very quiet and 
inoffensive man he had a short time previous, met a squad of guerrilas 
and mistaking them for militia, had doubtless, indiscreetly expressed his 
sentiments, for which offense, in a time when men were killed for opinion's 
sake, he paid the forfeit with his life. 

The same party of bushwhackers, returning a day or two later, passed 
through the German settlement three miles west of here, and killed two 
citizens, John Diehl and Vollmer, who, it seems, unfortunately fell into 
the same error as Mitzell, of mistaking them for Federal troops, as a 
number of them were dressed in blue. 

A Mr. Nichols was killed near Bell Air, in this county, during the same 
summer of 1864. This act was committed by a band of Hall's state 
militia. Mr. Nichols was a Kentuckian, a conservative Union man, and 
very quiet and peaceable. The provocation of this crime, if any, was 
never known. 

Thomas Cooper, of this vicinity, was arrested in the fall of 1864, in 
James Thompson's store, in Boonville, by militia, taken to a secluded spot, 
near the fair grounds, and brutally murdered and his body mutilated. 
Cooper was a southern man, and known to his neighbors as quiet, tolerant 
and inoffensive. 

In 1861, a number of horses were taken from Mr. Richard P. Ellis, by 
Mulligan's men. Mr. Ellis was then living in Cooper County, on land 
entered by him in 1839, in Lebanon township, near Syracuse. Some time 
after the horses were stolen, a soldier in citizen's garb was seen to possess 
one of the animals, and upon it being recovered from him by Mr. Ellis, 
he reported to certain soldiers at Syracuse, and a squad made their appear- 
ance and committed some depredations in the neighborhood. The family 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 205 

of Mr. Ellis were not at home, but Mr. Ellis, deeming it unsafe to be 
around, started to Lexington, and placed himself under the protection of 
General Price's army at that place. His deepest sympathies were with 
the south, but he did not enter the army, as age and other matters pre- 
vented him. He had a son, however, who was in the Confederate army. 
This was in October, 1861. Matters assuming a more peaceful stage, 
made it safe for him to return; which he did in 1862. Upon the order 
calling upon all citizens to apear at the various military headquarters to 
enroll, he went with his neighbors to the Lamine bridge to obey. Having 
enrolled, he was returning with his nephew, Mr. Graves, his son, and a 
Mr. Veulesman, when about a quarter of a mile from the bridge, they 
were met by a squad of soldiers who ordered them into the woods ahead 
of them. They did not like either the appearance or the manner of these 
men, and feeling well satisfied that it was their intention to shoot them, 
Mr. Ellis objected. When, after some parley, the squad fired into them, 
killing instantly Mr. Ellis and Mr. Graves, and severely wounding Mr. 
Ellis' son. Mr. Veulesman escaped unhurt. Thus died Richard P. Ellis, 
shot down without a cause and without a moment's warning. His untimely 
death struck sorrow to the hearts of his many friends. He was very 
popular and great sympathy was felt for his grief-stricken family. 

Mr. Edward H. Harris, of Pilot Grove, Missouri, has given the writer 
the facts relative to the killing of William Mayo. It will be seen from the 
account to follow that Mr. Harris had a very good reason to remember 
the details of this incident, though nearly eighty-eight years of age, Mr. 
Harris' mind is strong and active, and his memory especially good. 

It was in the spring of 1864. There was no town or village of Pilot 
Grove at that time, yet the post-office had been given the name Pilot 
Grove. Samuel Roe served Uncle Sam as postmaster, and received and 
distributed the mail at his log residence on his farm, in what is now Pilot 
Grove. William Mayo was a polished gentleman, a man of considerable 
means, who came from Kentucky, and located within a few miles of Pilot 
Grove. On a beautiful spring morning, he passed by Mr. Harris' house 
about a mile from Samuel Roe's residence, and together he and Mr. Harris 
started for the mail at Samuel Roe's. They were horseback. Mr. Mayo 
told Mr. Harris that a few days before, a man had come to his house and 
demanded a horse from him, which he refused to give. Mayo seemed 
to think little of the incident at the time. Mr. Hams said that he thought 
at the time it might be some of Bill Anderson's men, and that trouble 
might arise therefrom. Arriving at the postoffice, they joined other 



206 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

neighbors, who had gathered upon that bright day sitting on the front 
porch, awaiting the arrival of the mail, and discussing the events of the 
day, as neighbors then did when gathered together on such occasions. 

Presently some one called attention to about twenty men on horse- 
back, beyond where the M. K. & T. depot is now located. At this time 
where the depot is now located was but a pond, or small lake. Mr. Harris 
remarked that they did not appear to be Union soldiers. Union soldiers, 
however, were not far from the neighborhood. 

Presently the horsemen rode up, and then it was discovered that 
they were Bill Anderson and his men. Those sitting upon the porch 
were ordered out and lined up. Anderson then called upon them for 
their valuables. Mr. Harris says that he remembers distinctly that a 
boy about fifteen or sixteen years of age passed down the line to relieve 
them of their possessions. When he came to him, Mr. Harris said to 
him, "Son, don't take that money, I had to work for it." The boy imme- 
diately responded, taking his pocket-book, "Well, you can work and get 
some more." Mr. Harris said then, "Do not take my papers." The boy 
then returned the papers, and at the same time handed him a dollar, 
saying, "This will give you a start." William Mayo wore at that time 
upon his person, a gold watch and chain. This he objected to giving up, 
when Bill Anderson fired at him with his pistol, or rather fired at his 
feet, evidently not intending to hit him. At this, Mayo turned, and im- 
mediately fled, running behind Roe's house, where he was joined by 
Thomas Brownfield, who had been hiding, and had not lined up with 
the others. 

Bill Anderson and another man on horseback pursued them, and 
when Anderson got to the rear of the house, he asked an old nei 
woman which direction they went, and she, waving her hand, said, "T 
way." Anderson, then on horseback, started in pursuit of Mayo, who 
was going in the direction of what is now known as Robert Ma 
farm, evidently attempting ot reach a thicket of plum tret-s. Brownfield, 
however, veered off to the right, and went towards Mr. Hai i ;• ' farm, seek- 
ing some brush, and low shrubbery to hide in. 

When Mayo had reached the point about where, or a little beyond 
Otto Kistenmacher's present residence, he turned his head, at which 
time Anderson, in close proximity fired at him, and shot him in the 
middle of the forehead, killing him instantly. The other man in pursuit 
of Brownfield was not so successful. After having emptied his revolver 
at Brownfield's fleeing figure, Brownfield immediately turned, and with 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 207 

cool courage, pointed his pistol at the trooper, which caused him to nalt. 
Brownfield did not shoot, knowing full well that the other men would 
search the country, and wreak their vengeance upon him. Instead, he 
fled for his life, and in the meantime, the man who was pursuing him, 
reloaded his revolver, and started in pursuit. When Brownfield was 
climbing over a fence into Mr. Harris's farm, the pursuing horseman 
shot at him several times, and finally wounded him in the hand. Brown- 
field, however, succeeded in reaching the brush, and in its friendly shel- 
ter, concealed himself. 

Anderson, in the meantime, joined the other man, and together they 
sought to find Brownfield, but Anderson, being apprised by his compan- 
ion that Brownfield was nervy, and was well-armed, they desisted from 
further search, and returned to their men. 

This band had evidently been operating in the county several days, 
despite the presence of militia or Union soldiers. A day or so before 
the killing of Mayo, this same band appeared at Nathaniel Leonard's, the 
father of the late Capt. Charles E. Leonard, near Bell Air, and had it not 
been, for the timely intercession of Miss Minnie Corum, who was known 
to be of southern sympathies, would have doubtless have done much 
wanton damage, if not committed worse crimes. Capt. C. E. Leonard 
belonged to the State militia. Mr. Harris thinks that this band came 
direct from Leonard's to Pilot Grove with purposes of robbing those 
whom they knew were accustomed to gather at the postiffice at Samuel 
Cole's. 

The facts of the following incident were given by Dave Brownfield, 
the nephew of Thomas Brownfield. This is the same Thomas Brownfield 
that escaped Bill Anderson's ire, on the occasion .iust above related. 

At the close of the war, Thomas Brownfield was living where one 
of the Wittmans now lives, in a three room log cabin with a loft. His 
half-brother, Abraham Brownfield, was with him on this occasion, and 
was sleeping in the front room, whereas the family was sleeping in the 
room to the rear. 

It was in the winter time, and after all had retired, Thomas Brown- 
field thought he heard some men in front of his cabin. After listening 
a while, he concluded that they were there for no good, and he judged 
that they were marauders bent on mischief. Stepping into the front 
room, he climbed a ladder into the loft, and -with his gun, from the open- 
ing of the loft, commanded the door leading into the room from the outside. 

Presently admission was demanded, bill no one answered. Then 



208 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

the door was forced, and as a man entered, who proved afterwards to be a 
Mr. Brownlee, Mr. Brownfield from the opening of the loft, shot him, 
and he fell to the floor. He struggled to get out of the door, but Abraham 
Brownfield seized him, and pulled him back, and slammed the door. 

Thinking their leader was dead, the others upon the outside set fire 
to the house. Brownlee, however, was not dead. Realizing his condition, 
and that he would be burned, rather than to save the house and lives of 
others, he shouted to his men to put out the fire — not to burn him up. 
This they did after some difficulty. 

Then Thomas Brownfield entered into a parley with the men upon 
the outside, and promised them if they would leave, that he would send 
for a doctor, and have Brownlee properly attended to, would not turn 
him over to the authorities, and when he had recovered would release 
him. This agreement was entered into. Brownfield was not only cool 
and courageous, and a man of great discretion, but of rectitude as well. 

As soon as possible, he sent for Doctor Pendleton, who came and 
dressed the wounds of Brownlee, and in every respect, Thomas Brownfield 
faithfully carried out his agreement. 

A few days after the tragic event of the death of Peter Mitzel and 
Otho Zellar at the hands of rebel bushwhackers, who took them from the 
old Pilot Grove Methodist Church during a "protracted" revival meeting 
in the summer of 1864, and killed them at camp near Old Palestine the 
same night, Thomas Cooper and Robert Magruder, citizens of Pilto Grove 
neighborhood, were in Boonville together. Cooper and Magruder were at 
the church the day Mitzel and Zellar were taken from the congregation, 
but it happened that they were not in the house but were lying together 
under the shade of a tree in sight of the open windows, when the squad 
of bushwhackers rode up. They were surrounded by the squad, who 
engaged them in conversation, which fact was observed by some persons 
in the congregation. 

It seems that this incident led to a report which had come to the 
ears of the Home Guard militia of Boonville, that Cooper and Magruder 
informed the bushwhackers that Mitzel and Zellar were in the church, 
thereby implicating them in the apprehension and killing of the latter. 

Cooper was shot and killed in a drug store on Main street in Boon- 
ville by members of the Home Guard, and diligent search was made for 
Magruder, who would have met the same fate, if they had found him. 
Magruder's life was saved by the effort and presence of mind of Colonel 





VINE CLAD BRIDGE 
BOONVILLE. MO 



.■Jb^. 





VINE CLAD BRIDGE. BOONVILLE. MO. 




ST. JOSEPH'S HOSPITAL, BOONVILLE, MO. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 209 

Pierce, who kept the Pierce Hotel (now Powell's Rooming House), on 
High street. 

Magruder was lying on a lounge in the office of the hotel when sev- 
eral militiamen entered and inquired of Pierce whether a man named 
Magruder had been there. Having heard of the shooting of Cooper a 
little while before, Pierce, with rare presence of mind, assured the soldiers 
that Magruder had been there, but had gone away. Not knowing Ma- 
gruder personally, the soldiers were deceived, and left to continue their 
search. After they were gone, Pierce searched Magruder and later smug- 
gled him on board of a river steamboat bound down the Missouri River, 
and he left Cooper County to return only after the end of the war. 

Our fellow county man, Walter Barron, gives us the following inci- 
dent in the killing of a soldier whose name he does not now recall, and 
Frank McDearman: In the winter of 1861, the 37th Illinois Infantry 
was then stationed near Boonville. The regiment to which the infantry 
belonged, and to which our friend, Mr. Barron, was a member, was 
located on the Lamine River near Otterville, during the winter of 1861. 

Mr. Barron knew the soldier well, although at this time he does not 
recall his name. He was reputed to be reckless, and of a desperate char- 
acter. He was also well acquainted with and was a friend of Frank 
McDearmon, who then lived in Boonville. 

In the winter of 1861, a dance was given, in a two story frame build- 
ing, in east Boonville, known as the Ainsle house, although Ainsle was 
not occupying the house at the time, he having been drowned in the 
Missouri River many years before. 

The elite of the city and surrounding country were not invited nor 
expected to attend this dance. The attendance was rather made up of 
those who desired a jolly, reckless and rip-roaring time, rather than the 
refinement of a gathering of the best society. The character of those 
who attended was not closely scrutinized. There were whisky and liquor 
in profusion, and many participated in the flowing bowl until they be- 
came not only loquacious, but argumentative, jealous and pugnacious. 

Frank McDearmon and the soldier had some controversy, and heated 
argument. After the same, when Frank McDearmon entered the room 
where the dance was being conducted, he met the soldier, and at once 
with a pistol, shot him, inflicting a wound that proved fatal. However, 
before expiring, the soldier, with a knife, cut McDearmon nine times, 
(14) 



210 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

from which wounds McDearmon also expired. Both parties died on the 
scene of action. 

In the fall of 1864, numerous small bodies of men, supposed to be 
guerillas from the north side of the river, made incursions into Cooper 
County, committing many depredations, and in some cases, murdei-s. 
During this year a small body of men attempted to capture Tom Mercer, 
and followed him to the Widow Careys' home. Mercer and some five 
or six men were in the house at the time, and seeing the approach of 
these marauders, Mercer called upon the men to defend the house. They 
were well armed. As the marauders approached the house, Mercer picked 
out one, and told one of the other men to pick out another. Aiming their 
guns they fired. Mercer succeeded in killing his man, but the other, so 
far as known, was not as successful. Mercer and the men in the house 
then made their escape through a cornfield. 

On Aug. 31, 1864, a tragedy occurred seven or eight miles south of 
Boonville on the farm known as the Major Moore place, in which then 
lived Christian Krohn. Krohn was assisting his wife and little ten months 
old son to dismount from a horse when a party of horsemen, supposed to 
be guerillas, rode up. Mr. Krohn was commanded to go into the house. 
He turned the child over to its mother and started to do as he was bid 
when a volley was fired into him and he fell dead at his own threshold. 
In innate brutality the men proceeded to set fire to the house and the 
widow was commanded to get what articles she wanted to save. Tom 
with grief and desperate, she replied, "You have killed my husband so 
you might as well burn my house too." At this some pity must have 
touched the heart of one of the men for he returned to the house and 
extinguished the fire, whereupon they rode away. The ten months old 
infant mentioned in this incident has grown to manhood and is now our 
popular county man, John F. Krohn. 

Radford Bass, a Southern sympathizer, was killed in the fall of 
1864, near the Lutheran Church, two and one-half miles southeast of 
Gooch Mill. He was captured by a band of men and held in captivity a 
short time according to one version, and was turned loose. After he had 
left and traveled but a short distance he was followed by a boy, who 
belonged to the capturing band, of about 17 years of age who came upon 
him and shot him in cold blood. Another vei*sion is that a rope was put 
around his neck and he was dragged by a man on horseback until he was 
exhausted and was practically choked to death and shot. 

Another man by the name of Hill was killed in the fall of 1864, on 
the day of Bass's murder, northeast of Prairie Home. He was captured 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 211 

by a squad of men who left him in charge of one of their number. A 
short time afterwards this man joined the squad and upon being asked 
what had become of his prisoner, said that he objected to being held in 
captivity and that he had disposed of him. Different versions have been 
given of this affair, one is that the man who had charge of this prisoner, 
desiring to join the squad, had killed the prisoner, as the easiest method 
of ridding himself of an unwelcome charge. 

On the same day that Radford Bass was murdered the same squad, 
consisting of nine men, killed Squire Handshaw. Squire Handshaw was 
a man of about 80 years of age. This gang of men went to his home 
about two and one-half miles southeast of Gooch Mill and called him out 
of his house, made him get upon a fence and then shot him. He imme- 
diately expired. 

It will be noted that most of these crimes and depredations were 
committed during the end of the Civil War and the excuse as given in 
many instances was that of reprisal. On the north . side of the river 
were Anderson's men under various captains. In the earlv fall of 1864 
it was reported, whether true or not, that numerous crimes had been com- 
mitted by the Home Guards upon Southern sympathizers in Saline town- 
ship. At this time the sentiment of the people on both sides of this cause 
were as seething cauldrons and men seemed to have lost their reason. 
Rumors were not thoroughly investigated and irresponsible talk was plen- 
tiful. In any event, Captain Todd, with a squad of Bill Anderson's men 
swam the Missouri River on horse-back and entered Cooper County in 
Saline township in quest of the Home Guards. About noon on Oct. 7, 
1864, they saw coming up the hill by Granville Smiths, about one and 
one-quarter miles south of Gooch Mill, a squad of men of the militia 
under command of Capt. Bernhardt Deidrich, consisting of the following: 
Frank Hafferburg, Henry Weaver, Erhardt Blank, John Blank, Jacob 
Blank, Mr. Deil (grandfather of Theodore Deil, of Wooldridge), Mr. 
Hute (grandfather of Peter Hute of Prairie Home), Mr. Ader, Ernest 
Speiler and Otto Speiler. Todd's men were upon the brow of the hill and 
as these men approached coming up the hill got in close proximity, they 
at once attacked them and succeeded in killing Capt. Bernhardt Deid- 
rich, Frank Hafferburg, Henry Weaver, who was said to have been scalped 
and brained. He was an old man. Erhardt Blank, Deil, Hute, Ader, were 
also killed. Ernest Speiler, who was shot through the arm. Otto Speiler, 
John Blank and Jacob Blank escaped. 

John Henry Boiler, the father of our fellow townsman, Fred J. Boiler, 
was murdered on June 15, 1864, near Boonville. We get the details of 



212 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

this incident from Mr. Fred J. Boiler. On the day above mentioned, John 
Henry Boiler was coming to Boonville, on the public road riding in a 
buggy when he passed what was then known as the Miller place. Three 
men, to-wit: Bill Stewart, Carter and Sloan, were resting under the shade 
of a tree. When Mr. Boiler had passed, one of the men asked Sloan who 
he was. Sloan told him. The three men then followed Boiler to near 
what was known as the Ripley place, and stopped him and demanded 
his money. Mr. Boiler complied with their demand by showing them his 
watch, but evidently not anticipating trouble, drove on. When he did 
so, they immediately began to fire upon him, shooting him four or five 
times. After they had robbed him, old man Kiele came along and they 
robbed him. 

Mr. Boiler came to Boonville and as he neared the Missouri Pacific 
station, Mr. Back, noticing his bloody and weakened condition, took him 
into his house to administer to him. Mr. Boiler died immediately. 

The militia was then stationed at Boonville. It was notified of the 
killing of Boiler, and started at once in pursuit of the murderers. In 
the Labbo neighborhood, they came upon Sloan, whom one of the militia 
succeeded in shooting in the side of the head. Although Sloan recovered 
from this wound thereafter he was blind. Carter and Stewart were not 
found at the time, and it is not known what became of Carter. Bill 
Stewart, however, was killed in 1865 at Franklin, north of the river. A 
cattleman had stopped at a hotel at Franklin and the landlady in charge 
of the same, seeing Bill Stewart approaching, told the cattleman that the 
notorious desperado, Bill Stewart, was coming to the hotel, and for him 
to be on his guard. The cattleman closed the door, Stewart came and 
being unable to open the door, demanded admittance. Not receiving the 
same, he broke open the door, and as he entered, the cattleman, who was; 
armed with a revolver, shot him dead in his tracks. 

As illustrative of the conditions that existed in the county during 
and at the close of the Civil War, the following incident is given: Ross 
Montgomery, a bad negro lived in Saline township during the war. and 
was formerly a slave belonging to the late H. B. Hopkins. He was right- 
fully accused of burning several barns and residences of Southern sym- 
pathizers and threatening the lives of several prominent Southern men. 

At the close of the war, the boys returned home. This negro was 
engaged in cutting cordwood near Overton on a certain day. When quit- 
ting work on the evening of that day, he started home by way of an aban- 
doned well in the woods. He disappeared, no one knew where. Several 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 213 

years afterwards, John Wainwright, having built a cabin in the woods, 
went to this well to clean it out to supply water for his family, and after 
getting a lot of stumps out of the well, he found the skeleton of a man, 
and by the shoes and clothing, which were identified by Ross' wife as 
belonging to the negro, they solved the mystery of his disappearance. 

In Clarks Fork township on the farm where Henry Schubert now 
lives, in the fall of 1864, Chris Fricke, uncle of Henry F. Fricke and Henry 
Schultz were killed by a small band of four or five men supposed to be 
querillas. 

In the winter of 1861 and 1862, two members of the Home Guards, 
seeking to impress wagons to haul soldiers to Tipton, rode up to William 
George's house in Clarks Fork township on their mission. Mr. George 
was not at home at the time. John Oakman, however, was there, and 
doubtless mistaking their purpose, shot and killed one of the Home 
Guards. The other, the late Albert Muntzel, was not injured. 

A man by the name of Charles Wagner was killed near Pisgah in 
the early part of the war. We are unable to give any further details of 
this incident. 

At the time of Price's raid, Captain Shoemaker was the head of a 
Provisional Militia company. When Price's- army left Boonville and vi- 
cinity, Shoemaker could not be found and was never heard of again. His 
disappearance has never been accounted for. The supposition, however, 
is that he was killed, although the body was never found. 

Jeremiah Good and father were killed between Big Lick and Prairie 
Home shortly after the Civil War. A small party of four or five men 
were approaching the house. When the Goods started from the barn to 
the house they were immediately shot down. It is stated that a small boy 
of about fifteen, a Good, was in the house at the time, and shot one of 
the men. It seems that John Good, a brother of Jeremiah Good, during 
the war had shot a man at a blacksmith's shop at Big Lick and it was 
supposed that these men were seeking John Good when they approached 
the Good house. John Good, however, was not here at the time when 
his father and brother were killed. 



CHAPTER XIV. 



PERIOD OF READJUSTMENT 



PREJUDICE— CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION— RADICALS— "DRACONIAN CODE"— 
"IRON CLAD OATH"— CONSTITUTION ADOPTED— LATER AMENDED AND RADI- 
CALISM DEFEATED— BROWN ELECTED GOVERNOR— UNPOPULARITY OF 
DRAKE— PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH DURING AND AFTER THE WAR. 

The time intervening between the close of the Civil War in 1865 and 
the early seventies, was properly called in the South the "period of recon- 
struction," but in Missouri, the "period of readjustment." Prejudice was 
inflamed to a high pitch, and in Cooper, the inevitable result of the many 
oturages committed during the war was calculated to leave scars on the 
very souls of many that the soothing unction of time alone could eradicate. 

In times of intense excitement, when passions are aroused, whether 
in state or more local matters, the reason seems dethroned, and the evil 
in man comes uppermost. At such times, those of light mentality, who 
"tear the tatters" most, and feed with vehemence upon passions, preju- 
dice and malice, too often rise to prominence for a brief time, yet long 
enough to stab and wound. 

Robespierr was such a one, who wept at the death of a pet bird, yet 
with his guillotin drenched the streets of Paris with blood. When a 
stagnant pool is stirred, and its waters violently agitated, the sediment 
rises to the top, only to sink again to its proper place at the bottom when 
the calm succeeds the agitation. 

A Constitutional Convention assembled in St. Louis on Jan. 6, 1865, 
and continued in session until April 10th of that year. The Radicals of 
the state were in the saddle, and like a beggar astride, rode violently. 
This convention was composed of 66 members, three-fourths of whom 
were of the radical element. These men were known but little throughout 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 215 

the State, and at the close of the convention, when their work had been 
completed, most of them went back into immediate obscurity, and were 
heard of no more. 

The great dominating figure of this convention was Charles Drake. 
He was the radical of radicals. His career had been kaleidoscopic, and in 
politics, he was a regular turncoat. He was first a Whig, a Know Nothing, 
a Democrat, and then the radical of radicals. At this time, he became 
easily the leader of the extremists. The constitution adopted became 
known as the Drake constitution, and because of Drake's leading part in 
framing this constitution, and because of the severities of many of its 
sections, it called to the minds of many people, the laws of Draco of 
ancient Greece, which were noted for the heavy penalties that were levied 
for their violation. For these reasons the constitution of 1865, was fre- 
quently called the "Draconian Code." 

The test oath provided by this constitution disfranchised at least one- 
third of the electors of the State. It soon became intensely unpopular, 
even with members of the Radical party. Not only were elaborate disquali- 
fications for voting provided, but in another section, the religious, chari- 
table, social and business relations were invaded, and a provision was made 
for an "expergatorial" oath, for ministers of the Gospel, attorneys, and 
teachers. Under that section, no person was permitted to practice law, 
or be competent as a preacher, priest, minister, deacon or clergyman, of 
any religious persuasion, sect or denomination to teach, or preach, or 
solemnize marriages, unless such persons should first take, and subscribe, 
and file the prescribed oath of loyalty. 

So comprehensive in details was the test oath that was required to 
be taken by those who sought to vote, or practice any of the above pro- 
fessions, that it was known as the "Iron-Clad Oath." This constitution 
was submitted to the people for their adoption or rejection June 6, 1865, 
but only those who could take the oath of loyalty prescribed, by the con- 
stitution itself, were allowed to vote upon its adoption. 

The fight was bitter from beginning to end, especially in the Missouri 
River counties, including Cooper, of course. The constitution was adopted 
by a majority of less than two thousand. The votes stood 43,670 for, and 
41,808 against. The advice of loyal Union men, such as Hamilton R. Gam- 
bel, Frank P. Blair, B. Gratz Brown, and a short time afterwards Carl 
Schurtz, prominent and leaders in the cause of the Union, true men and 
patriots, went unheeded. 

The election of 1868 marked the high tide of Radical success. Under 



216 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

the leadership of such men as Blair, and others, many patriotic Union men 
throughout the State, were arrayed in violent opposition, and protested 
against the indignities of the test-oath. 

Under the leadership of Carl Schurtz, a Liberal Republican ticket was 
nominated with B. Gratz Brown, as candidate for Governor. The Radicals 
renominated McClurg. Brown was elected by a majority of nearly 42,000. 

But more significant and important than the political success of the 
Liberal Republican ticket, was the adoption of the several constitutional 
amendments, the one abolishing the test-oath, being carried by a vote of 
137,000 to 16,000. 

With the election of the Liberal Republican ticket in 1870, or rather 
the defeat of the radicals, their most prominent leader, Drake, passed from 
the stage as an actor in the public affairs of the State. In all probability 
no other political leader ever left Missouri politics with greater unpopu- 
larity than Drake. 

While this chapter may in a measure be discoursive, it shall bear the 
merit of being brief. Its purpose has been simply to state a general con- 
dition without making specific and local applications. We have mentioned 
no local incidents of this period, for fear that in doing so, or mentioning 
names, we might open some sores of which the editor himself is not in- 
formed. Those strenuous times are passed, passion and prejudice have 
vanished, and amity and friendship now prevail. No good could be accom- 
plished by going into specific incidents that might have a tendency to 
arouse in part a bitterness that has long disappeared. 

The Presbyterian Church During and After the Civil War. — These 
matters, of difficult adjustment and mutual agreement, grew out of cer- 
tain declarations • made by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian 
Church in the United States of America, during the war period, and bear- 
ing upon the questions which vitally concerned the people of both the 
North and South. They were deliverances of the General Assembly, made 
when intense feeling ran high, and brotherly love was at low ebb. The 
Presbyterians, living south of the Mason and Dixon line, promptly re- 
sented these deliverances of the General Assembly. Later on they with- 
drew and established what is now known as the Presbyterian Church of 
the United States. 

During this volcanic eruption in the church, the Presbyterians of Mis- 
souri stood neutral. Harmony and usefulness of the church was the para- 
mount question. The Synod of Missouri met in the Boonville Presbyterian 
Church in the autumn of 1866. The all engrossing subject of the ecclesi- 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 217 

astic union was there ably and vigorously debated. Rev. Dr. Nicolls and 
Rev. Dr. James H. Brooks, both of St. Louis, led the party standing for 
union with the northern branch of the church. As no agreement could be 
reached by this Synod as then organized, Doctor Nicolls and his adherents 
withdrew from the church building, and held their meeting of Synod in the 
parlor of the Home of Mrs. Pauline E. Rush on Main street, and carried 
the churches they represented into the northern branch of the church. 

The remaining members of the Synod of Missouri in the church build- 
ing concluded their meeting by adopting what was known and termed a 
"declaration and testimony" deliverance. This action, on the part of the 
declaration and testimony party held the Presbyterian Churches in Mis- 
souri of southern trend, neutral for several years, when they formed a 
union with the southern branch, known as the Presbyterian Church of 
the United States. 

Those were trying days to church people. The drastic deliverance 
of the General Assembly were gradually modified or withdrawn. Now the 
question of organic union of these two great branches of one great church, 
is being urgently advocated and growing in favor, both in the North and 
South. It is most unfortunate that political differences should ever enter 
into any church discussion or action. The Boonville Presbyterian Church 
has been free from this error. Christian fellowship and co-operation 
should ever be the ruling spirit. 



CHAPTER XV. 



TOWNSHIPS 



BOONVILLE TOW NSHIP— BOONVILI.E AS IT IS TODAY— BLACKWATER TOWNSHIP- 
CLEAR CREEK TOWNSHIP— PILOT GROVE TOWNSHIP— KELLY TOWNSHIP— 
LAMINE TOWNSHIP— NORTH AND SOUTH MONITEAU TOWNSHIPS — PALESTINE 
TOWNSHIP— PRAIRIE HOME TOWNSHIP— CLARKS FORK TOWNSHIP— SALINE 
TOWNSHIP— LEBANON TOWNSHIP— OTTERVILLE TOWNSHIP 

Boonville Township evidently took its name from Boonville, and Boon- 
ville was thus named in honor of the great hunter, pioneer and Indian- 
fighter, Daniel Boone. When it acquired this name is not known, but it 
has been so-called from "time whereof the memory of man runneth not 
to the contrary." Boone was intimate with the Coles, and visited at Ste- 
phen Cole's Fort and at Hannah Cole's Fort, and being a man of much 
repute and fame among the early settlers they honored him by calling 
this settlement Boonville. 

The history of Boonville and Boonville township is the earliest history 
of Cooper County, much of which has heretofore been given in this volume. 
Hannah Cole, who was mentioned in the preceding chapter, located and 
took a preemption claim in 1810, which included what is now Boonville 
and afterward sold the same Jan. 25, 1819, for a mere trifle to Bird Lock- 
hart and Henry Carroll. 

Aside from the Coles, if indeed they were located in the limits of old 
Boonville, was Gilliard Rupe, who built his cabin near the corner of Spring 
and Third streets, and on the south side of Spring street near where was 
located the old cement factory. Rupe next erected a building as a ferry 
house at the mouth of the branch which today bears his name. Mrs. 
Hannah Cole operated the first ferry. Soon thereafter several log cabins 
were built on the bottom land below this branch, extending south as far 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 219 

as the cornel* of Morgan and Second streets before the < town was laid off. 

The pioneer business house was kept by a Frenchman by the name of 
A. Robideux. This was located in the flat of the Rupe branch. RobideUx 
came from St. Louis, and was doubtless an Indian trader before settling 
in Boonville. Soon after Rodideux commenced business, a man named Nolin 
opened a grocery near the mouth of Rupe branch. It is said his store in 
trade consisted mostly of whisky and tobacco. Their houses were log and 
pole cabins and were erected along about 1816 and 1817. During the same 
period, Mrs. Reavis and William Bartlett kept boarding houses in the same 
locality and Thomas Rogers built a cabin at the corner of High and Second 
streets, and used it as a residence, hotel and store. 

Mrs. Margaret Stephens, who was the wife of Judge Lawrence Ste- 
phens, and the daughter of William Moore, was one of the early pioneers 
of Cooper County. In the fall of 1816, after her father had settled in this 
county she went to Boonville with her uncle, Mr. McFarland, and after 
looking around she asked where Boonville was. She thought she was com- 
ing to something of a town. Her uncle pointed to Robideux's store, a round 
log cabin with bark on the logs, and said, "there is Boonville." They then 
dismouunted, and after making some purchases, returned home. 

Boonville was laid out by Asa Morgan and Charles Lucas, and plat 
filed on Aug. 1, 1817. It was surveyed by William Ross. The first lot sold 
was before the filing of this plat. The deed was made on the 16th clay of 
July, 1817, by Asa Morgan of the county of Howard and Charles Lucas of 
the town of St. Louis, both in the territory of Missouri, conveying to Rob- 
ert Austin of the county of Howard in said territory for and in considera- 
t ; on of $75, one lot or parcel of ground in the town of Boonville, containing 
90 feet front on Water street and 150 feet more or less in depth, being lot 
number 43, on the plat of said town of Boonville. 

The first lot sales were held in 1819. A donation of 50 acres was 
made by Morgan and Lucas to Cooper County for a permanent county seat. 
The first donation lots were sold in 1821. 

The first houses built after the town was laid off were two brick 
structures on Morgan street, one east of the jail and the other east of and 
near the Central National Bank, both built by Asa Morgan, after whom 
Morgan street was named. 

From the history of Howard and Cooper Counties, written in 1883, 
we take the folloiwng: 

"Some old houses now standing are Doctor Trigg's on Morgan street 
and a log house on the north side of High street on the comer of Seventh, 



220 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

now occupied by a colored woman by the name of Carter. Also a brick 
house on High street northeast of the court house built by T Ion. R. P. 
Clark, and owned by Joseph and William Williams." 

The next merchants after Robideux and Nolin were Jocab and Wyan 
and Archie Kavanaugh. Their store and residence was located north of 
the court house square. Other early merchants were McKenzie, Bousfield, 
Colonel Thornton, Mrs. Dobbins, Thomas M. Campbell and Judge C. H. 
Smith. 

Justinian Williams built the next hotel, and afterward sold it to John 
Dade, a part of which is still standing and is used as a hotel known as the 
Santa Fe Inn. This building of course has been added to, and greatly modi- 
ged. There was also a hotel on the lot north of the jail, once occupied as 
the residence of Judge C. W. Sombart, and is now a portion of the yard 
of the present residence of C. A. Sombart, son of the judge. 

Boonville up to 1826 was but a hamlet of straggling log cabins and 
its growth had been slow. However, in the summer and fall of IS26 it 
entered an era of prosperity never known before in its brief history. This 
was the year in which the angry waters of the Missouri sapped the foun- 
dations and forever put an end to the future prosperity of the thriving 
town of Franklin on the north side of the river, reference to which has 
heretofore been made. From this time Boonville began to assume import- 
ance and in a few years the wholesale and supply center for the great 
southwest territory. Many merchants from Franklin moved to Boonville 
as also did business men from other sections of the country. 

The first macadamized street was Main street, laid in 1840. During 
the year 1843, Moseley and Stanley operated a brewery. Between the 
years 1840-1850 real estate in Boonville commanded a better price than 
it ever had before or has since, except within the last few years. 

Luke Williams is celebrated as being the first preached in Cooper 
County, having located in Boonville several years before the county was 
organized. He was a farmer and a Baptist. 

Justinian Williams deserves special mention in the history of Cooper 
County. He was born in Virginia, and while young, emigrated to Ken- 
tucky, and there married. He then moved to Howard County, Mo., and 
from there to Cooper County, and settled in Boonville in 1818. In this 
year he located the first Methodist Church in Cooper County. He was 
a cabinet maker by trade, and followed that business for several years 
and organizing churches at intervals. He was also the local preacher at 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 221 

Boonville for several years. In 1834, he built a steamboat called "The Far 
West," about two miles above the mouth of Bonne Femme Creek in How- 
ard County, and was the commander of the same for some time. During 
that year he emigrated to Tennessee, where he died. He was a unique and 
forceful character in the time in which he lived. 

We have been unable to trace the local records of Boonville further 
back than Feb. 3, 1836. On that day there was an organization of the 
trustees of the town of Boonville, of which body, C. P. Powell was chair- 
man, and Charles G. Lewis, Alexander Hanna, David Andrews, and John 
Rea, were trustees. Washington Adams, who afterwards became one of 
the prominent lawyers of the State, was secretary. 

At the succeeding town election, Edward Lawton was elected chair- 
man, and Richard B. Holeman, secretary. 

The city was incorporated by an act of the General Assembly approved 
Feb. 8, 1839, and the first organization thereunder was affected May 3, 
1839. The following officers were elected by the people, under the charter, 
to-wit: Marcus Williams, Jr., mayor; J. Rice, president of the board; Wil- 
liam Shields, J. L. Collins, Jacob Wyan, David Andrews, Charles Smith, 
J. S. McFarland, and J. H. Malone, councilmen. 

Marcus Williams, the first mayor of Boonville, was a brother of Jus- 
tinian Williams, both of whom were uncles of the late lamented Judge 
William M. Williams. Marcus Williams was a brick mason, and manu- 
factured the first bricks ever made in Cooper County. He opened a lime 
kiln in the western part of Boonville. At the Vollrath place, in 1840, he 
made the first stoneware ever manufactured in western Missouri. He emi- 
grated to California at the time of the gold excitement in 1849, and settled 
in San Jose, and died about the year 1860. It is related that just before 
he left Boonville, he had an altercation with one of the prominent citizens 
of Boonville. This altercation resulted in an assault upon his part. lie 
was arrested, and a small fine placed upon him. It seems that he had 
had some trouble about a mortgage this citizen held upon some of his 
property. He felt that he had been badly treated, and determined to shake 
the dust from his feet, and leave the town. Having loaded all his remain- 
ing possessions in a wagon, with his team he drove down Main street, and 
stopped. Then called together a crowd of citizens and from his wagon, 
made them a speech, in which he told them that he had cast his lot among 
them, endeavoring to build up their town and country, but that he had 
not been appreciated, but instead had been mistreated. He told the as- 



222 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

sembled crowd that he proposed to shake the dust from his feet, and raising 
one foot, he literally shook the dust from it, then lashed his horses with 
his reins, and started on his trip to California. 

The year 1840 was distinguished as being the time when the first 
steamboat built and successfully launched at Boonville. It was constructed 
under the superintendence of Captain McCourtney, and was intended for 
the Osage. It was called the "Warsaw." 

As a port of entry at this time, Boonville excelled any other town on 
the river except St. Louis. As many as five or six steamboats would often 
land during the day and night, for the purpose of taking on and discharg- 
ing freight. 

During the year 1850, the whole number of deaths that had occurred 
in Boonville was 45, as shown by the sextons report. Thirty-eight of these 
were white persons, and seven were negroes. Eleven of these were strang- 
ers who had just arrived in the city, or who were passing through. The 
population of the city at that time was estimated at about 2,800. 

During the decade between 1850 and 1860, several newspapers were 
established and discontinued. Notably among these were the "Central Mis- 
sourian," and the "Boonville Missourian." 

The Missouri State Agricultural Society held the first fairs at the 
Fair Grounds near Boonville in 1853 and 1854. In 1855 the foundations 
were laid for Thespian Hall, which was begun during that year. At the 
time of its construction, it was considered one of the largest and most 
magnificent buildings to be found west of St. Louis. It was erected by a 
number of stockholders and occupies the northeast corner of Fifth and 
Church street, now called Vine street. The building is constructed of 
brick, 50x100 feet, with 10 feet open space in front, supported by four 
brick colums, 4x4 feet square. The Thespian Hall is four feet above the 
ground, and 20 feet high in the clear. The second story was divided into 
three apartments, two halls originally for use of Masonic and Odd Fellow s' 
Associations, fronting on Fifth street, 23i/2 x 43 feet, a town hall fronting 
Vine street, 35x47 feet. The basement story was designed for reading 
rooms. This building has since been remodeled, the basement room and 
first story being converted into an opera house. The second story is used 
entirely by the Masonic Fraternity. 

The first bank established in Boonville was the William H. Trigg, in 
1847, particular reference to which will be found in the chapter on banking. 

In May, 1883, the Boonville Water Company was organized with the 
following stockholders : John Elliott, John Cosgroye, Speed Stephens, Lon 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 223 

Stephens, Henry McCourtney, W. Whitlow, T. B. Perkins, W. C. Culwey- 
house and J. H. Johnson. Perkins was the promoter, and took the contract 
for building the system. The plan pursued in the construction of this im- 
portant enterprise was known as the Perkins system. 

July 1, 1905, the city of Boonville, after negotiations covering a period 
of two years, acquired all the property, rights and franchises of the Boon- 
ville Water Company. The price paid for the property totaled $52,500, and 
was based upon a valuation made by engineers employed by the city in 
1903, to which was added the investment by the company up to the time 
the purchase was consummated. 

The property consisted of some 31,000 feet of distribution mains, about 
20 acres of land, and some buildings and reservoirs, pumping station and 
equipment, and a brick tower with wooden tanks. Of the original prop- 
erty, only the distribution system and land are still in service. All build- 
ings have been added to and improved since the purchase. This applies 
similarly to reservoirs which have been enlarged. The purchase was made 
possible by the authorization and issue of a bonded debt of $75,000 bearing 
interest at the rate of four per cent per annum. 

By Dec. 31, 1918, all the $4,000 of this issue had been returned. The 
city has acquired and operated a property which represents a gross invest- 
ment of $121,000 in 14 years, and paid therefor with a net tax assessment 
of about 17 cents per $1,000 valuation in excess of that, which would have 
been necessary to pay for fire hydrant service under private ownership. 

The first board of public works which had charge of this system were 
appointed in March, 19 — , as follows: W. F. Johnson, president; M. E. 
Schmidt, secretary ; S. H. Stephens and W. A. Sombart. The present board 
is Jeff L. Davis, president; Fred Dauwalter, secretary; George A. Weyland, 
Clarence Shears. 

At our request, Mayor C. W. Journey has prepared a short article on 
Boonville as it is today, which we herewith give : 

Boonville as It is Today. — The present population of the city of Boon- 
ville is about 6,000 ; the assessed valuation of property in the city for the 
year 1918 was $2,300,000. The city revenue for the same year from all 
sources was about $26,500 ;' and the city indebtedness is only $29,000. 

The tax rate for 1918 was $1.10. The rate for this year of 1919 will 
be reduced from that of 1918. 

The city has, since 1905, in fourteen years, purchased and paid for 
the water works plant, together with 27.82 acres of land acquired, by the 
original purchase, all representing a gross investment of $121,000 (this 



224 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

does not include advanced value of real estate) ; has set aside $33,000 for 
depreciation, has accumulated $6,000 surplus, made all necessary additions 
and betterments, and today, the plant is in first class working order, giving 
us as good and pure water as is to be found anywhere. Of the $75,000 
bonded indebtedness 14 years ago in the matter of the purchase of ths 
water plant, on July 1, 1919, only $3,000 of the same will remain unpaid. 

Boonville now has three banks, and another practically organized and 
ready for business. Boonville now has, among other things, the following : 

A large public school building, the high school building (a magnificent 
and beautiful structure), Kemper Military School, a large and splendid in- 
stitution, and with a larger attendance this year than ever before in its 
history, the new Sumner school for colored people, the Missouri Reforma- 
tory, and Dunkle's Business School, nine churches, one large flouring mill, 
a beautiful new court house, a pipe factory employing 150 or more people, 
a large shoe factory now in course of construction, its estimated cost when 
completed is $110,000, and will employ 300 workers, a large ice plant and 
laundry employing 30 persons the year round, the Armour packing plant, 
employing 30 to 40 persons, a large brick plant, sand-works and a lime kiln. 

There are now fifteen grocery stores ; three large and up-to-date cloth- 
ing stores ; four dry goods stores, not counting combination dry goods and 
grocery stores ; four millinery and three drug stores ; one large tin, glass- 
ware and notion store ; one dealer in books ; one fruit store, and two com- 
bination fruit and stationery stores; two furniture stores; two hardware 
stores ; two exclusive boot and shoe stores ; one second hand store ; two 
restaurants, and numerous eating booths; three ice cream parlors, and 
numerous tailor, blacksmith and tin shops ; two large wholesale houses, 
both under the same management. Boonville also has eight garages. 

The paved streets in the city are as follows: Main (or Fifth) street, 
from High to the top of Trigg Hill in the southern limits of the city ; High, 
from Second to Eighth streets ; Morgan, from First to Tenth ; Spring, from 
Main to Tenth, and from First to the Boonville and Sedalia road; Sixth, 
from Locust to the Boonville and Jefferson City road ; Chestnut, from Sixth 
to Third ; Third, from High to Pine street ; Court, from Fifth to Sixth ; 
Locust, from Main East to the Catholic Cemetery, thence south to the 
southeast corner of the Cooper County Infirmary Farm, being practically 
to the city limits; Shamrock Heights, from the north part of Shamrock 
Heights to what is known as the "New-Cut Road" ; Eighth, from High to 
Morgan; Second street, from Spring to Water street, and there is now 




RESIDENCE STREET, BUXCETON, MO. 




IIIHII SCHOOL, BUNCETON, MO. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 225 

under construction the paving of Walnut street from Sixth street, west- 
wardly to Shamrock Heights. 

At this writing, the city council has made arrangements to call a spe- 
cial election to decide on the proposition of issuing bonds for $35,000 for 
the purpose of laying a new water main from the water works to the city. 
This is not only to guard against serious damage by fire and great public 
inconvenience in case the single line now existing should break, but to give 
water service to new territory, and improve and extend the water service 
gnerally ; and to issue bonds in the sum of $12,000 for constructing an addi- 
tional sewer main, and serve the new addition in the western part of the 
city, now an assured fact; and to issue bonds for $10,000 for the purpose 
of improving the City Park. 

Walnut Grove Cemetery, one of the most beautiful in the State, had 
its inception in 1852. In that year Charles F. Aehle, Robert D. Perry, Dr. 
A. Keuckelhan and others purchased a piece of ground containing two 
acres from William S. Myers to be used as a cemetery. Upon this ground 
was a beautiful grove of walnut trees, hence the name Walnut Grove 
Cemetery. This tract has been added to from time to time. The first 
body interred in the cemetery was that of Mrs. Sarah Ann Quarles, who 
died Aug. 24, 1852. Others buried about the same time were Mrs. H. A. 
Massie, James McDearmon, and Ida Aehle. Also the remains of David 
Barton, first United States Senator of Missouri, was removed from the City 
Cemetery and buried here, where now stands an appropriate monument 
erected by the State. Up to 1880 this cemetery was under the care of 
Mr. Aehle, in which year the cemetery was made public under certain rules 
and restrictions by the purchase of the same from Mr. Aahle by and 
through a corporation organized for that purpose. The charter, however, 
was not issued until June 7, 1881. 

The people of Boonville and Cooper County are justly proud of this 
beautiful cemetery where rest the remains of their loved and lost. It has 
grown from year to year and its management has been such as to add to its 
beauty with years. While not all but much of the credit due to the superb 
management of this cemetery is credited to Dr. William Mittlebach, who 
for years has been superintendent and secretary of the same. The present 
board of dirctors are T. A. Johnson, president; W. W. Trigg, vice-presi- 
dent; R. W. Whitlow, treasurer; William Mittlebach, superintendent and 
secretary; Hilliard Brewster, Fred G. Lohse, Starke Koontz, and Charles 
Doerrie. The executive committee consists of William Mittelbach, W. W. 
(15) 



226 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Trigg, and Fred G. Lohse. Lawrence Geiger, Sr., is the present sexton. 

Blackwater Township. — Blackwater is bounded on the north by Lamine 
township ; on the east by Pilot Grove and Clear Creek township, and on the 
west by Saline and Pettis Counties. It is practically surrounded by water, 
the Blackwater River on the north and the Lamine on the east and south. 

The soil is rich and very productive. It has much bottom land which 
is especially adapted to the growing of corn, wheat and alfalfa. 

Lead and iron ore are found in abundance. Springs are very numer- 
ous, some of which are salt. Salt was manufactured in this township as 
early as 1808 and from that time until 1836 it was manufactured pretty 
extensively by Heath, Bailey, Christie, Allison and others. 

William Christie and John D. Heath settled here in 1808 temporarily. 
James Broch was the first permanent settler, arriving in 1816. Enoch 
Hambrich came in 1817. David Shellcraw in 1818, George Chapman, the 
father of Mrs. Caleb Jones, came in 1818; Nathaniel T. Allison in 1831, 
Cleming Marshall and Robert Clark in 1832, Nathaniel Bridgewater in 1835. 

The village of Blackwater is the metropolis of Blackwater township 
and is surrounded by fertile and enterprising country and thrifty farmers. 
The town has a population of about 500 and the mercantile business repre- 
sents practically every line of business found in a village of that size. It 
has one newspaper, two banks, and an electric light plant. The merchants 
are prosperous and enjoy a good trade. Blackwater is one of the oldest 
trading points in Cooper County. It takes its name from the stream 
Blackwater, from which also the township takes its name. 

Clear Creek Township. — Clear Creek is bounded on the north by the 
Lamine River; on the east by Pilot Grove and Palestine townships; on 
the south by Lebanon and Otterville townships, and on the west by Pettis 
County. 

Some rough land is found in this township in the north and west part 
but in the east and south are found some of the best farms in Cooper 
County. James Taylor and sons, William, John, and James were the first 
settlers. They came from Georgia by the way of New Madrid and settled 
here in 1817. The farmed a large tract of land and were the early corn 
kings of Cooper County. 

At one time when com was very scarce throughout the county, and 
very little could be had for love or money, two men came to Mr. Taylor's 
house asking to purchase some corn, of which he had a large quantity, on 
credit, as neither of them had any money with which to pay. One was 
very poorly dressed, with his pants torn off below his knees, and what 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 227 

there was remaining of them patched all over. The other was almost 
elegantly dressed. Mr. Taylor sold the poorly dressed man, on credit, all 
the corn he wished. He told the other one that he could get no corn there, 
unless he paid the money for it, and that if he had saved the money which 
he had squandered for his fine clothes he would have had sufficient to pay 
cash for the corn. 

He had a large number of negroes, and required them during the day 
to perform a great deal of work. Shovel plows were mostly used in his 
day, and the wooden mole board just coming into use. It is related that 
the shovels of Mr. Taylor's plows had, at one time, worn off very blunt, 
and he was averse to buying new ones, so that one negro man plowed once 
around a field before he discovered that he had lost the dull shovel to his 
plow, the plow running just as well without as with it. He was a leader in 
the Baptist Church, and was a devoted member, a kind neighbor and a 
strictly honest man. 

Jordan O'Bryan, son-in-law of James Taylor, settled here in 1817. He 
represented the county in the State Legislature in 1822, 1826, 1834 and 
1840 and in the State Senate 1844 to 1848. He was an orator, a man of 
great ability and an uncompromising Whig. 

Charles R. Berry, the father of Finis E. Berry, Isaac Ellis and Hugh 
and Alexander Brown, are among the oldest citizens ; others of a later date 
were Herman Bailey, William Ellis, Samuel Walker, A. S. Walker, H. R. 
Walker, Finis E. Berry, James and Samuel Mahan, the Rubeys, Jeremiah, 
William G. and Martin G. Phillips, Samuel Forbes, Ragan Berry, Hiram 
Dial, Samuel and Rice Hughes and Willis Ellis. 

Pilot Grove Township. — Pilot Grove is bounded on the north by La- 
mine ; on the east by Boonville and Palestine ; on the south by Clear Creek 
and Palestine, and on the west by Clear Cleek and Blackwater. It is a 
very irregular in shape and offers quite a variety in surface features. The 
township derived its name from the following facts : When travelers were 
passing on the route from Boonville to Independence, or in the neighbor- 
hood of this route, as it led through the township, they were enabled at 
once to determine their position by the small grove of trees which was 
plainly visible for miles around. Very little of the present timber was in 
existence except as low brush, so that the group of trees standing promi- 
nently above all the rest proved a pilot to the traveler in his journey 
across the then extensive prairie. Hence the name "Pilot Grove." 

It was settled about 1820. Among the early settlers were John Mc- 
Cutchen, John Houx, Jacob Houx, L. A. Summers, James McElroy, Samuel 



228 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Roe, Sr., Samuel Woolridge, Enoch Mass, Absalom Meredith, Azariah Bone, 
who was a Methodist minister; John Rice, a blacksmith; a Mr. Magee, after 
whom "Magee Grove" was named, and Samuel Gilbert, whose success in 
after life as a cancer doctor was a surprise to all and a familiar theme of 
conversation among the old settlers. There were also William and James 
Taylor, Jr., who were among the pioneers. 

This township was distinguished in the early times by the number and 
variety of camp meetings which were held within its borders. The Metho- 
dists and Presbyterians were rivals for the honor of conducting the biggest 
and best camp meeting each year. People attended from great distances. 

Thomas P. Cropper was the first noted teacher in this township. He 
taught in 1828 and 1829. 

The first mill erected in this township was by a man named Hughes. 
It was a horse-mill and stood on one of the branches of the Petite Saline. 

Pilot Grove is located in the northeast quarter of section 5, township 
47, range 18 in Pilot Grove township and surrounded by large and beautiful 
farming country. The town and township take their name from the post- 
office called in the early day Pilot Grove. The town was laid off in 1873 
by Samuel Roe and is situated on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas railroad 
twelve miles southwest of Boonville. As early as 1836 the Government 
located a postoffice about one mile from the present town site and called 
it Pilot Grove. In those days freighters and travelers to the great south- 
west guided their course across the broad prairies by a beautiful grove of 
hickory trees that stood on what is now known as the Coleman farm and 
within the present limits of the town of Pilot Grove. This grove of trees 
became known as the Pilot Grove, hence the name of the postoffice, Pilot 
Grove, which gave the name to the town. 

Pilot Grove is a city of the fourth class and has a population of be- 
tween 800 and 1,000 inhabitants. There is one newspaper, five churches, 
two elevators, two banks, a good public school conducted in a new and up- 
to-date school building, stores in which are found large stocks of goods 
and representing every line of the mercantile business, garages, blacksmith 
shops, lumber yard, telephone system, electric light system, and in fact 
every enterprise usually found in the most up-to-date town of similar size. 

Kelly Township. — Kelly township is bounded on the north by Palestine 
and Clarks Fork, on the east by Moniteau, on the west by Lebanon, and 
on the south by Moniteau County. It is named in honor of John Kelly, one 
of its oldest and most respected citizens. 

Its surface is comparatively regular, consisting of prairie diversified 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 229 

with timbered portions. It is thought to have been settled first in 1818. 
The first settlers were: John Kelly, William Stephens, James D. Campbell, 
James Kelly, William J. Kelly, Caperton Kelly, William Jennings, Gen. 
Charles Woods, Philip E. Davis, Rice Challis, Hugh Morric, Jesse White, 
Hartley White, Jeptha Billingsley, Joshua Dellis, and William Swearingen. 

James Kelly was a Revolutionary soldier and died in 1840. 

John Kelly, Charles Wood and James D. Campbell served as soldiers in 
the War of 1812. 

The Kellys came originally from Tennessee the Campbells from Ken- 
tucky. William Jennings, the first preacher, came from Georgia in 1819. 
He was a wealthy slave owner and was for many years pastor of "Old 
Nebo" Church. Campbell was for many years justice of the peace, a 
prominent politician, and a noted Democrat. 

Gen. Charles Woods was for many years the leading Democratic 
politician of the township. He was a forceful speaker, a gentleman in 
every respect. He died in 1874 at the age of 78 years. 

Joseph Reavis with his sons, Lewis, William T. Jackson and Johnston, 
settled in this township in 1823 and for many years were manufacturers 
of wagons, at which trade they attained quite a good deal of prominence. 

Joseph S. Anderson was probably the first schoolmaster in this town- 
ship. He settled here in 1824. He taught a very successful school for four 
years when he was elected sheriff of Cooper County, 1828, re-elected in 
1830. Previous to his death he was elected to the Legislature. He became 
a large land owner and very wealthy. His residence was on a hill north of 
Bunceton. His schoolhouse was near the ground on which Hopewell Church 
is located. William Robertson, a Baptist minister, continued this school for 
a number of years. 

Robert McCulloch operated the first mill in the township. Rice Challis, 
a carpenter, was a prominent Whig and in respect to his politics stood al- 
most alone in his neighborhood. 

The soil of Kelly township is very fertile and some of the best farms 
in the State of Missouri are to be found within its borders. 

Bunceton was laid out in 1868 by the late Harvey Bunce, from whom 
it derives its name. It lies almost in the geographical center of the county 
and is surrounded by a great trade territory of fertile and highly improved 
farms. The population of the town is now about 1,000. Sam T. Smith is 
mayor and the city council is composed of W. E. Harris, Frank Gholson, 
Joe C. Stephens and Edgar C. Nelson. F. C. Betteridge is city clerk. 

Bunceton has about 20 stores, representing all lines of business. It 



230 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

also has two banks with resources of $1,000,000, a modem garage, a tele- 
phone system, an up-to-date hotel and a cafe, an ice plant and an electric 
light plant furnishing a 24-hour service, two grain elevators, a barber shop, 
a newspaper with the largest circulation in the county, a fine theatre, a 
grist mill, a splendid accredited four-year high school, four churches, three 
lodges.. 

The business section of the town is composed of modern brick build- 
ings, while in the residence sections are to be found many modern and 
attractive homes. Sunset Hill, a new addition to the town, promises to 
attract many new home-owners. A building and loan association organized 
in 1914 has been very successful in supplying funds for many new homes 
in the town. The streets of the town are well kept and the town has many 
blocks of concrete sidewalks. Beautiful shade trees and well kept lawns 
are a feature of the town. 

Two county farmers' organizations, the Cooper County Farmers' Mu- 
tual Fire Insurance Company and the Farmers Live Stock Insurance Com- 
pany, maintain offices in Bunceton. The Bunceton Fair, now the county 
fair, organized more than a quarter century ago, is famous for its motto, 
"For Farmers, not Fakirs," which it has lived up to. The Cooper County 
Shorthorn Breeders' Association also has headquarters in Bunceton. 

Bunceton is the shipping point for much live stock, hundreds of cars 
of cattle, hogs, sheep and mules going to market from the town each year. 
It lies in the center of a great pure-bred stock community and attracts 
many buyers from a distance. 

The Bunceton postoffice serves four rural mail routes which cover a 
big territory. Miss Mary Shackleford is postmistress. 

The people of Bunceton are cultured. They seek and enjoy the better 
things of life. Schools and churches are well supported. Its citizenship 
is high. 

The present Bunceton Fair had its inception at a meeting of farmers 
and stockmen held in the office of the "Bunceton Eagle" on March 21, 1896, 
when plans for an agricultural fair were discussed. The actual organiza- 
tion was perfected on May 9, 1896, when a board of 13 directors were 
elected. They were E. H. Rodgers, Henry Fricke, John G. Burger, N. A. 
Gilbreath, A. B. Alexander, A. A. Wallace, T. A. Nelson, E. F. Lovell, J. U. 
Starke, J. R. Conway, T. V. Hickox, Theo. Brandes and Dr. P. E. Williams. 
E. H. Rodgers was the first president; John G. Burger, first vice-president : 
Henry Fricke, second vice-president; T. A. Nelson, treasurer; W. I,. Nelson. 
secretary, and E. F. Lovell, assistant secretary. 

Thirty-seven acres belonging to W. L. Allison and lying a half-mile 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 281 

west of Bunceton, was selected as a site for the fairgrounds. It was at 
first leased and later bought. On Wednesday, Sept. 9, 1896, the gates were 
thrown open to the first meeting ever held by the association. 

The association has held a successful meeting every year since its 
organization. It adopted in its early history for its motto, "For Farmers 
and Not Fakers," and has consistently lived up to the motto. 

The present board of directors (1919) is composed of F. C. Betteridge, 
Ben Harned, S. H. Groves, H. L. Shirley, Joseph Popper, George Morris, 
Ben Smith, Clyde T. Nelson, and G. A. Gilbert. F. C. Betteridge is presi- 
dent and Edgar C. Nelson is secretary and treasurer. 

During its existence the following men. have served the association 
as president: E. H. Rodgers, 1896; T. A. Nelson, 1897-8-9 and 1907; J. E. 
Burger, 1900-01 ; Henry Fricke, 1902-03 ; P. E. Williams, 1904-05 ; G. W. 
Morris, 1906; George A. Carpenter, 1908; Ben Harned, 1909-10-14; S. H. 
Groves, 1911-16-17-18 ; J. A. Hawkins, 1912-13 ; F. C. Betteridge, 1915-19. 

During its existence the fair has exerted a great influence on the agri- 
cultural and live stock interests of the county. It has always been con- 
ducted on a high plane and has been clean in every particular. It has 
become known over the corn belt as a model country fair. 

Lamine Township. — Lamine township is located in the northwest part 
of Cooper County and is just across the river from Howard. It is bounded 
on the east by Boonville township, on the south by Pilot Grove and Black- 
water and on the west by Saline County. 

The surface is rolling and was originally covered with a heavy growth 
of timber. The soil is rich and very productive. It was settled first in 
1812 by David Jones, a Revolutionary soldier, Thomas and James McMahan, 
Stephen, Samuel and Jesse Turley, Saunders Townsend. 

Those who arrived later were John Cramer, Bradford Lawless, John 
M., David and William Reid, Hezekiah Harris, Elijah Taylor, John, Peter, 
Samuel and Joseph Fisher, William and Jesse Moon, Rudolph Haupe, 
Isaac Hedrick, John Smelser, William McDaniel, Wyant Parm, Harmon 
Smelser, Samuel Larnd, Pethnel Foster, Julius Burton, Ezekiel Williams, 
and some others at present unknown. 

"Fort McMahan" was built in the year 1812 or 1813 but it can not 
be exactly located. 

Lead has been found in paying quantities in bygone days and lumber 
and cord-wood were for many years shipped extensively from the town- 
ship. In the early days, fish from the Blackwater and Lamine Rivers 
were sent regularly to Boonville. 

Samuel Walton erected a business house in the village of Lamine 



232 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

in 1869. Redd and Gibson opened a store in November, 1871, which 
was broken into in February, 1881, the safe blown and about $700 in 
money taken. 

North and South Moniteau Townships. — These two townships, origi- 
nally one, are separated by the Moniteau Creek. They are bounded on 
the north by Clarks Fork and Prairie Home townships, on the east and 
south by Moniteau County and on the west by Kelly township. 

The surface near the Moniteau Creek tends to be rough, which 
gradually gives way to prairie both in the north and south. 

Mr. Shelton, a blacksmith, settled near where the town of Pisgah 
now stands in 1818. He was. quite a noted "artificer in metals" and was 
the only blacksmith in the county outside of Boonville. 

Among other early settlers were Thomas B. Smiley, Seth Joseph, 
Waid and Stephen Howard, William Coal, James Stinson, Hawking Bur- 
ress, David Burress, Charles Hickox, Samuel McFarland, Carroll George, 
James Snodgrass, Martin George, Mathew Burress, Jesse Martin, Alex- 
ander Woods, William Landers, Jesse Bowles, James Donelson, William 
A. Stillson, Samuel Snodgrass, James W. Maxey, Job Martin, James 
Jones, David Jones, Augustus K. Longan, Patrick Mahan, Valentine Mar- 
tin, John Jones and John B. Longan. 

Thomas B. Smiley, who represented Cooper County in the Legisla- 
ture in 1820, was a man of considerable information and a good historian. 
He reared a large family of children and died in 1836. 

David Jones settled at Pisgah prior to 1820, since his vote was re- 
corded in that year. He, with Archibald Kavanaugh, was elected to the 
State Legislature in 1830, 1832, 1834 and in 1836 he was elected State 
Senator, re-elected in 1848. He died in 1859. 

Pisgah and Mount Pleasant churches were built by the Baptists in 
an early day and were presided over by John B. Longan and Kemp Scott. 
The first school in this township was probably taught by James Donelson. 
He only professed to teach arithmetic as far as the "double rule of three". 

A man named Howard erected the first mill at what was afterwards 
known as "Old Round Hill". An Englishman by the name of Summers. 
and Judge C. H. Smith also kept a store in this place. 

Patrick Mahan later built a tread-mill which was a considerable 
improvement over the old fashioned "horse mill". Richard D. Bonsfield 
at a very early date erected a store at Pisgah. 

Palestine Township. — Palestine is bounded on the north by Pilot 
Grove and Boonville townships; on the south by Kelly and Lebanon; on 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 233 

the west by Clear Creek and Pilot Grove, and on the east by Clarks Fork 
township. It is generally prairie, but a bit rough on the east side and 
the soil is of the most excellent quality. 

The first settlers of this township were William Moore, and Joseph 
Stevens. William Moore came from North Carolina with his family which 
consisted of seven sons and three daughters. Margaret married Judge 
Lawrence C. Stephens in 1818 ; Sally married Col. John G. Hutchison and 
Mary married Harvey Bunce. 

Mrs. Margaret Stephens told of the first church she attended in the 
neighborhood, which was held at the house of one of the settlers. Luke 
Williams, the preacher, was dressed in a complete suit of buckskin, and a 
great many of his audience was dressed in the same style. She was so 
dissatisfied with the appearance of things in this county that she cried 
during the whole of the services, but soon became accustomed to the new 
order of things, and was well contented. At that meeting grease from 
the bear meat, stored in the loft above the congregation, dropped down 
and spoiled her nice Sunday shawl, which was a fine one, brought from 
North Carolina, and which could not be replaced in this backwoods 
country. 

Joseph Stephens, Sr., and family settled in Palestine in 1817, being 
piloted to their new home by Maj. Stephen Cole. In 1818, Samuel Peters 
settled two miles farther north at a place now called Petersburg. 

When Samuel Peters raised his dwelling he invited his neighbors to 
come and help him, stating that he would, on that occasion, kill a hog and 
have it for dinner. As this was the first hog ever butchered in this part 
of the state, and as very few of the settlers had ever tasted pork, it was 
no little inducement to them to be present and assist in disposing of such 
rare and delicious food for the settlers, previous to that time, had sub- 
sisted entirely upon wild game. Always, on such occasion, they had a 
little "fire-water" to give life to the occasion. 

Colonel Andrew and Judge John Briscoe settled in the same township 
in 1818. They were both very prominent men, and prominent leaders in 
their respective parties, Andrew being a whig, and John a democrat. 
Some of the other early settlers were Henry, Hiram, Heli and Harden 
Corum, Mr. Tevis, the father of Capt. Simeon Tevis, Thomas Collins, Jacob 
Summers, Michael, James and Williamson, John and Joseph Cathey, James, 
David and John H. Hutchison, Nathaniel Leonard, John and Andrew Wal- 
lace, Henry Woolery, Holbert and Samuel Cole, James Bridges, James 
Simms, Russell Smallwood, Thomas Best, Greenberry Allison, William C. 



234 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Lowery, Anthony F. Read, and others. No better citizens than those 
mentioned above ever settled in any community. 

The first schools in Palestine township was taught by Lawrence C. 
Stephens, Dr. William H. Moore and a young man from Virginia by the 
same name. The latter was considered the best scholar in this part of 
the country in the early days. A dancing school was opened at the resi- 
dence of B. W. Levens in 1832 by a man named Gibson. He was the first 
to introduce cotillions in this part of the country. Mr. Gibson also had 
schools at Boonville and Arrow Rock, teaching two days at each place. 
It is presumed that he rested on the Sabbath. 

Prairie Home Township. — Prairie Home township is bounded on the 
north by Saline, on the east by Moniteau County, and on the west by 
Clarks Fork township, and on the south by Moniteau township. Prairie 
Home was carved from the territory of Clarks Fork, Saline and Moniteau 
townships and organized in 1872. 

The surface is generally level being mostly prairie. The soil is very 
fertile and some very excellent farms are to be found within its boundary. 

The oldest settlers, according to the best information that can be 
obtained, were James McClain, Lacy McClanahan, Adam McClanahan, 
Jacob Carpenter, Absalom McClanahan, Michael Hornbeck, Samuel Car- 
penter, William N. McClanahan, William G. McClanahan, and Jeremiah 
Smith. 

The early history of this township cannot be dissociated from that of 
the parent townships enumerated above. 

Prairie Home, one of the best inland towns in this section of the 
country had its beginning at a very early date when James Boswell erected 
a store. John Zimmerman established a business here in 1874. 

The Prairie Home Institute was organized in 1865 by the Rev. A. H. 
Misseldine. 

Prairie Home has a population of about 300. It has one bank with a 
capital stock of $12,000, two churches, the Methodist Episcopal Church 
South and the Baptist, a good school with three teachers, electric lights, 
eight stores, one hotel, one mill and one blacksmith shop. The present 
mayor is Dr. R. L. Meredith. 

Clarks Fork Township. — Clarks Fork township is bounded on the 
north by Boonville township; on the east by Prairie Home and Saline; 
on the south by Moniteau and Kelly, and on the west by Palestine. The 
township derives its name from Clark's Fork which with its tributaries 
drain it. It is practically all prairie land. John Glover was probably the 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 235 

first settler in this township locating here in 1813. He built his cabin 
near where Rankin's Mill now stands. John C. Rochester settled here 
shortly afterwards. He was a grandson of the founder of Rochester, 
New York. Having lost a large fortune, he sought seclusion by emigrating 
to the frontier country where people required nothing save honesty and 
industry to admit a person into their social circles. He married Miss 
Sally Kelly, the daughter of James Kelly, who was a honored soldier of 
the Revolution. 

Some of the old citizens of this township were Joshua H. Berry, 
William Read, William and Ruben George, Clayton Hui't, Samuel Car- 
penter, Edward, Andrew and Charles Robertson, James, Robert and John 
Johnston, Samuel, Robert and William Drinkwater, Gabriel Titsworth, 
William Shipley, Acrey Hurt. Peter Carpenter, George Crawford, George 
W. Weight, Martin Jennings. 

George Crawford was Cooper County's first assessor, afterwards a 
member of the legislature from the county. Judge George W. Weight 
was born in New York, Feb. 27, 1784. Left an orphan he emigrated to 
West Virginia and from thence to Ross County, Ohio, where he married 
Miss Elizabeth Williams. He came to Howard County, Mo., with his 
family in 1820, and in 1822 he settled in Clarks Fork township and lived 
there until his death, Feb. 29, 1857. He was a school teacher, a good 
violinist, and in his early day taught dancing school. He was county 
judge, county surveyor and later state representative. 

Clarks Fork township is strictly a farming community. Practically 
every acre of it is devoted to the production of grain and hay, which in 
turn was converted into finished meat producing animals which find a 
ready market in St. Louis and Kansas City. 

Saline Township. — Saline township lies in the northeastern part of 
the county. It is bounded on the north by the Missouri River; on the 
east by Moniteau county ; on the south by Prairie Home township, and on 
the west by Clarks Fork and Boonville townships. It contains quite a 
good deal of hilly territory and much bottom land. 

Joseph Jolly, with his two children, John and William, settled in this 
township as early as 1812. He set out the first apple orchard and built 
a mill which would grind a bushel of corn an hour. William Jolly was a 
gunsmith, a wheel wright, a blacksmith, a cooper, a miller, a distiller, a 
preacher, a doctor and a farmer. John kept a ferry across the Lamine. 

Some of the other early settlers were William Lamm, James and John 
Turner, Joseph Pursley, Levi Cropper, Henry Levins, B. W. Levins (the 



236 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

grandfather, and father of Henry C. Levins of Boonville), Josiah Dickson, 
Charles Force, John Farris, Thomas Farris, Jesse Wood, David Fine, 
Joshua and Lacy McClanahan, George Dickson, Frederick and James F. 
Connor, John Calvert, Adam and Absalom McClanahan, Elverton Caldwell, 
Noding Caldwell, Joseph Westbrook, Alexander Woods, Robert Givens, 
Leonard Calvert. August McFall, Alexander R. Dickson, William Calvert, 
Jr., James Farris and Robert Dickson. 

Big Lick church, of which John B. Longdon was the first pastor, was 
built at a very early date. John M. Stilman (1820) taught the first school 
at a place now occupied by the Highland school. A town by the name of 
Washington was laid out by B. W. Levens near the Missouri River a'oout 
one mile below Overton. Lots were sold, houses built, businesses estab- 
lished and quite a rosy future promised but in time it disappeared and the 
spot on which it was located cannot be designated by any living man. 
Another town was promoted on the banks of the Missouri River opposite 
Rocheport. It was called Houstonville. It was laid out by B. W. Levens 
and John Ward. The site on which it stood now forms a part of the bed 
of the Missouri River. 

Woolridge was incorporated Feb. 5, 1904, with A. F. Nixon as mayor, 
who through the years has held and now holds that office. The town has 
a lumber yard, grain elevator and flour mill, also an ice plant. It also 
has two general merchandise stores, two restaurants, one grocery, one 
drug store, one hardware store and one furniture store. It also has one 
harness shop, one blacksmith shop and one garage. 

Lebanon Township. — Thomas J. Starke, who has imperishably pre- 
served the early history of Lebanon and Otterville townships, has joined 
"the innumerable caravan that moves to that mysterious realm where 
each must take his chamber in the silent halls of death." He departed 
this life at Otterville on Saturday, June 27, 1903, at the ripe age of eighty 
years. He had spent almost three score and ten years in Cooper County 
where he grew to manhood, married and died. He was the father of Mrs. 
D. S. Koontz of Boonville. Thomas J. Starke was an admirable man of 
lovable traits and Cooper County had no better citizen. 

"About the fall of 1819 and the spring of 1820, the following named 
persons moved to New Lebanon, and into that neighborhood embracing a 
portion of the territory now known as Lebanon township, in Cooper county. 

Rev. Finis Ewing, Rev. James L. Wear, John, James H. Wear, who 
was the father of William G. Wear, of Warsaw, and Samuel Wear, now of 
Otterville; Alexander Sloan, Robert Kirkpatrick, Colin C. Stoneman, Wil- 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 237 

Ham Stone, Frederick Casteel, Reuben A. Ewing, Jas. Berry, Thomas 
Rubey, Elizabeth Steele, sister of Alexander Sloan's wife, a man named 
Smiley, Rev. Laird Burns and his father, John Burns, John Reed, Silas 
Thomas, James Taylor, Hugh Wear, who was a brother to James L. and 
John Wear, James McFarland and Rev. William Kavanaugh. This country 
then extended south to the Osage River. 

The Rev. Finis Ewing was a distinguished minister of the gospel, 
and one of the original founders of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. 
He was from Kentucky ; was ordained a minister in the year 1803, and in 
conjunction with Samuel McAdam and Samuel King, founded that church 
in 1810. 

The cause which gave rise to the establishment of the branch of the 
Presbyterian church was, that the mother church required her ministers 
to possess a classical education before ordination, which was by the new 
church not regarded as absolutely indispensable, though its ministers were 
required to cultivate a knowledge of the elementary branches of the Eng- 
lish language. 

At New Lebanon these early pioneers pitched their tents, and soon 
began the erection of a rude building as a sanctuary, which, when com- 
pleted, they called New Lebanon, in condistiction to the house in which 
they had sung and worshipped in the state from which they had formerly 
emigrated. It was built of hewed logs, and the settlers of this little colony 
united in the project of building, each furnishing his proportionate quota 
of the logs requisite to complete the building. These logs were double ; 
that is, each log was twenty-four feet in length, being joined in the middle 
of the house by means of an upright post, into which the ends were 
mortised, thus making the entire length of the church forty-eight feet, 
by thirty feet in width. This building served as a place of worship for 
many years, until about the time of the war, when the new and neat brick 
church of the present day was erected on the site of the old one, which 
was torn away. 

The members of this church constituted the prevailing religion of 
the neighborhood for many years, and most of the characters portrayed 
herein were connected with this denomination. 

The Rev. James L. Wear was also for many years a Cumberland 
Presbyterian preacher. He was a good man, and lived close to New 
Lebanon, where Frank Asberry now lives. He died at the old mansion 
in about 1868. He was a brother of John Wear, who first lived at New 
Lebanon at the place now owned by Mr. Majors and afterwards at Otter- 



238 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

ville where Mr. Anson Hemenway now lives. The first school taught in 
Otterville, or in Otterville township, was taught by his son, known by the 
sobriquet of Long 'George.' They were originally from Kentucky, moved 
to Howard County in 1817, and afterwards to New Lebanon at the date 
above indicated. 

Samuel Wear, Sr. and James H. Wear were brothers, and came from 
Tennessee, the latter being the father of William G. and Samuel Wear, Jr., 
as before stated, and lived in the place now occupied by William Walker. 
He was a successful fanner and died in good circumstances. 

Samuel Wear, Sr., lived where Wesley Cook now lives and sold a large 
farm there to Samuel Burk, late of this county. 

Alexander Sloan was from Kentucky and settled the place now owned 
by Peter Spillers. He was the father of William Sloan, who died at 
Otterville several years ago, and also of the Rev. Robert Sloan, who was 
an eminent minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, and who 
married a daughter of the Rev. Finis Ewing. 

Robert Kirkpatrick was a Kentuckian and lived near the New Leb- 
anon graveyard. He died many years ago. He was a revolutionary 
soldier, and had a son named David, who was an able minister of the 
Cumberland Church. David met his death by accident; he was thrown 
from a carriage, severely wounded and afterwards died from the ampu- 
tation of his leg. 

Colin C. Stoneman was from Kentucky and lived at the old cabin still 
to be seen standing near Andrew Foster's place. He was a practitioner 
of medicine of the Thomsonian school, and died a good many years ago. 

William Stone was a Kentuckian, a plain old farmer, and lived on the 
farm now owned by the Rev. Minor Neale. He was a good man and died 
at an advanced age. 

Rev. Frederick Casteel was a minister of the gospel of the Methodist 
church and lived near the place now owned by Mrs. Abram Amick. 

Reuben A. Ewing and his brother, Irving Ewing, were Kentuckians, 
and lived east of Lebanon. The former was a successful farmer, a good 
man and died at an advanced age, honored and respected. 

James Berry was also a Kentuckian and one of the oldest settlers 
of this new colony. He lived where his son, Finis E. Berry now lives. 

Thomas Rubey was from Kentucky and lived at Pleasant Grove. 
Henry Small lived at the Vincent Walker place. 

Mr. Smiley was also a Kentuckian and settled where Mr. Thomas 
Alexander now lives. Rev. Laird Bums was a Cumberland Presbyterian 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 239 

preacher and lived where Mr. John P. Downs now lives, in what is known 
as the Ellis neighborhood. 

John Burns was his brother and lived close to New Lebanon. He was 
a soldier in the war with Britain, was present at the battle of New Orleans 
and would often with pride talk about that great event, of the fearful 
roaring of the cannon, of the sharp whistling of the bullets and the thrill- 
ing echoes of martial music, which stirred the hearts of the soldiers to 
deeds of valor, and enabled the brave army of General Jackson to achieve 
the glorious victory which ended the war with 'Old England'. 

Rev. John Reid was also another minister of the Cumberland Presby- 
terian church, a Kentuckian ; he first lived at Honey Creek and afterwards 
at so many different places, that for want of space in this brief sketch 
I dare not undertake to enumerate them. Suffice it to say, that he set- 
tled more new places in the neighborhood than any half dozen pioneers of 
the infant colony. He was a very eccentric character in his younger days, 
would fight at the 'drop of a hat' and was never known to meet his match 
in a hand to hand combat. The writer of this sketch was intimately 
acquainted with him for many years, during the latter period of his life, 
however, and can truly say he never knew a man of steadier habits, nor 
one more remarkable for strict rectitude of conduct, or exemplary piety. 

Reid was driving a team for some man who was moving to this county 
with Mr. Ewing, who had ear bells on his six horse team. The young man 
liked the jingle of these bells so well that he begged Mr. Ewing to allow 
his teamster to divide with him, in order that he might share the music, 
but Mr. Ewing 'could not see it' and refused to make the division as re- 
quested. Whereupon Reid bought a number of cow bells and hung one 
on each horse of his team, which soon had the effect of bringing the 
preacher to terms. He was so much annoyed with the discord produced 
by these coarse bells that he soon proposed a compromise by giving Reid 
his sleigh bells, provided he would stop the cow bell part of the concert. 

Silas Thompson was another Kentuckian and lived on Honey creek 
near where Lampton's saw mill stood a few years ago. 

James Taylor, better known as 'Old Corn Taylor', lived in an old log 
cabin which may still be seen standing a short distance west of the 
Anthony place. He was another remarkably eccentric character. He 
had a host of mules and negroes; always rode with a rope bridle and 
raised more corn and kept it longer than any half dozen men in Cooper 
County. This he hoarded away in pens and cribs, with as much care as 
if every ear had been a silver dollar, in anticipation of a famine, which. 



240 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

for many years he had predicted, but which, happily, never came, though 
the neighborhood was several times visited with great scarcity of that 
valuable commodity. Although he was miserly in this respect, yet during 
these times of scarcity, he would generally unlock his granaries, and like 
Joseph of old, deal it out to his starving brethren, whether they were 
able to pay for it or not; that is, if he thought a man was industrious, 
he would furnish him with what corn he considered necessary; but tradi- 
tion inform us that he invariably refused the required boon to a man who 
was found, on examination, to wear 'patched breeches', especially if the 
patch happened in a particular locality, which indicated laziness. 

Hugh Wear was from Kentucky, and lived in the Ellis neighborhood. 
He was the father of the Rev. Wm. Bennett Wear, another Cumberland 
Presbyterian of considerable distinction. When his father, who was a 
Revolutionary soldier, enlisted, Hugh, although too young to enter the 
army, was permitted to accompany his father and served during the war 
as a soldier notwithstanding he was under the age prescribed for military 
duty. This was done to prevent his falling into the hands of the tories. 

Rev. Wm. Kavanaugh was a Kentuckian and another Cumberland 
Presbyterian preacher of considerable note. It was said of him, that he 
could preach louder and longer than any of these old worthies. 

William Bryant was a Kentuckian and was with General Jackson at 
the battle of New Orleans. He first settled at New Lebanon, on the place 
which he afterwards sold to Finis Ewing; the old brick house where Mr. 
Kemp now lives. He then moved to the farm now occupied by William B. 
Harlan. 

Samuel Miller was from Kentucky and settled on the place now owned 
by Green Walker. He was a farmer and afterwards moved to Cold Neck. 

There yet remains but one other man to notice who belonged to New 
Lebanon. He was a member of the numerous family of Smith, whose 
Christian name I cannot now recall. He settled at a very early period on 
what is known as Cedar Bluff, at a nice, cool, clear spring, not far from 
the place where Mrs. John Wilkerson now lives. Here he erected what 
was then called a 'band mill', a species of old fashioned horse mill, so com- 
mon in those days. It was connected with a small distillery at which he 
manufactured a kind of 'aqua mirabilis' with which the old folks in those 
days cheered the drooping spirits in times of great scarcity. But Mr. 
Smith never 'ran crooked.' He paid no license, and sold or gave away his 
delicious beverage without molestation from revenue agents, iust as he 




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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 241 

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deemed fit and convenient. Revenue stamps and revnue agents were un- 
known then, and good whiskey (there was none bad then) was not only 
considered harmless, but drinking hot toddies, eggnog and mint juleps 
was regarded as respectable, as well as a pleasant and innocent kind of 
amusement, and quite conducive to good health." 

Otterville Township. — "I have thus briefly glanced at the early settle- 
ment in the vicinity of New Lebanon, and come now to treat of the colony 
which was planted south and west of the Lamine and which was peopled 
at a subsequent period, known as the Otterville township, and which will 
perhaps embrace a portion of the adjoining territory included within the 
limits of Morgan and Pettis counties. 

Thomas Parsons was born in the state of Virginia in the year 1793, 
moved to Franklin, the county of Simpson, Kentucky, about 1819, emi- 
grated to this county in the fall of 1826, and settled at the place now 
owned by James H. Cline, northwest of Otterville. About the last of 
October of that year, Parsons sold his pre-emption right to Absolom Cline, 
the father of James H. Cline. In 1826, the time Mr. Parsons came into 
this neighborhood, there were only three families living west of the Lamine 
in this vicinity. These were James G. Wilkerson, William Reed and Wil- 
liam Sloan. 

Mr. Parsons established the first hatter's shop south of Boonville, 
and was an excellent workman in that line. He was an honest, upright 
citizen, lived to a ripe old age, and was gathered to his fathers honored and 
respected by all who knew him. At the time of his death, which occurred 
on the 7th day of Sept., 1768, he was the oldest Free Mason in Cooper 
county, having belonged to that institution nearly three score years. 

William Reed, mentioned above, was, perhaps, the first white man 
who settled in this neighborhood. He was a Tennesseean, and lived near 
the old camp ground, a little west of what was then known as the Camp 
ground spring, in the old field now owned by George W. Smith, a short 
distance southwest of the old graveyard. He was the grandfather of A. 
M. Reed, now of Otterville. He was remarkable for his strict integrity 
and exemplary piety. 

James G. Wilkerson was from Kentucky and settled the farm now 

owned by George W. Smith, one mile west of Otterville. The old mansion 

stands, although almost in a complete state of dilapidation, to remind the 

passer of the perishable quality of all human labor. He sleeps, with sev- 

(16) 



242 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

I 

eral other members of his once numerous family, on a gentle eminence a 
few yards south of the decayed and tottering tenement in which he spent 
many years of honest toil. 

William Sloan, the son of Alexander Sloan (mentioned in the notes 
pertaining to New Lebanon), was the last of the three mentioned above. 
He first settled the place where Charles E. Rice now lives, in 1826, but 
afterwards lived, until his death, at the place now owned by Joseph Minter. 
He was always noted for his scrupulous honor and piety. 

Elijah Hook was from Tennessee and settled near where Henry 
Bender now lives in 1827. He was a hunter and trapper and obtained a 
subsistence for his family like Nirmod, his ancient predecessor, mentioned 
in the Bible as the 'mighty hunter.' 

James Brown was a Kentuckian, a farmer, a hard working man, and 
settled where T. C. Cranmer lives in 1827. He was also a 'Nimrod', and 
hunted with Daniel Boone. 

James Davis was a Tennesseean and settled the place now known as 
the McCullough farm, in 1827. He was an industrious farmer and a great 
rail splitter. 

James Birney was a Kentuckian and married the daughter of Alex- 
ander Sloan, of New Lebanon. He was a farmer and a man of some note. 
He settled in 1827, the farm where John Harlan now lives. He had a 
grandson, Alexander, who was formerly a lawyer at Otterville. 

Frederick Shurley, the mightiest hunter in all the land round about 
Otterville, in 1827, settled the place now owned by his son, Robert Shur- 
ley, southeast of Otterville. He was with General Jackson in the Creek 
War, and was present at the memorable battle of Horse Shoe Bend, where 
the Indians, by the direction of their prophet, had made their last stand. 
He used to recount with deep interest, the thrilling incidents connected 
with this muzzle to muzzle contest, in which over half a thousand redskins 
were sent by Jackson and Coffee to their happy hunting grounds. 

Nathan Neal was a Kentuckian and settled the old place near Lamine, 
two miles north of Otterville, in 1827. He was an orderly, upright and 
industrious citizen. 

George Cranmer was born in the state of Delaware in 1801, moved to 
near Paris, Kentucky, while young, and Boonville, Missouri, in the year 
1828. He was a millwright and a very ingenious and skilful mechanic. 
He settled at Clifton in about 1832, and shortly afterwards he and James 
H. Glasgow, now living on the Petite Saline creek, built what was then 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 243 

known as Cranmer's, afterwards Corum's mill, precisely where the Mis- 
souri, Kansas and Texas railroad now crosses the Lamine. Cranmer 
named the place Clifton. The principal mechanics who helped to build 
this mill were Benjamin Gilbert, James Kirkpatrick, Nathan Garten, son- 
in-law of William Steele, Esquire, a blacksmith named John Toole, Noah 
Graham, and the renowned 'Bill' Rubey, known to almost all the old settlers 
south of the Missouri River. Cranmer lived first at the milli and after- 
wards at what was known as the John Caton place, where Thomas C. 
Cranmer was born in 1836. The old log cabin is still standing, as one of 
the few old landmarks yet visible, to remind us of the distant past. Cran- 
mer died at Michigan Bluffs, California, in 1853. 

Another man will perhaps be remembered by some of our old citizens. 
He was crazy and although harmless, used to wander about to the great 
terror of the children of those days. His name was John Hatwood. 

Clifton was once a place of remarkable notoriety. In those early 
days it was not unfrequently called the 'Devil's Half Acre.' There was a 
grocery store kept there, after the people began to manufacture poisoned 
whiskey, which had the effect of often producing little skirmishes among 
those who congregated there. It was not uncommon for those fracases 
to end in a bloody nose, a black eye, or a broken head. Happily, however, 
these broils were generally confined to a few notorious outlaws, whom 
the order-loving people would have rejoiced to know had met the fate of 
the cats of Kilkenny. 

There are many amusing incidents connected with the history of the 
place, but space forbids allusion to only one or two. A man by the name 
of Cox, who was a celebrated hunter and trapper in this neighborhood, 
was known as a dealer in tales, connected with his avocation, of a fabulous 
and Munchausen character. There is a very high bluff just below the old 
mill ; perhaps it is nearly five hundred feet high. During one of his num- 
erous hunting excursions, Matthew met with a large bear,*which, being 
slightly wounded, became terribly enraged, and attacked the hunter with 
his ugly grip before he had time to reload his rifle. This formidable con- 
test between bruin and Matthew occurred just on the verge of the fearful 
precipice above described and every struggle brought them nearer and 
nearer, until they both took the awful leap, striking and bounding against 
the projecting crags every few feet, until they reached the bottom of the 
terrible abyss. You will naturally say, 'Farewell, Matthew,' but strange 
to relate, he escaped with a few slight scratches. The bear had, fortun- 
ately for Matthew, been on the under side every time they struck, till they 



244 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

reached the bottom, when he loosed his hold of the hunter and closed his 
eyes in death. 

Matthew Cox's tales were generally much like this, almost always 
terminating favorably to himself, and fatally to his adversaries. This 
anecdote gave rise to the name 'Matthew's Bluff,' well known to everybody 
in this neighborhood. 

Sometime during the year 1832, the people of this neighborhood 
became alarmed by the report that the Osage Indians were about to attack 
and massacre all the settlers in this vicinity. This report started first by 
some means at old Luke Williams on Cold Camp creek. The people became 
almost wild with excitement. They left their plows in the fields, and 
fled precipitately in the direction of the other settlements towards Boon- 
ville. Some of them took refuge in a fort at Vincent Walker's, some at 
Sam Forbes', and others at Collin Stoneman's and Finis Ewing's. Hats 
and caps, shoes and stockings, pillows, baskets and bonnets might have 
been seen along the old military road to Boonville, lying scattered about 
in beautiful confusion all that day and the next, until the excitement had 
ceased. Fortunately the scare did not last long, as it was soon ascer- 
tained that the alarm was false, and that the Osage Indians had not only 
not contemplated a raid on the white settlements, but that they had 
actually become frightened themselves and fled south of the Osage River. 
But the panic was complete and exceedingly frightful while it lasted. A 
fellow by the name of Mike Chism lived near the Bidstrup place. Mike 
had a wife and two children. They were already preparing for a flight. 
Mike's wife was on horseback and had one child in her lap and one behind 
her and Mike was on foot. 

At this moment, a horseman came galloping up in great trepidation, 
and informed the little family that the Indians were coming by the thou- 
sands and that they were already on this side of Flat creek. 

On receiving this intelligence, Mike, in great terror, said to his wife, 
"My God, Sallie, I can't wait for you any longer', and suiting his actions 
to his words, took to his scrapers in such hot haste that at the first frantic 
jump he made, he fell at full length, bleeding and trembling on the rocks. 
But the poor fellow did not take time to rise to his feet again. He 
scrambled off on 'all fours' into the brush like some wild animal, leaving 
his wife and children to take care of themselves as best they could. He 
evidently acted upon the principle that 'It is better to be a live coward 
than a dead hero.' 

Reuben B. Harris was from Kentucky. He was a country lawyer, 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 245 

had no education, but was a man of good natural ability. He settled the 
place where Montraville Ross now lives, on Flat Creek. He settled here 
in 1827. He was also a great hunter. 

Hugh Morrison was a Kentuckian. In 1827, he settled the place 
where the widow of Henderson Finley now lives. 

John Gabriel was also from Kentucky and settled at Richland, at a 
place two and one-half miles east of Florence. He moved there at a very 
early period, in 1819, or 1820. He had a distillery, made whiskey and 
sold it to the Indians. He was a rough, miserly character, but honest in 
his dealings. He was murdered for his money in his horse lot, on his own 
plantation. He was killed by a negro man belonging to Reuben B. Harris. 
The negro was condemned and hung at Boonville. Before his execution, 
this negro confessed that he had killed Gabriel, but declared that he had 
been employed to commit the murder by Gabriel's own son-in-law, a man 
named Abner Weaver. This villain escaped punishment for the reason 
that the negro's testimony was then, by the laws of the United States, 
excluded as inadmissible. Justice, however, overtook him at last. His 
crime did not stop at the instigation of Gabriel's murder. He was after- 
ward found in possession of four stolen horses somewhere in Texas. In 
endeavoring to make his escape, he was shot from one of these horses, and 
thus ended his villainy. 

The first church erected in this neighborhood was built by the Cum- 
berland Presbyterians. It was of logs, and stood near the old graveyard. 
It was built about the year 1835. Here, for many years, this denom- 
ination annually held the old-fashioned camp-meetings, at which large 
numbers of the old citizens were wont to congregate and here many of 
them would sometimes remain for days, and even weeks, on the ground 
in camps and tents, engaged in earnest devotion. But this order of things 
and this manner of worship have long since gone into disuse. Not a 
hawk's eye could discern a single mourners track, and every vestige of 
the old church and camp have vanished like the mist before the morning 
sun and the primitive religious customs have been entirely abandoned. 

In the foregoing sketches, I have briefly glanced at the characters 
of most, in fact, nearly all of the older citizens who figured in the history 
of New Lebanon settlement, which then comprised our own township, and 
included the country between the Lamine and Flat Creek. Most of them 
belonged to a class of men which have since passed away. 

It is not my purpose to make invidious comparisons between them and 
those of the present day. It is but justice, however, to say, that with 



246 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

few exceptions, they were men of great moral worth, of true and tried 
patriotism and scrupulous integrity." 

Otterville.— "I come now to take a brief survey of matters connected 
with a later date. The town of Otterville was first called Elkton. It was 
laid out by Gideon R. Thompson, in the 1837. The first house built, stood 
where Judge Butler's now stands. The public square occupied the space 
ground now lying between Butler's and Geo. W. Smith's, extending east 
to a line running north and south, near the place where Frank Ami's 
house formerly stood. William G. Wear entered the forty acres on which 
Elkton was built, in the year 1836, and sold it to Thompson in 1837. 
About that time, H. Thompson built the first house as before stated, and 
he and George Wear built a storehouse directly east of Thompson's dwell- 
ing, and little George Wear built a dwelling house on the present site of 
Colburn's house. James Alcorn built on the north side of the square 
about the same time. 'Long' George Wear built the first house within 
the present limits of Otterville proper, where W. G. Wear's house now 
stands. 

The town of Otterville was regularly laid out by W. G. Wear in 1854, 
though several houses had been built previous to that time within its 
present limits. 

There was no postoffice at Otterville until about 1848. The mail for 
this neighborhood was supplied from Arator postoffice, kept by General 
Hogan, where Van Tromp Chilton now lives. W. G. Wear was the first 
postmaster. He held the office until 1851, when the writer of these 
sketches was appointed, who held office about ten years. The mail route 
was a special one from Arator and was carried on horseback. W. R. But- 
ler was the first contractor and employed James H. Wear, son of W. G. 
Wear, to carry the mail twice a week. The mail carrier — then a small 
boy — now one of the leading merchants of St. Louis, made the trip twice 
a week, riding a small grey pony called 'Tom', which had been bought of 
Tom Milham, who was then a well known character of the neighborhood. 
About the time the town was first established, several houses were built 
on or near the public square. 

Among these were the Masonic hall ; the dwelling house built by 
George Embree, north of the hall ; one by Samuel Wear, now occupied by 
John D. Strain ; one by Harrison Homan, in which he now lives ; and about 
this time Robert M. Taylor built an addition to the Taylor house. The 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 247 

brick store house known as the Cannon & Zollinger store house, was not 
built until about the year 1856. 

The Masonic lodge, called Pleasant Grove Lodge No. 142, A. F. and A. 
M., was established on the 15th day of July, A. D., 1854, A. L. 5854. The 
dispensation was granted by the M. W. G. M., of Missouri, L. S. Cornwell, 
on the 6th day of November, 1854. This dispensation was granted to the 
following named persons : Wm. E. Combs, Harrison Homan, S. H. Saund- 
ers, Wm. Devine, Tarleton E. Cox, Strawther O'Rourke, Moses B. Small, 
Aaron Hup, Wm. A. Reed, Wm. R. Butler, Robt. M. Taylor, and George W. 
Embree. The charter was granted May 31, 1855, and signed by L. S. 
Cornwell, G. M., Oscar F. Potter, D. G. M. ; J. W. Chenoweth, D. G. E. ; 
Henry Van Odell, J. G. W. The first officers were as follows : S H. Saund- 
ers, W. M. ; Aaron Hupp, S. W. ; H. Homan, J. W. ; R. M. Taylor, treasurer ; 
W. R. Butler, secretary ; George W. Embree, S. D. ; Strother O'Rourk, J. 
W., and R. J. Buchanan, tyler. 

The Odd Fellows lodge was established in October, 1856, under the 
name of the Otterville Lodge No. 102, I. 0. 0. F. 

The first officers were as follows : W. G. Wear, N. G. ; H. A. B. 
Johnston, V. G. ; Samuel M. Homan, secretary, and John S. Johnston, 
treasurer. 

The present Cumberland Presbyterian church was built by Milton 
Starke, in the year 1857. 

The old Presbyterian church was built by John D. Strain, in 1866, 
and is now owned by the Baptists. 

The Mehtodists and Christian churches were built about the same 
time, in the year 1872. The former was built by M. C. White, and the 
latter by T. C. Cranmer and T. M. Travillian. They are both neat brick 
buildings, and an ornament to our village. 

The public school building was erected in 1869, costing $6,000. 

The Pacific railroad was completed to Otterville from St. Louis in 
1860, and this place for a short time became the terminus. Whilst the 
road remained here, and in fact for a long time previous, Otterville com- 
manded quite a brisk trade, presenting a very active and business-like 
appearance, and, indeed, for a time it flourished like a "green bay tree." 
But it was not destined to enjoy this prosperity long. The railroad com- 
pany soon pulled up its stakes and transferred its terminus to the then 
insignificant village of Sedalia, which, -at that time, being in its infancy, 



248 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

had scarcely been christened ; but, though young, it rose like magic from 
the bosom of the beautiful prairie, and in a few years Sedalia became the 
county seat of one of the richest counties in the state, and a great railroad 
centre, while truth compels me to say that Otterville sank back into its 
original obscurity. 

The town of Otterville was incorporated by an act of the Legislature 
of Missouri, on the 16th day of Feb., 1857. 

About the year 1860, for a short period, a considerable wholesale 
business was done here. Among the wholesale establishments were the 
following: W. G. Wear and Son; Cloney, Crawford & Co., from Jefferson 
City ; Clark & Reed ; Concannon ; The Robert Brothers ; Lohman & Co., 
etc., etc. 

About this time the Mansion house was built by a man named Pork, 
the Embree house by George Embree and Chris. Harlan. The latter was 
quite a large hotel near the depot, and was afterwards moved to Sedalia 
by George R. Smith, and about the same time several houses were moved 
by different parties to that place. There was, after this time, a consider- 
able business done in a retail way around the old public square. Among 
the most prominent merchants here were W. G. Wear & Son, and Cannon 
& Zollinger, who carried on a large and profitable trade for many years. 

But having already extended these notes far beyond what I had first 
anticipated, I am admonished to close them rather abruptly, lest they 
become wearisome. They were prepared at a very short notice, and might 
have been made more interesting had sufficient time been given the writer 
to arrange them with some regard to order. 

I hope that due allowances will be made by an appreciative public for 
this defect in this hastily-written memorandum. 

In conclusion, I will take occasion to say, that one hundred years ago, 
where we meet now to rejoice together at the happy coming of our first 
centennial, this part of Cooper County, nay, even Cooper County itself, 
was a howling wilderness. The hungry wolf and bear; the elk and the 
antelope; the wild deer and the buffalo roamed about undisturbed, save 
by the feeble arrows of the red man. 

Today, through the little village of Otterville, within a very few yards 
of this spot, a double band of iron, stretching from the Atlantic to the 
Pacific, connects San Francisco with the city of New York. Over these 
lines of metal rails ponderous trains are almost continuously passing to 
and fro, freighted with innumerable articles of the rich merchandise of 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 249 

the east ; the varied productions of the west ; the teas and silks of China ; 
the silver of Arizona, and the gold of California. 

Otterville contains at this time about four hundred population. It 
has three general stores, one hardware and grocery store, two drug stores, 
one confectionery, one furniture store, two blacksmith shops, one saloon, 
two hotels, four churches, one school." 

The town of Otterville at this time has a population of 500. It has 
two banks with a capital stock of $30,000, a good system of schools with 
an enrollment of 160 and eight teachers. It has five churches, electric 
lights system, twelve stores, one hotel, lumber yard, one newspaper, two 
blacksmith shops, and one elevator company. While Otterville has not 
grown rapidly in population, it is and has been substantial through the 
years and its population is made up of an excellent citizenship. 

The inauguration of rural delivery has a tendency to decrease the 
number of postoffices and there are not so many in Cooper County now as 
there were several years ago. The following are a list of the postoffices 
as they exist today: Boonville, Billingsville, Blackwater, Bunceton, Clif- 
ton City, Lamine, Otterville, Overton, Pilot Grove, Pleasant Green, Prairie 
Home, Speed, Vermont, Wooldridge. 



CHAPTER XVI. 



SCHOOLS. 



PIONEER SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS, FIRST SCHOOLS IN COOPER COUNTY — DAVIS 
SCHOOL-COOPER COUNTY SCHOOLS— BOONVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS— SCHOOL 
I >l RECTORS— SUPERINTENDENTS— FACULTY— SUMMER S C H O O L— CATHOLIC 
SCHOOL— COOPER COUNTY INSTITUTE— OTTERVILLE ACADEMY— McGUIRE 
SEMINARY— KEMPER MILITARY SCHOOL— PILOT GROVE COLLEGIATE INSTI- 
TUTE. 

The history of the schools of Cooper County would be the history of 
its people. For whenever and wherever Americans have been thrown 
together there has invariably been a school established. The first schools 
of Cooper County were rude, crude affairs, with dirt floors and split log 
benches. And the teachers were picturesque characters who were pos- 
sessed with more cunning than brains, and preferred this easy method of 
eking out a precarious existence to one of hardship and toil incident to 
the work in the frontier country. The teacher "boarded out" among the 
families lie served and received as wage often as much as ten or fifteen 
dollars per month which was collected as tuition. All schools prior to the 
year 1839 were strictly private affairs, since it was not until this year 
that any adequate provision was made by the state for the establishment 
of public schools. At this time the common school fund, the county 
school fund, and the township school fund were constituted, by legislative 
enactment, and the money derived from the sale of the sixteenth section 
to be invested and the proceeds be used for the advancement of the public 
schools of the state was again reaffirmed. 

The first school in the present limits of Cooper County was taught by 
John Savage in the year 1813, about one mile east of Boonville, on Lilly's 
Branch. There were fifteen pupils, as follows: Benjamin, Delany and 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 251 

William Bolin, Hiram and William Savage, Hess and William Warden, John 
and William Yarnall, John and William Jolly, Joseph and William Scott, 
John and William Rup'e. John and William seem to have been choice 
names for boys in this early day, and unless girls were named John and 
William they were evidently in the minority at this time or else their 
education was neglected. The pupils sat upon one log in the open air and 
the teacher upon another log facing his pupils. The tuition was one dol- 
lar per month, payable in anything the settler had that was worth one 
dollar. This school continued only one month. Fear of an attack by the 
Indians who commenced a series of depredations about this time caused 
the settlers to keep their children under the protecting walls of the fort. 
During the period from 1813 to 1820 Judge Abiel Leonard, William H. 
Moore, Dr. Edward Lawton looked after the education of the boys and 
girls of the early settlers of Boonville. The first school house in Boonville 
was a brick building located near the residence of Dr. M. McCoy. 

In the early schools of Cooper County the subjects taught were read- 
ing, writing, arithmetic, geography and English grammar, their import- 
ance indicated by the order in which they are enumerated. 

As the population increased and the desire for more and better facil- 
ities for education became general, the academy grew up in answer to 
the demand for "higher education". The academy that flourished in Mis- 
souri from 1820 to 1890 was an outgrowth of the old English grammar 
school that very early put in its appearance in New England embellished 
with the ideas that permeated the "Aristocratic" private schools of the 
south prior to the Civil War, notably those that flourished in Virginia 
and Kentucky. 

Among the early schools of Cooper County outside of Boonville was 
a subscription school taught by Henry Severns. It met in an old log 
house which was located across the road from whei-e the home of Mr. R. S. 
Roe, of the Bell Air neighborhood, is now located. This school was main- 
tained during the early forties, and prospered until the public school of 
Bell Air was established. It is asserted, on good authority, that Prof. 
Severns' salary was sixty-five dollars, but whether this means for the 
month or for the year I have found it impossible to ascertain. 

The following history of the Davis school is typical of many schools 
in Cooper County. 

Davis School.— By D. R. Culley.— "Prior to the close of the Civil War 
no public school organization existed as we now have it in this district. 

The people in this and adjoining territory had emigrated largely 



252 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

fiom the states of Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee, bringing with them 
the educational plans that prevailed in those states. 

A teacher desiring a school would canvass a neighborhood and have 
the parents subscribe so many pupils for a specified term at so much per 
month. Hence, schools were then known in the country as subscription 
schools. 

About the year 1854 the Baptists erected a church building about a 
mile southwest of the present school building and some two miles east of 
Vermont. It was built in the southeast corner of the farm now owned 
and occupied by W. H. H. Rowles and family. This was known as Hope- 
well Baptist Church and was used for both church and school purposes. 
It was a typical building of those days. It was built of hewed walnut logs 
and was about twenty feet square; there was a small window in the mid- 
dle of the east wall and one in the west wall; batten doors were in the 
middle of the north and south sides ; a high, home made pulpit in the west 
end, and home made benches fronting west. It was here that the resi- 
dents of the community and those for miles around congregated once a 
month, in large numbers, to get the news as well as to hear the preacher. 
Whole families were present and the good ladies served dinners that could 
not be surpassed anywhere. 

During the year 1859, the citizens erected a good, modern building 
about three-quarters of a mile to the west and a mile east of Vermont. 
This was known as Vermont Academy. D. R. Culley was employed as 
teacher for a term of ten months at a salary of $60.00 per month. 

This was probably the first time a teacher was employed in this dis- 
trict at a fixed salary. This school continued for five years when condi- 
tions growing out of the Civil War caused many families to move else- 
where and the community as known prior to 1860 was almost entirely 
broken up. 

In the fall of the year 1858, D. R. Culley opened a school in the church 
building and it was intended to serve the purpose of an academy as well 
as to meet the demands of what would now be termed the graded course 
in our district schools. The term continued for ten months. The larger 
boys attended for the full term and were not taken out of school as now, 
to assist with the farm work. It was also observed that the pupils were 
more advanced in years than now. There were no grades. If a pupil 
could make two grades during the term well and good, and many of the 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY £06 

pupils did this ; no pupil was held back on account of the weakness or 
slowness of others. 

The first year of school closed with oral examinations and an address 
by Prof. John W. Sutherland of Boonville. 

Pupils from other counties came here and boarded with families near 
by. Young men walked a distance of four or five miles and of those now 
living are our best and most prominent citizens. The late Rev. A. E. 
Rogers, D. D., attended this school for three years and he often remarked, 
that it was here that he received the best training that which was of the 
most worth in after life. 

Rev. Rockwell Smith, D. D., for many years a missionary to Brazil, 
was an unusually bright young man who began his literary career here. 
Those who in after life became bankers, civil officers, financiers, the best 
of farmers and the best and most useful citizens as well, received their 
early school training here. 

After the close of the Civil War, the regular organization of what 
is now termed our public school system as observed in our district schools, 
took place." 

A subscription school was maintained before the war, in the Green- 
wood district, in a small house erected by Mrs. William Guyer for a Meth- 
odist church. It was used as school and church both until it burned sev- 
eral years later. Pisgah was formerly a part of the Greenwood district. 
About 1887 an effort was made to divide the district. The Pisgah people 
insisted that they did not want to send their children to Greenwood because 
the children carried ticks, and the Greenwood vicinity came back at them 
with the argument that the Pisgah children had fleas. The fight between 
the factions became so heated that in the latter part of the year 1887 the 
district was divided. This shows the length to which neighborhood quar- 
rels may be carried. 

There were enumerated in the Cooper County schools for the year 
ending June 30, 1918, 4,307 white children and 741 colored, a grand total 
of 5,048. The enrollment shows a total of 3,802 white pupils and 651 
colored. These pupils attended school 439,673 days, and there was spent 
on them during the year $100,230, of which $71,921.51 was spent for 
teachers' wages, $16,176.32 for incidentals, and $12,132.17 for building 
purposes. 

The assessed valuation of taxable property was $11,556,679 and the 



254 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 



average levy for school purposes was 57 cents on $100 valuation. In the 
spring of 1918 there were 203 pupils finishing the common school course 
of study, and there were all told throughout the county 141 teachers in 
the public schools, teaching in 76 districts. The average salary of these 
teachers was $67 per month. 

Although Missouri ranks thirty-second in the matter of education 
and although little progress has been made in the rural schools in the 
state as a whole, Cooper County, however, has made marked progress in 
the building up of a system of up-to-date school with modern buildings 
and competent teachers. 

It has been said that should a Rip Van Winkle wake up in a modern 
barn he would realize that he had slept 150 years, but should his waking 
take place in the average Missouri rural school he would turn over to 
finish his nap. Be this as it may. Cooper County is fast forging to the 
front among the counties of Missouri in the matter of efficient rural 
schools and when this spirit of improvement and progress permeates the 
whole of its citizenship, Cooper County schools through the generosity 
of its people and because of their pride in the boys and girls, will be made 
the best possible, and the rural community will offer to its children the 
same advantages now enjoyed by the city children. 

COOPER COUNTY SCHOOLS 1918-19. 



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Name of District <u as 

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District Clerk 


P. O. Address 


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Overton 15 

Woodland 32 

Bluffton 12 



Westwood 

Clear Spring 

Locust Grove_. 
Pleasant Grove. 



8 Oakwood 



9 
17 
33 

18 
2 



40,083 Chas. Windsor Overton 

109,438 B. J. Boillott Boonville R. D. 

96,976 J. B. Hickam Boonville R. F. D. 

52,589 H. E. Fuser Boonville R. F. D. 

108,200 A. H. Moehle Boonville R. F. D. 

125,200 J. H. Turley Lamine 

160,275 G. R. Kelly Blackwater 

91,275 E. R. Schuster Blackwater 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 



Zoo 



9 Oakwood No. 2_ 21 105,025 

10 Willow Grove__ 15 97,400 

11 Sappington ___ 000 8,575 

12 Cotton Patch__ 18 109,678 

13 Shackleford ___ 15 39,227 

14 Buffalo Prairie. 16 100,875 

15 Franklin 9 48,073 

16 Peninsula 15 57,438 

17 Becker 19 44,550 

18 Chouteau 36 68,225 

19 Simmons 12 71,600 

20 Prairie View— 22 109,875 

21 Hickory Grove. 21 83,946 

22 Billingsville ___ 13 126,700 

23 Mt. Sinai 7 119,810 

24 Stony Point ___ 9 68,524 

25 Concord 18 111,450 

26 Crab Orchard. _ 19 122,006 

27 Hail Ridge 15 88,460 

28 Pleasant Valley 12 42,361 

29 Fair View 17 62,287 

30 Oak Grove 28 91,963 

31 Highland 16 105,164 

32 Lowland 13 44,683 

34 Woolridge 64 104,780 

35 Liberty 17 116,925 

42 Washington ___ 23 115,558 

44 Lone Grove 5 183,613 

45 Lone Elm 14 160,125 

46 Independence . 15 60,610 

47 Palestine 43 111,318 

48 Bell Air 32 191,575 

49 Mt. Nebo 18 136,205 

50 Cottonwood ___ 18 53,576 

51 Oakland 13 97,225 

52 Mt. Vernon 14 65,125 

53 Harriston 11 83,775 

54 Pleasant Green_ 33 89,500 

55 Reinhardt 15 70,750 



Jesse Kincheloe Blackwater 

J. Roy Jeffress Blackwater 

Noland Taylor Nelson 

C. W. Racy Nelson 

Chas. McLaughlin Nelson 

Louis N. Hoff Pilot Grove 

W. B. Kella Blackwater 

A. H. Alley Blackwater 

A. H. Hartman Pilot Grove 

H. E. Brownfield Pilot Grove 

A. W. Tally Pilot Grove 

L. M. Immele Boonville R. F. D. 

M. C. Johnmeyer_ _Boonville R. F. D. 
A. S. Chamberlain__Boonville R. F. D. 

M. R. Sloan Boonville R. F. D. 

W. A. Whitehurse Speed R. F. D. 

Clark E. Bower Boonville R. F. D. 

J. P. Reiser Boonville R. F. D. 

T. B. Robertson___Boonville R. F. D. 

L. M. Swarner Boonville R. F. D. 

Theo. Lebbing Boonville R. F. D. 

T. H. Swanstone. .Boonville R. F. D. 

Clay Groom Boonville R. F. D. 

Lee Eager Woolridge 

F. B. Hopkins Woolridge 

H. H. Warmbrodt Woolridge 

E. L. Shirley Boonville R. F. D. 

Walter Toellner_._Bunceton R. F. D. 

F. H. Muntzel Boonville R. F. D. 

Geo. Chamberlin__Boonville R. F. D. 

Wm. Walje Speed 

Chas. P. Mitzel Bunceton 

R. E. Downing Pilot Grove 

John Dwyer Pilot Grove 

H. J. Meyer Boonville R. F. D. 

E. E. Tavenner__Pilot Grove R. F. D. 

W. A. Straub Pleasant Green 

J. S. Parrish Pleasant Green 

Frank Clevorn Pleasant Green 



256 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 



56 Oakland 10 81,862 

57 Vollmer 14 93,455 

104 Lamine 36 28,650 

59 Clifton City___ 42 113,963 

62 Rockland 20 30,126 

63 Oak Hill 22 76,408 

64 Lebanon 27 51,972 

65 Mt. Zion 18 72,500 

66 West Fork 7 106,375 

67 Bethlehem 20 134,941 

68 Gillroy 19 108,794 

69 Glendale 21 98,925 

70 Franklin 000 132,986 

71 Davis 15 139,850 

72 Baxter 27 73,688 

73 Dick's Mill 28 29,313 

74 Keener 15 34,539 

78 Whitlinger 15 30,638 

79 Felder 23 46,482 

80 Martin 000 8,150 

81 Mt. Pleasant... 15 31,677 

82 Gill 15 35,988 

83 Cross Roads___ 000 24,675 

84 Excelsior 000 24,600 

85 Lone Elm 15 41,550 

87 Byberry 15 441,172 

(1) Consolidated __ 98 509,387 

(2) Consolidated __ 195 378,490 

(3) Consolidated __ 150 459,366 

Boonville 556 2,255,613 

Bunceton 176 457,820 

Pilot Grove 108 358,700 

Blackwater ___ 111 302,605 



P. G. Meisenheimer_ -Pleasant Green 

Frank Vollmer Pleasant Green 

G. H. Bidstrup Beaman 

J. E. Potter, Jr Clifton City 

G. W. Tomlinson Bunceton 

S. L. Willis Pleasant Green 

C. L. Thomas Bunceton 

A. A. Strickfadden_Otterville R. F. D. 
J. S. Funkhouser Bunceton 

D. C. Grove Otterville 

R. E. Hutchison Syracuse R. F. D. 

Elmer Fry Tipton R. F. D. 

F. C. Betteridge Bunceton 

Ben M. Draff en Bunceton R. F. D. 

A. N. Pedego Tipton R. F. D. 

J. B. Hodges Bunceton R. F. D. 

F. D. Williams Clarksburg 

Luther Moore Clarksburg 

E. J. Roedel Jamestown R. F. D. 

A. F. Zey California R. F. D. 

Wm. Hess Clarksburg 

J. A. Birdsong Clarksburg 

L. J. Stephens Clarksburg 

Stephen H. Martin Tipton 

P. J. Knipp Tipton 

A. L. Gochenour Byberry 

T. W. Howard Bunceton 

J. L. Spillers Otterville 

Wm. H. Byler Prairie Home 

Wm. Mittlebach Boonville 

G. H. Meeker Bunceton 

Otto Kistenmacher Pilot Grove 

C. Q. Shouse Blackwater 



The Public Schools of Boonville.— The Missouri Legislature during 
its session passed March 12, 1867 an act authorizing cities, towns, and vil- 
lages to organize for school purposes. On the 29th of the same month 
the following notice was issued: 




R. F. W VAN'S RESIDENT E 




MAIN STREET. HOOXEYIEEE 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 257 

"The undersigned resident free holders of the city of Boonville re- 
quest an election of the qualified voters of said city at the mayor's office 
on Tuesday, April 9, 1867, to determine whether they will accept the pro- 
visions of an act authorizing any city, town or village to organize for 
school purposes, with special privileges, approved March 16, 1867 ; and 
organize said city in accordance therewith. — C. W. Sombart, H. L. Wallace 
John Bernard, Thos. Plant, J. L. Stephens, Nicholas Walz, Stephen Weber, 
J. P. Neef, Jacob Zimmer, E. Roeschel, J. F. Gmelich, John Fetzer. 

The election was held April 9, 1867, at which 30 votes were cast, 29 
for and one against organization for school purposes. On the 23d of the 
same month the following citizens were elected to constitute the Board 
of Education: Jos. L. Stephens, Jos. A. Eppstein, C. W. Sonbart, John 
Bernard, H. A. Hutchison, Franklin Swap. 

The schools were opened Sep. 23, 1867, with Joseph C. Mason, prin- 
cipal, and Mrs. Clara Atkinson, Mrs. Mary E. Schaefer, and Miss M. E. 
McKee, assistants in the school for white children, and S. G. Bundy and 
wife teachers in that for colored pupils. 

A building 22x60 feet and located on Sixth street was purchased of C. 
H. Allison for $5,250, and used as a school for white children. 

The enrollment during the first year was as follows: White chil- 
dren, 377 ; colored, 199 ; a total of 576. But the average attendance of 
white children was only 207, and of the colored only 77 — making a total 
average attendance of only 284. It is interesting to note that the enum- 
eration at this time was 1,302. 

Two wings were added to the original building in 1870, which con- 
stitute the north and south wings of the building at the present time. 
In 1896 the original center of the building was torn down and a new 
center erected. 

The high school from this time on developed rapidly and soon out- 
grew the cramped quarters afforded at the Central school. So a special 
election was held March 2, 1914 and $65,000 voted for the erection of a 
modern high school building, 587 votes being cast for and 219 against the 
bond issues. The new building was completed Sept. 1, 1915 at a cost 
(including furniture and equipment) of about $85,000 and is recognized as 
one of the finest in the state. The building was named "The Laura Speed 
Elliott High School" in honor of and as a memorial to the deceased wife 
of Col. Jno. S. Elliott who presented to the Board of Education and through 
them to the citizens of Boonville the site on which the building stands. 
(17) 



258 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

The lot was valued at $10,000 and is an ideal location for such a building. 

The Laura Speed Elliott High School building consists of 25 rooms 
including auditorium, gymnasium, library, cooking room, sewing room, 
commercial department, laboratories, class rooms and offices. It has 
modern heating, ventilating and lighting systems, and is used by various 
organizations as a community center. 

Following the modern trend in education, Boonville is adapting the 
curriculum of her schools to meet the twentieth century demands. Courses 
that have been added in recent years are agriculture, bookkeeping, type- 
writing, stenography, cooking, sewing, general science, teacher-training, 
Spanish, French and vocational home economics. 

The trend in education is away from the strictly classical course to 
the more practical, but none the less cultural, semi-vocational course, 
which has for its aim the making of better citizens, better able to take 
their place in the complex modern society and earn an honest living. If 
the school does not develop better men and women, a higher type of 
citizen, out of the material it takes in, then it is a failure. 

Modern education looks to the development of a healthy body along 
with a trained mind. Too often in the past we have ignored the health 
of the child in our endeavor to educate him, as a result the present genera- 
tion is only about sixty per cent, efficient physically. A large share of 
the blame for this condition must be assumed by the schools. 

Statistics obtained by the army in the recent draft show that prac- 
tically one-third of the young men were physically inferior and that 
seventy-five per cent, of this inferiority could have been overcome had 
the right training been administered at the proper time. The schools, 
therefore, must wake up to the necessity for adequate physical training, 
which is of even more importance than mental training. Because the first 
requisite for a sound mind is a sound body. Mental development at the 
expense of physical well-being is not only undesirable but nonsensical. 
Physical training in the school need not interfere with mental training 
but should rather supplement it. The universal criticism of athletics in 
the past has been that it is administered to the five per cent, rather than 
the hundred per cent. In the modern school the health of the pupil is of 
first considei-ation and each is given the training best calculated to fit 
him for a vigorous, healthy, successful life. 

Thus have the Boonville schools developed through the years, until 
today we have a system that ranks among the best in the state, and of 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 259 

which we are justly proud. It may be of interest to review the list of 
citizens who have served on the Board of Education, and the superin- 
tendents who have come and gone. 

School Directors from 1867-1919.— Jos. L. Stephens, 1867-1881 ; Jos. 
A. Eppstein, 1867-1870; C. W. Sombart, 1867-1895; John Bernard, 1867- 
1882; H. A. Hutchison, 1867-1870; Franklin Swap, 1867-1881; John Fet- 
zer, 1870-1873 ; John O'Brien, 1870-1873 ; John B. Holman, 1871-1881 ; J. 
F. Gmelich, 1873-1876; George Sahm, 1876-1879; E. Roeschal, 1877-1895; 
D. D. Miles, 1880-1884; C. H. Brewster, 1881-1882; John N. Gott, 1881- 
1882 ; Sam Acton, 1882-1885 ; W. W. Taliaferro, 1882-1894 ; John Cosgrove, 
1882-1884; W. Speed Stephens, 1884-1917; Chas. J. Burger, 1884-1887; 
S. H. Stephens, 1885-1894 ; *R. W. Whitlow, 1887-1919 ; *Wm. Mittlebach, 
1894-1919 ; W. A. Smiley, 1894-1897; J. T. McClanahan, 1895-1898 ; Richard 
Hadelich, 1895-1898 ; C. P. Gott, 1897-1903 ; R. L. Moore, 1898-1904 ; Win. 
Gibbons, 1898-1901; C. C. Bell, 1901-1904; *Wm. F. Johnson, 1903-1919; F. 
R. Smiley, 1904-1913; John C. Pigott, 1904-1913; *M. E. Schmidt, 1913- 
1919; T. F. Waltz, 1913-1916; John Cosgrove, 1916-1919; A. C. Jacobs, 
1917-1918; *Wm. B. Talbott, 1918-1919. 

*Still members of the board. 

Superintendents, Boonville Public Schools From 1867-1919.— J. C. 
Mason, 1867, 1868, 1870; E. A. Angell, 1869; R. P. Rider, 1871, 1872; Wm. 
A. Smiley, 1873; S. H. Blewett, 1874-1875; R. R. Rogers, 1876; D. A. 
McMillan, 1877-1883 ; H. T. Norton, 1883 ; G. W. Smith, 1884-1889 ; F. W. 
Ploger, 1889-1895 ; D. T. Gentry, 1895-1899 ; W. A. Annin, 1899-1903 ; M. 
A. O'Rear, 1903-1913; C. E. Chrane, 1913-1919. 

The high school enrollment during the past year was 204. This is 
a 15 per cent, increase over the year previous. Sixty-four of these pupils 
were from the rural districts. 

There were enumerated in the Boonville school district May 1, 1919, 
795 white children and 194 colored— a total of 989, and the total enroll- 
ment during the school year was 728. 

The Boonville Board of Education employs 23 teachers to run its 
schools. The faculty for the coming year 1919-20 is as follows : 

High School Faculty.— C. E. Chrane, superintendent; E. H. Johnson, 
Principal High School, Science; Edna Ginn, History; Alberta Cowden. 
Home Economics; Helen Dauwalter, Latin, Mathematics; Grace Graves, 
teacher-training; Pauline Holloway, English; Leota Moser, French, Music; 
Mildred Amick, Commercial. 



260 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Grade School Faculty. — Emma Stegner, principal, 7, 8 grades, Vergna 
Hopkins, Gladys Brown, Lilia Dritt, Emmorie Holtman, Hazel Moore, 
Helen Gantner, Elizabeth Hayden, Dora Hennicke, Elizabeth Varnum. 

Sumner School, Boonville. — The Sumner school for colored children 
was established in 1868 and has been open continuously since that time at 
the corner of Fourth and Spruce streets. 

The following statistics that are taken from the 1910 census of the 
United States will give some idea of the effectiveness of the work of this 
school. 

The census of 1910 gives the colored population of Boonville, 910. 
The number of illiterate is given as 124, which shows that illiteracy among 
the colored people in our city has been reduced from 100 per cent, in 1869 
to less than 12 per cent in 1910. 

Following the same line of investigation, the Boonville colored people 
compare favorably with those of the other cities and towns of the state. 

The motto of the school is "Grow or Go," and every one is so busy 
that the loafer or laggard so inbibes the spirit of work from the atmos- 
phere surrounding him, that sooner or later he takes up the work with a 
hearty good will. 

All children old enough to help the family and themselves are encour- 
aged to work outside of school hours, because it is found that the child 
who is kept busy makes a better scholar than the loafer or idler. In 
other words, it is more of a help than a handicap to be forced to work. 

The Sumner High School was established in 1884. The first pupil 
graduated in 1886. This pupil afterwards attended Oberlin College and is 
now one of the prominent teachers in the state. Since this time some 
thirty-eight classes have finished the two-year high school course. 

More than 50 per cent, have gone to the higher institutions of learn- 
ing, where they finished courses in medicine, law, pharmacy, nurse-train- 
ing, teaching, theology, engineering, commercial business course, etc. But 
one of the greatest benefits has been received by the rank and file of the 
race, as shown by the improved conditions of the colored people of our 
city. 

The number of taxpayers has increased from none in 1869 to 161 at 
present; besides, the colored people own two good churches, two parson- 
ages and one lodge hall valued at $5,000. 

A new six-room building, modern in every respect, was completed in 
1916. Courses in cooking, sewing and manual training have been added 
to the curriculum. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 261 

Faculty of School. — C. G. Williams, principal ; Ida Hill, Millie Proctor, 
Josie E. Williams. 

Catholic Parochial School, Boonville, 1848. — The Catholic church was 
built in Boonville in the year 1848, and the school was started soon there- 
after. It is an elementary school teaching only the first eight grades of 
school work. Examinations are given twice each year by the priest. 
There are at the present time two teachers and one housekeeper in charge 
of the school, and they have sixty-seven pupils enrolled. 

Cooper County Institute, 1863. — The Cooper County Institute was 
established at Boonville in 1863, by the Reverend X. X. Buckner, a Baptist 
minister. It was sold in 1865 to Q. W. Marston who had charge of it until 
the year 1868. It was discontinued from 1868 to 1870 at which time 
Professor Anthony Haynes took charge and. moved it to a suite of rooms 
over the Stephen's Opera House. Later it was moved to the building now 
known as the Quinly apartments. In addition to the conducting of a suc- 
cessful day school Professor Haynes had a boarding department which 
proved very popular to the people of Cooper County who were at a distance 
from Boonville and out of touch with educational advantages. The school 
was maintained until the year 1877 when Professor Haynes was forced 
to give up his chosen work on account of ill health. 

Prairie Home Institute was founded at Prairie Home in 1865 by Rev. 
A. H. Misseline. In the fall of 1869 it was sold to the public school dis- 
trict by Washington A. Johnston. In May, 1871, it was converted into a 
co-educational boarding school. The building with its contents was 
destroyed by fire in 1874. A new building was substituted for the old and 
school reopened April, 1875, and continued until 1880. After 1880 the 
school had a precarious existence, being alternately opened and closed, 
and was finally forced to close altogether a few years later. 

The Otterville Academy was organized in the year 1891. Prof. Wm. 
Curlin was employed as the first principal. He stayed with the school 
two years. The school closed in 1907. 

McGuire Seminary was established in Boonville, Mo., in 1892, 
by Mrs. Julia McGuire. This was a very select school for young ladies 
and offered an exceedingly fine course in music. Mrs. McGuire died in 
1902. Mrs. Roller took charge of the school and attempted to keep it up 
to its former high standard of excellence and enrollment, and she suc- 
ceeded until 1905, when discouraged because of the lack of interest that 
was manifest in private schools and academies, generally, at this time, 
it was closed. 



262 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Kemper Military Schools. — This large enterprise and distinguished 
school, like all other affairs worthy of growth and development, had a 
small and humble beginning. In 1844, Professor F. T. Kemper located 
in Boonville and started a private school which in the course of years 
became known as the Kemper Family School. This school opened with 
but five students, only one of whom, D. C. Mack, was a Boonville boy. 
The school was conducted in a humble frame building that stood on the 
corner of Morgan and Spring streets, on the present site of the Citizen's 
Trust Company building. A little frame house situated a little farther 
west was the residence of the school family and another small house 
served as an office to piece out the scanty accommodations. 

Mr. Kemper did all the instructing himself and by the end of the year 
the enrollment of students had increased to 35 and a portion of the second 
story of the building now known as the Green Hotel was secured for the 
school. The next year a location for a permanent home for the school was 
secured where it and its famed successor, the Kemper Military School, has 
ever since remained. Professor Kemper was a ripe scholai% an elegant 
gentleman, and possessed of a strong personality which he impressed upon 
his pupils. During the years the Kemper Family School became noted 
for its discipline and thoroughness. Soon after founding the school, 
Kemper associated with himself the brothers Tyre C. and James B. Harris. 
This association, however, continued but a short time. In the early his- 
tory of the school there were also associated with Kemper, James and 
John Chandler, William and Roberdeau Allison and J. A. Quarrels; and 
again during the Civil War the school was under the joint management 
of Mr. Kemper and Edwin Taylor, brother of Mrs. Kemper. During the 
years from 1867 to 1868, Mr. R. Allison was associated in the manage- 
ment. It was in the year 1867 that T. A. Johnston, now the superintendent 
of the Kemper Military School, entered this family school as a student and 
continued thus until 1871 when he entered the State University of Mis- 
souri where in 1872 he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts, later 
receiving the degree of Master of Arts, and at once returned to Boonville 
and became associate principal of the Kemper Family School. The man- 
agement of the school was thus continued until the death of Professor 
Kemper in 1881. The school then passed to the management and control 
of T. A. Johnston and continued under this management to prosper with 
an ever widening patronage. Yet its growth was not phenomenal as has 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 263 

been that of the Kemper Military School. From 1865 until 1890, 50 was 
the average enrollment. Col. T. A. Johnston with a far sighted vision 
realized the changing conditions, and gradually converted the institution 
into what now is known throughout the length and breadth of the land 
as the "Kemper Military School." It was not until 1904 that the enroll- 
ment of 100 was reached, and in 1909, 150 students appeared at Kemper 
while in 1916 saw an enrollment of 217 ; and this year, 1919, a total enroll- 
ment of 527. The Kemper Military School represents an investment of 
half a million dollars. It occupies 30 acres of ground and has five modern 
barracks, two study halls, an auditorium that will seat 500, a gymnasium, 
library, manuel training and machine shops and employs 29 teachers and 
officers. For the last five years it has been among the 10 Honor Military 
Schools of the United States and this year ranks second among the 10, 
and is the first in rank of the military schools west of the Mississippi 
River. 

The Pilot Grove Collegiate Institute is but a memory, dear to the 
students and instructors who once occupied and spent pleasant and in- 
structive days within its walls. This institution had its beginning in the 
establishment of a private school by the Rev. Geo. Eichelberger, in 1878 
in a two story frame building located where are now the residences of 
J. A. Thompson and R. A. Harriman, in the city of Pilot Grove, Missouri. 
In 1879, Prof. Charles Newton Johnson organized a company and pur- 
chased this building from Mr. Eichelberger. He had associated with him 
his mother, Mrs. C. B. Johnson, and the school flourished from the begin- 
ning. It was chartered in 1881 as the Pilot Grove Collegiate Institute 
and during this year he had also associated with him W. F. Johnson, the 
author of this volume. Prof. Chas. N. Johnson died in the summer of 
1882. The management of the school then fell into the hands of Prof. 
Chas. B. Johnson (the father of C. N. and W. F. Johnson) and W. F. John- 
son and under this management it was continued until 1887, or 1888 in- 
creasing in enrollment year by year. 

At this time Prof. Chas. Foster and D. L. Roe purchased and became 
the proprietors of the school and conducted the same for several years 
when Prof. Foster retired and Prof. Roe continued the management. 
Prof. Roe was eventually succeeded by Prof. Taylor and he in turn by 
Prof. Buckmeister who conducted a private school in the college building 
for two or three years when he gave up teaching. The property has been 



264 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

recently wrecked and two residences built upon the site of the old institu- 
tion. 

This school drew its patronage not only from many counties in the 
state but from other states especially Kentucky and Tennessee and had 
pupils from a distance varying 1 from sixty-five to eighty and an enroll- 
ment in all averaging from 150 to 175 pupils. 



CHAPTER XVII. 



CHURCHES. 



BAPTIST — METHODIST — PRESBYTERIAN— CHRISTIAN— GERMAN EVANGELICAL- 
LUTHERAN— EPISCOPAL— CATHOLIC. 

Churches have ever been established coincident with settlement, and 
the pioneer considered his church of primary importance. In that early 
day, 

"A church in every grove that spread 
A living roof above their heads," 
formed their only place of worship and to them, 

"No temple built with hands could vie 
In glory with its majesty." Thus in nature's magnificent 
cathedrals, and with hearts in tune with the simplicity of the Gospel, the 
early settlers worshipped their Creator, and felt the quickening power 
of duty done. They lived humble and devout lives and consistently prac- 
ticed the precepts, and tenets of their faith. 
It was Alexander Pope who said, 

"Honor and shame from no condition rise, 
Act well your part, there all the honor lies." And it was 
the pioneer who, above all else, exemplified this truth. In rude cabins 
and huts the early preachers proclaimed the same gospel that is preached 
today in the magnificent palaces, that, under the name of church, decorate 
the cities of our fair land. 

Since it was impossible to obtain information regarding each indi- 
vidual church in the county we thought it best to confine our discussion 
of churches to those of the early day. Not that a discussion of the more 
recent churches would not be profitable and interesting to a majority of 



266 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

our readers, but because it is almost an impossibility to get accurate 
information on such a subject. 

The number of churches in Cooper County has increased with amazing 
rapidity during the past few years, until today there is probably not a 
community in the county that is not served by one or more church houses, 
and there is not a family in Cooper County who cannot, if they so desire, 
worship in the church of their choice any Sunday, with but little effort. 

BAPTIST. 

The Baptists were probably the first to become active in Cooper 
County. 

Concord Church was organized May 10, 1817 by Elders Edward Tur- 
ner, William Thorp, and David McLain. The following were the first 
fourteen members : Luke Williams, Polly Williams, William Savage, Mary 
Savage, Delaney Bolen, Judith Williams, Absalom Huff, Susanna Savage, 
Joseph Baze, Lydia Turner, Charles Williams, Patsey Bolen, Sally Baze 
and Elizabeth Williams. 

Concord Church was located in the settlement south of Boonville and 
was called Concord Association in 1823. Elder Luke Williams was pastor 
for six years, beginning in June, 1817. After his death which occurred 
at the end of his pastorate, Elder Kemp Scott was chosen pastor. The 
church had a membership of about 45. Dec. 26, 1846, Concord church 
united with a neighboring church known as "The Vine" which strength- 
ened materially the old church. The charter members of this church were 
Luke Williams, Polly Williams, William Savage, Mary Savage, Delaney 
Bolen, Judith Williams, Absalom Huff, Susanna Savage, Joseph Baze, 
Lydia Turner, Charles Williams, Patsey Bolen, Sally Baze and Elizabeth 
Williams. 

Mount Nebo Church is located about one mile north of the present 
site of Bunceton and it was organized in 1820. An early list of members 
contains 63. names. Rev. A. P. Williams was the first pastor. The first 
church building was erected in 1838. The present building was erected 
in 1856. Earliest members were, Lydia Corum, Jordan O'Bryan, Abra- 
ham and Nancy Woolery. 

Big Lick Church was a constituent of the Concord Association and 
was organized Aug. 24, 1822, under an arbor, one mile north of where 
the present church now stands. John B. Longan and Jacob Chism com- 
posed the council. There were sixteen in the original membership. John 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 267 

B. Longan (822-845), Tyre C. Harris (1845-1851) were followed as pastors 
by Robert H. Harris, D. G. Tutt, J.' B. Box, J. D. Murphy and J. S. Palmer. 
In 1847, the membership was 350. 

Pisgah Baptist Church was organized at a meeting held at the resi- 
dence of Lewis Shelton on June 19, 1819, with the following charter mem- 
bers: The Rev. William Jennings, Rev. Jacob Chism, Priseilla Chism, 
David Jones, Tabitha Jones, James Maxey, William Howard, Leven Savage, 
Pollie Savage, Joseph McClure, Elizabeth McClure, John Bivian, Mary 
Bivian, Rhoda Stephens, Isabella Pontan, Sarah Woods, the Rev. John B. 
Longan, John Apperson, Sela Apperson, Jesse Martin, Mary Martin and 
Pollie Longan. The first meeting house was erected not long after the 
congregation had effected an organization and was situated at a point a 
half mile east of the present edifice. This somewhat primitive church 
building was in time supplanted by a brick building, which in 1871 gave 
way to the much larger frame building which has since then supplied the 
needs of the congregation. Mrs. Jane York, who died on March 15, 1919, 
joined this church in 1849 and at the time of her death was the oldest 
continuous member of the church, her connection with the same having 
covered the long span of 70 years. 

Providence Baptist Church was organized in Nov., 1879, at Prairie 
Home by Rev. B. T. Taylor. The church building was erected in 1881 at 
a cost of $1,000 by Rev. J. B. Box, the first pastor. Charter members 
were Miss E., Miss R. and Miss J. McLane, A. Slaughter, Mrs. L. W. 
Slaughter, Mrs. M. Simmons, W. E. Watt, Mrs. L. F. Watt, William Sim- 
mons, Mrs. Lizzie Simmons, Mrs. Saline Smith, A. J. Hornbeck, Jeremiah 
Hornbeck, Mrs. E. Hornbeck, Mrs. Josie, Miss Sallie, Miss Nevada, Miss 
Fannie, Miss Minerva, Miss Nannie, Miss Henrietta and C. C. Don Carlos, 
Miss M. J. and Mrs. Mary Adair, Mrs. Mary, Miss Laura, Miss Lillie and 
Miss Mattie Taylor, Thomas F. and Mrs. Sallie B. Hall, Gabriel, Miss Sarah 
Stemmons, Miss Sudie and Miss Nannie Stemmons, George W., Mrs. Mary 
and Clara Carey, Mrs. Melinda Dungan, Miss Jennie and Amanda Max- 
well and Bettie Hudson. 

First Baptist Church, Boonville, was organized Dec. 30, 1843, by Rev. 
A. M. Lewis and A. B. Hardy. A brick building was erected in the sum- 
mer of 1847. Some of the early pastors were Tyra C. Harris, Robert 
Harris, John W. Mitchell, Spencer H. Olmstead, X. X. Buckner, M. M. 
Paderford, Charles Whitting, J. L. Blitch. Original members were, 
Reuben E. McDaniel, Alfred Simmons, David Lilly, Lawrence B. Lewis, 
Jordan O'Bryan, Elizabeth Dow, Sarah Gates, Maria Elliott, Eliza Ann 



288 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Hickman, Susan D. Conner, Delia McDaniel, Elizabeth N. Richardson, 
Jane E. Richardson and Francis B. Major. The present pastor is C. Rus- 
sell Sorrell. 

First Baptist Church, Otterville, was organized in 1866, by J. W. 
Williams and Brother Parish. The church building was bought in 1874 
from the Cumberland Presbyterians for $360. Some of the early pastors 
of this church were William Pastors, John K. Godby, T. V. Greer, W. N. 
Phillips, E. F. Shelton. Original members were George I. Key, James 
Shackelford, Samuel Swearingen, William H. Bowdin, Martha L. Key, 
Sarah Willard, Catherine L. Key, Angeline Cook, Mary C. Golladay, 
Josephine Butler, Mahala Price, Jane Trimble, Margaret A. Shackelford, 
Temperance E. Swearingen, Mary A. Bowdin, Sophia Cook and Sarah 
Ellixon. 

Mt. Herman Church is located in Clark's Fork township. It was or- 
ganized Jan. 3, 1868, by Jehe Robinson who was its first pastor. The 
church building was erected in 1879 at a cost of $1,800. Charter mem- 
bers were Mrs. Margaret Reid, Sarah Cartner, Lucy Brown, Margaret 
Cartner. 

Pilot Grove Baptist Church was organized in 1876 by Rev. N. T. Alli- 
son. A frame church building costing $1,000 was built in the same year. 
Original members, Rev. N. T.- Allison and wife, J. R. Jeffress, A. N. Spencer, 
J. Tomlinson, B. F. Chamberlain and wife, L. L. Chamberlain and wife, 
Miss Rebecca Massie, Miss Millie White and Mrs. Sarah Kaley. 

Second Baptist Church, Colored, is located on Morgan Street, Boon- 
ville. It was organized in 1865 by Rev. W. P. Brooks. A building was 
erected in 1870 at a cost of $1,600. There were 216 members in 1883. 
Original members were: Richard Taylor and wife, William Jackson and 
wife, Dilcey Thomas, Rebecca Sharp, Hannah Alexander, Washington 
Whittleton, Minerva Smith, Jane Smith, Duke Diggs and wife, G. Fowler 
and wife, Jane Douglass, Ellen Woods, Abbey Smith, Green Smith, Cvnthia 
Nelson, P. Watkins, P. Wilson. 

Sixth Baptist Church, Colored, is located in Boonville and was organ- 
ized in 1874 by Rev. S. Bryan. A building was erected in 1876 at a cost 
of $1,000. This church had a membership of one hundred in 1883. Orig- 
inal members were: Green Wilson, William Jackson, David Watson, Paul 
Donaldson, Smith Barnes, Rebecca Sharp, Martha Tibbs, Clacy Waller, 
Esther Rollins, Clara Johnson, Dilcey Thomas, Sarah Jackson, Arrena 
Watson. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 269 

METHODIST. 

The Methodist Episcopal Church, South. — The first religious service 
ever held in Boonville of which we have any record was held in a private 
house by Reb. John Scripps, a pioneer preacher in 1817. A church was 
organized by Rev. Justinian Williams who was a brother of Marcus Wil- 
liams, the first mayor of Boonville and who was a great uncle of the late 
Judge W. M. Williams. The charter members were Justinian Williams 
and wife, Frederick Houx and wife, and Allen and Louisa Porter. From 
1818 to 1834 the church was a part of the Lamine circuit, but in 1844, it 
was called the Boonville circuit. In 1840 it was made a station and was 
the first station outside of St. Louis made in the state. The first church 
building was begun in 1832, and dedicated by Bishop Soul in 1838. The 
second building was erected in 1880 during the last year of the four years 
pastorate of C. H. Briggs, and was dedicated by C. C. Wood. A modern 
church edifice was erected in 1917, at a cost of $40,000, and is known as 
the Nelson Memorial Church. Rev. O. E. Vivian is the present pastor. 

The Bell Air Methodist Church, South, was organized in 1850. James 
Bell and wife, Thornton Bell and wife, and Jacob G. Shutler and wife, were 
among the oldest members. The building was erected in 1870, and was 
dedicated by D. K. McAnally. 

Prairie Home Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1881, 
by Rev. Vandiver. The church building was dedicated and organized in 
1881 by Rev. Phillip. The original members were Sarah Tompkins and 
Eleanor Huff. 

Pilot Grove M. E. Church, South, was organized in 1826. Samuel 
Roe was one of the original members of this church. A building was 
erected in 1850 and rebuilt in 1879. 

Methodist Episcopal Church, South, Bunceton, was organized in April, 
1879. by Rev. C. H. Briggs, who was then stationed at Boonville. A church 
building was erected in 1880 on a plot of ground contributed by Dr. H. C. 
Gibson, of Boonville. The original members were: Mrs. Marie Stephens, 
Capt. S. P. Tevis, George Dorsey, James Moon, Mrs. Jane Moon, George 
Dameron, Mrs. Lucy Dameron, O. F. Arnold and Mrs. M. E. Arnold. 

The German Methodist Church, Boonville, was organized in 1850. A 
brick church building was erected in 1852 at a cost of $1,200. Some of 
the early pastors were A. Klippel, Jacob Feisel, John Hausn, H. Lahrman, 
William Schreck. The original members were as follows: H. Gaus, 



270 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Helena Gaus, J. H. Reckmeyer, Emilie Reckmeyer, Peter Birkenbeil, Eva 
M. Birkenbeil, Henry Muhlenbruck, Mina Muhlenbruck, John Otten, 
Johanna Otten, H. Blum, Theresa Blum, Carl Vollmer, Henriette Kuhl, 
Maria Hausman. 

PRESBYTERIAN. 

Boonville Presbyterian Church was organized April 28, 1821, by Rev. 
Edward Hollister with 23 members. The church was in the beginning 
known as the Franklin Church due to the fact that the parent church was 
located in Franklin prior to its being washed away. It continued to be 
called "Franklin" until 1830. Some of the early ministers of this church 
were Rev. Pomeroy, W. P. Cochran, Hiram Chamberlain. A building was 
erected in 1841 at a cost of $4,500 on the site of the present building. A 
second building was erected in 1871-72 at a cost of $12,618.65. A third 
building was erected in 1904 at a cost of $40,000. The present pastor is 
Rev. J. E. Green. 

New Lebanon Cumberland Presbyterian Church, possibly the oldest 
Cumberland church in Cooper County was organized in 1820 by Rev. Finis 
Ewing. It got its name from the fact that a majority of its members 
came from Lebanon Church, in Logan County, Kentucky. Robert Kirk- 
patrick, Alexander Sloan, John Miller, Thomas Ruby were the first elders 
of the church. A log church was built in 1821. A brick house was put 
up in 1860. Rev. R. D. Morrow, in 1824, organized a school in this neigh- 
borhood for young preachers which was largely attended. The names of 
the constituent members were Robert Kiikpatrick and wife, Thomas Ruby 
and wife, Alexander Sloan and wife, John Wear and wife, James Wear and 
wife, Robert Allison and wife, John Miller and wife, and Mr. Stone an .1 
wife. 

Mount Vernon Cumberland Presbyterian Church is lo> tout one 

mile southwest of Pilot Grove, and was organized in April, 1833. Some 
of the early preachers were Samuel C. Davidson. Archibald McCorl 
William Kavanaugh and Finis Ewing. Original members were William 
Houx, John Miller, James Deckard. John Houx, Sr., Frederick Houx, 
Gideon B. Miller, Benjamin Weedin, Daniel Weedin, Jacob Houx, William 
Miller, Charlotte Houx, Anne McCutcheon, Harriet L. McCutcheon, Chris- 
tina Deckard, Ellen B. Crawford, Regina Houx, Mary Miller, Sr., Mary 
Miller, Jr., Catherine Weedin, Mary Weedin, Elizabeth and Rachel Weedin, 
Ann Rennison, Elizabeth H. C. Berry, Margaret Houx. 

Highland Cumberland and Presbyterian Church was organized Feb. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 271 

20, 1867, by Rev. A. W. Thompson. A building was erected in 1870 at a 
cost of $1,600. The original members were John Fluke, John Knikshire, 
Nancy R. Durnil, Louisa Fluke, Wm. E. Clayton, Andrew J. Roberson, 
Margaret Knikshire, Elizabeth Edwards, Mary L. Duncan, Isaac Henry, 
Frederick Fluke, James D. McFall, James Bankston, Jane Tucker, George 
Fluke, Frank Guthrie, Dow Vaughan, Sallie Messicks, Julia Fluke, Lavina 
Clayton, Wm. E. Clayton, Jr., Elizabeth Duncan, Patsey Henry. 

New Salem Cumberland Presbyterian Church is located in Prairie 
Home township and was organized in 1821 by Rev. Robert Morrow at the 
residence of Alexander Johnston. A log house was erected in 1828 which 
was replaced by a brick building in 1853, which was again replaced by a 
more commodious building in 1877. Early preachers were Rev. Finis 
Ewing, and Robert W. Morrow, Daniel Weedin, Samuel Kind, Thomas Ish, 
and John E. Norris. The original members were Alexander Johnston, 
Joshua Lewis, Mrs. Mary (wife of Alex. Johnston), Mrs. Mary (wife of 
James Johnston) , Robert Johnson and Margaret Johnson (mother of Alex- 
ander and Robert Johnston.) 

Presbyterian Church (Union) Bunceton, was organized 1860 by Rev. 
W. G. Bell, of Boonville. The constituent members were Mrs. Mary 
Phillips, Dr. E. Chilton and wife, John J. Hoge and wife, Isaac Hewitt and 
wife, Miss M. Hewitt, James Hewitt and Mrs. E. Russell. 

New Zion. Cumberland Presbyterian Church, is located in Moniteau 
township and was organized in 1871 by W. W. Branin, its first pastor. 
In 1883 it had a membership of 100. The names of the original members 
were: Martha J. Miller, Catherine Lawson, Nancy Holloway, Harriett 
J. Hollaway, Joseph Pierce, Margaret A. Thompson, L. C. McDaniel, Henry 
Bowers, P. P. Lawson, Caroline R. Bowers, Thomas L. Pierce, Susan J. 
Williams. 

CHRISTIAN. 

Lone Elm Churcn, was organized in 1842. It was the first Christian 
Church organized soutn of the Missouri River. The first ministers of this 
congregation were Nelson Davis and Allen Wright, and the original mem- 
bers were George W. Baker and wife, Peter and Elizabeth Poindexter, 
Rice and Elizabeth Daniel, B. R. and Lucy Waller and Mary A. Poindexter. 

Lamine Church, was organized in 1843 but was discontinued after a 
few years. It was recognized in 1865 by Elder P. Donan. with the follow- 
ing white membership: Samuel R. Collins, Sarah L. Collins, Wm. B. Col- 
lins, J. P. Collins, Marietta M. Collins, Drusilla E. Thomas, Susan Biddie,. 



272 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Melinda E. Kincaid, Mary F. Tyler, Catherine Wing, Freeman Wing, Julia 
A. Turley, Ellen Pope, Josephine Wall, J. P. Wall, Moses Napier, Mary J. 
Mello, Nancy Reed, Elizabeth Courtney, George W. Kincaid, Francis M. 
Kincaid, A. L. Kincaid, J. B. Baker, Martha J. Baker, Theo. Turley, Jas. 
O'Howell, Thos. Mello, Thos. Staples, C. F. Younger, F. Harris, Lucy C. 
Hieucleher, Pamelia Williams. Eighteen colored person were included in 
the membership of this church in the beginning, but soon after organ- 
izing, they withdrew and built a church of their own. 

Walnut Grove, was organized by Elder O. P. Davis, on the first Sun- 
day in Dec, 1862. The following were the charter members of the 
church: Lewis D. Reavis, Henry York, Eli P. Adams, Sarah J. Adams, 
Matilda Cary, Samuel R. Davis, 0. P. Davis, Eliza J. Hawkins, Martha A. 
Davis, Mary F. Logan, Margaret A. Davis, Mary York, Caroline York, 
Isabelle Clawson, Sarah Parmer and James Eldredge. Early in its history 
the church numbered over 150 members. The original church building 
was replaced by a commodious, modern church building in 1914. This 
building was completely destroyed by a cyclone in the summer of 1917. 
Immediately thereafter the congregation met and determined to replace 
the building that had been destroyed by an even better edifice, which was 
accordingly done. 

Boonville Christian Church, was organized by C. Shouse, Dec. 25, 
1887, with about 20 charter members, six of whom are still living, viz., 
Mrs. Frank Swap, Boonville, Mo. ; Mrs. W. R. Baker, Montana ; Mrs. Albert 
Elliott, Chillicothe, Mo. ; Miss Lizzie Bacon, Kansas City, Mo. ; Mrs. P. L. 
Starke, St. Louis, Mo.; Miss Lottye Crews, Boonville, Mo. 

The money for the erection of the church building was raised by the 
faithful and persistent efforts of J. I. Quigley. It was dedicated by J. H. 
Garrison, of St. Louis, in 1889. The Rev. W. W. Gibbony is the present 
minister. 

GERMAN EVANGELICAL. 

Boonville Evangelical Church, was organized in 1853. Rev. John 
Wettle was the first pastor. The first building was erected in 1854 due 
mainly to the energy and labor of George Vollrath, one of the early mem- 
bers. A school building was erected in 1857 and a parsonage in 1879. 
The school was discontinued in later years. The present building was 
erected in 1887 and dedicated by Rev. C. A. Richter, of Jefferson City, 
Missouri. Rev. R. M. Hinze served as pastor of this church from 1907- 
1917. During his pastorate the church was refurnished and redecorated 
in 1908. In 1915 the church was enlarged by the addition of several 




LONE ELM SCHOOL 




ST. JOSEPHS CHURCH AND SCHOOL. PILOT GROVE 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 273 

Sunday school rooms. A pipe organ was presented by Mrs. Doris Gmelich, 
which was installed at the time of the addition. Early pastors were C. 
L. Greimer, J. Lange, E. Schneider and L. Kohlman. Original members 
were George Volbrath, J. H. Boiler, William Haas, St. Weber, Paul Steg- 
ner, Philip Back, William Gemmer, Peter Back, Jacob Thauer, J. E. Hof- 
lander, David Rau, Sophia Hain, Frederica Reinhart, Erk. Hirlinger, Jacob 
Neef, George Goller, L. Holzmueller, Adam Sandrock, Fred. Metz, J. Mitta- 
meyer, Philip Stahl, J. F. Fickel, J. Lotz. 

St. Peter's Evangelical Church at Pleasant Grove was the first church 
organized by the German speaking people of Cooper County and was 
organized in 1849 under the ministry of the Reverend Kewing, who for 
some time remained as pastor, being succeeded in turn by the following 
pastors: The Reverends Rauchenbush, Hoffmeister, Lange, Streit, Von 
Teobel, Dellwo, Kraft, Woelfle, Mohr, Leutwein, Klingeberger, Alber, 
Egger, Rasche, Jennrich, Lehmann, Bredehoeft, Leibner and Beissenherz, 
the latter of whom was installed as pastor in the fall of 1917 and is now 
serving the congregation. 

The first meeting house erected by the congregation of St. Peter's 
was a little log church building, which served the needs of the pioneer 
congregation until a more commodious edifice could be built. The pres- 
ent building was erected in 1877. The charter member of St. Peter's 
^Evangelical church were the following: Adam and Jacob Schilb, Nich- 
olas Blank, George Knorp, Fred Stock, J. A. Spieler, J. G. Spieler, William 
Baker, F. Schenck, T. Miller, E. Kirschman, Jacob Schilb, Jr., Henry Meyer, 
H. J. Meyer, A. Kaempfer and William Hobrecht, with their respective 
families. 

May 20, 1918, the congregation at its semi-annual business meeting 
voted to discontinue the use of the German language entirely. So time 
brings its changes, always to remind us that nothing is permanent. 

Pleasant Grove church also believes in its Sunday School and for 
many years has taught the Bible to both old and young. The following 
have been superintendents in their time: David Schilb, J. E. Derendinger, 
K. M. Seifert, John J. Blank, F. N. Blank, and H. Spieler, the present 
incumbent. 

St. Peters Church has lately been re-roofed, repainted, and a few 

years ago a first class piano was bought and in the spring of 1919 the 

church was re-decorated on the inside. Several new members joined 

again recently, all of which goes to prove that the St. Peters congregation 

(18) 



274 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

is still a very live one. 

Billingsville Evangelical Church. The first meeting of the originators 
of this church was held in 1855 at the home of J. E. Hoflander. Those 
taking part were as follows : John E. Hoflander and wife, two sons, Joseph 
and Paul and two daughters, Mary and Barbara ; John Peter Stegner and 
wife, one son, August, and two daughters, Mary and Christina ; and John 
Paul Stegner and wife. Mrs. Hoflander led in prayer and read the scrip- 
tures at this service while John Peter Stegner led the singing. 

These meetings were held regularly on each Sunday until the Civil 
War. Sunday services were resumed in 1866 and were held in the Oak 
Grov School building and were led twice a month by Father Greiner, who 
was at that time pastor of the Evangelical congregation of Boonville. 

Frederick T. Kemper, founder of Kemper Military Academy con- 
ducted each Sunday, Sunday School services in which all the young people 
of the community took part. A building was erected at Billingsville in 
1879 at a cost of $1,100. A parsonage building was built in 1895 and 
W. F. Herman was installed as the first legal pastor in 1896. The present 
beautiful building was erected in 1916 at a cost of over $7,000 under the 
leadership of E. W. Berlekamp. 

LUTHERAN. 

Lutheran Emanuel Church, is located in Prairie Home township. It 
was organized in 1855 by Rev. August Lange. The church building was 
erected the same year. Original membership, Rev. August Lange, Henry 
Meyer, Frederick Stock, Jacob Edes, G. Knorp, Henry Meyer, John Kemp- 
fer, Dietrich Molan, John Snauch, Christine Hecherman and Ludwig 
Mentz. 

The German Evangelical Lutheran Church, located in Clarks Fork 
was erected in 1860. Its first pastor was Rev. Henry Jorngel. A building 
was erected in 1867 at a cost of $2,500, on a three acre plot of ground, by 
Fred Frieke. Original members, Peter Muntzel, Albert Muntzel, Daniel 
Muntzel, John King, Fred Frieke, John A. Schmidt, Nicholas Schmidt, 
Leonard Schmidt, David Rauh, William Kahle, Henry Lankop, Ferdinand 
Lankop, William Lankop, Christian Brandis, Sr., Lewis Lebbing, Marimus 
Longers, Henry Kaune, Sophia Fredmeyer, Christian Fredmeyer, Henry 
Fredmeyer, Ferdinand Ohlendorf, Peter Norenberg. James Martinson, 
Jacob King, Otto Smolfield, Berhard Vieth, Charles Brandis, Peter Weh- 
meier. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 275 

EPISCOPAL. 

Christ's Episcopal Church, was probably organized in 1835 and a first 
church building was erected in 1844 under the leadership of Rev. Almond 
David Corbyn, rector. It is thought that the Rev. F. F. Peak preceded 
him and was probably the first Episcopal pioneer preacher in Boonville. 
Among the early members were Dr. E. E. Buckner and wife, Richard 
Thompson and wife, Mrs. Tompkins and C. B. Powell and wife. 

CATHOLIC. 

St. Peter's and Paul's Parish, Boonville. — Before 1850 Boonville was 
visited by Fr. Helias S. J. of Taos, and from Jefferson City. Rev. George 
Tuerk's name appears on the baptismal register from Nov. 1, 1850 to Oct. 
11, 1851. Rev. U. Joseph Meister attended Boonville from Oct. 27, 1857 
to July 3, 1856. He attended quite a number of places: Pilot Grove, 
Moniteau (Cedron) Brunswick, St. Andrews (Tinton), Glasgow, Fayette, 
Franklin, Round-Hill, Saline County, Chariton County, Pisgah, Boons- 
borough. Father Meister purchased the present church site July 22, 1856. 
Rev. B. Hillner took charge and may be considered the first priest perma- 
nently located at Boonville. He remained until April 18, 1869. He built 
a brick church and erected a small school building. He also visited Cedron, 
Glasgow, Cambridge and Brunswick. 

Rev. Henry Meurs was in charge from May 16, 1869 to April 24, 1875. 
He built a two story rectory. 

Rev. John A. Hoffman was in charge from May 15, 1875 to January 
7, 1885. He built a transent, sanctuary and sacristies as an addition to 
the church at an expense of $5,000. He took a great interest in the 
Catholic school and made the one story building of Fr. Hillner two stories, 
the upper story containing the living rooms of the sisters, and the first 
story having two school rooms. Rev. L. M. Porta had charge from Jan., 
1885. to Aug. 17, 1895. 

Rev. Theodore Kussman took charge Aug. 17, 1885, and still remains 
(1917). He was born in Germany, Jan. 19, 1843. and came with his par- 
ents to St. Louis in the fall of 1847. There he attended the Holy Trinity 
parochial school. He attended the Christian Brothers School 7th and 
Cherry and St. Francis Seminary near Milwaukee. After studying phil- 
osophy and theology at Cape Girardeau, he was ordained there by Arch- 
bishop Kenrick, May 27, 1866. Two years after his appointment to Boon- 



276 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

ville, he was made irremovable rector and has been in charge now over 
thirty-one years. Various improvements were made during his stay, the 
most important being the building of the new church, and putting an addi- 
tion to the rectory, making it double the previous size. March 2, 1890, the 
old church caught fire and was damaged $2,125. The old church was 
torn down. A new part with tower and side turrets, was erected and con- 
nected with Fr. Hoffmans transent, sanctuary and sacristies, at the ex- 
pense of $11,200. 

May 27, 1916, Rev. Theodore Kussman celebrated his golden jubilee 
in the presence of a large gathering. Rt. Rev. Thomas F. Lillis and thirty 
priests honored the occasion with their presence. For the last seven 
years the parish school has been free. Since Sept. 1, 1913, Boonville has 
had as assistant priests Revs. P. J. Downey, F. S. MacCardle, F. J. Dono- 
van, and P. J. Kennedy. 

The societies are B. V. M. Sodality, St. Anne's Society, St. V. St. 
Paul's Society, Extension Society, Propagation of the Faith, and Knights 
of Columbus, with a membership of 91. 

The Benedictine Sisters have been here eleven years, conducting a 
private hospital for Dr. C. H. Van Ravensway. 

The parish numbers about 500 souls, and has 65 pupils in the Paro- 
chial school. 

St. Joseph Church at Pilot Grove, was established by Rev. Father 
Pius Conrad, O. S. B., Jan. 1, 1895. In 1893 the cornerstone of St. Joseph 
Church was laid and Sept. 16, 1894, the church was dedicated by Rt. Rev. 
Abbot Frowin Conrad, O. S. B. of Conception Abbey, Mo., Rev. Father 
John Conrad, O. S. B. Pastor of Clear Ci-eek built St. Joseph Church and 
held service in it until Rev. Fr. Pius came. From Jan. 1, 1895. Pilot Grove 
had regular services every Sunday and Holy day. When the parish was 
organized, 35 families belonged to it, the present number of families is 90. 
In 1898, the priest house, costing $2,500, was built. As soon as Clear 
Creek had a resident priest, Rev. Fr. Pius held service every Sunday in 
Pilot Grove and Martinsville. He worked hard for God's honor. In 1907 
the church was enlarged by adding to the old church a new sanctuary, rais- 
ing the ceiling about six feet and erecting new altars at the cost of 
$5,650.00. Jan. 1, 1909, Rev. Fr. Pius took charge of Martinsville but 
lived at Pilot Grove until Sept., 1911, when he moved into the new resi- 
dence at Martinsville. St. Joseph cemetery consists of two acres and is 
situated one mile south of the church. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 277 

Jan. 1, 1909, Rev. Father Philip Ruggle, 0. S. B. took charge of St. 
Joseph Parish and stayed here until Sept. 1, 1915. From Sept. 1, 1915, 
to Dec. 4, Rev. Father Berthold Jaggle 0. S. B. was the parrish priest. 
December 4, 1915, Rev. Father Hildebrand Roesler, 0. S. B. took charge. 
In 1900 the convent and school was built at the cost of $4,000.00. The 
parochial school started in 1902 with 50 children. Benedictine Sisters 
were the teachers. In 1917 a new school building was erected at a cost 
of $14,000. The attendance is 90-100. Benedictine Sisters from Shool 
Creek, Ark., are the teachers. 

St. Martin's Church.— On May 16, 1870, a little log structure, 18x24 
feet, called St. Martin Chapel was erected and a cemetery laid out on one 
and one-half acres of land donated by Daniel Martin. This location was 
afterwards known as Martinsville. ■ 

The original families of St. Martin Church were the following, viz, 
Daniel Martin, John Martin, Leonard Martin, John Martin, Jr., Jacob 
Gross, Nic. Schank, Anton Wiemholt, Philip Wiedel, Mr. Bonan, George 
Bergerhaus, J. Carvel. 

Martinsville was a mission of Boonville, from 1870-1877. It was in 
charge of Reverend Murus, 1870-1874; Reverend Hoffman, 1874-1877. 
Martinsville was a mission of Clear Creek, 1877-1897. It was the charge 
of Rev. W. F. Boden, 1877-1880. Under the direction of Father Boden 
the second St. Martin's Church, a frame structure, was built. In 1880 
this mission was taken care of by Rev. N. Reding; in 1881 by Reverend 
Conrad, O. S. B. of Conception Abbey ; in 1895 by Rev. Pius Conrad of 
Conception Abbey. Martinsville was a mission of Pilot Grove, 1897-1908, 
under the charge of Rev. Pius Conrad O. S. B. 

The present and third St. Martin's Church is a solid brick structure, 
erected on 2.24 acres of land on the Boonville and Sedalia public road, 
about one-fourth mile north of the M. K. T. railroad station known as 
Chouteau Springs. The corner stone was laid in 1908 by Rev. Leo, O. S. 
B. It was dedicated by Rt. Reverend Ignatius of Subiaco, Ark. January 
1, 1909. Reverend Pius O. S. B. became pastor of St. Martin's Parish. On 
Aug. 31, 1911, Father Pius moved to St. Martin's Rectory. On Jan. 13, 
1915, Father Pius was succeeded by Rev. J. A. Koehler of the Kansas City, 
Mo., Diocese. 

The St. Martin Parish at present consists of fortv progressive an I 
prosperous Catholic families and is in a flourishing condition. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



AGRICULTURE. 



NATURAL ADVANTAGES— PRODUCTION— SURPLUS PRODUCTS— COP. X PRIZE WIN- 
NERS—ORCHARDS AND VINEYARDS — LIVE STOCK— SHORTHORN" HERDS — 
HOGS— HORSES— MULES-MARKET PRICES FROM 1886 TO 1915— LIVE STOCK 
PRODUCTS— SHEEP— SOILS. 

The Garden of Eden might have been located in Cooper County. 
There is nothing that will not grow within its bounds and its fertile soil, 
equable climate, and beautiful natural scenery make it one of the most 
desirable portions of the globe. In location it is fortunate. It is south 
to the "Yankee" ; north to the "southerner" ; west to the "easterner" ; 
and east to the "westerner." 

It furnishes a variety of seasons unequalled by any plot of earth of 
similar size. Weather here gives expression to a variety of moods which 
are as numerous as are the sand grains of the seashore. From the cold 
and snow and ice of winter it is but a short step to the hot, dry, torrid 
conditions oftimes experienced in August. Yet these extremes are rare 
indeed; and winter's chilling blast seldom penetrates so far south, and 
summer's' intense heat is usually thwarted in its designs by cooling zeph- 
yrs. Taking all in all, the climate of Cooper County is ideally adapted to 
the arousing in man of those desires for activity which makes the tem- 
perate zone the place of civilization's greatest progress. 

Diversified farming is practiced extensively. No one crop is counted 
on in any season. All grains, fruits, and vegetables, adapted to temperate 
regions, have a natural habitat here. It has outdone Kentucky in the 
production of prize blue grass ; Kansas in the acre yield of wheat ; Illinois 
in the production of prize corn; Virginia in the production of premium 
tobacco; Iowa in the production of choice hogs, and the United States in 
the production of choice fruit. 

Resplendent in opportunity, Cooper County has a veritable store- 
house of wealth in her soil, and in her people — the best on earth — you 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 279 

will find a hospitality, a sympathy, an interest, that makes for a cordial 
relationship which makes life worth living. 

Cooper County is the home of many prosperous farmers and stock- 
men. The soil, climate, and topography are especially adapted to the pro- 
duction of grain, hay, and stock in abundance. 

It is drained by numerous small streams which readily find an outlet 
in the adjoining Missouri River. As a consequence the bottom lands 
along the small streams seldom overflow, and if they do become inundated 
it is only for a short time. There is a strip along the Missouri River 
varying in width from one to five miles known scientifically as Loess soil 
that is especially adapted to the production of fruit of various kinds. It 
is equally as well adapted to the growing of farm crops, but is too valuable 
as fruit soil to be used for grain. It is estimated by competent authority 
that nine-tenths of the apples produced in Missouri are grown on the one- 
tenth of apple area found on the Loess soils. The time is coming in the 
not far distant future, when every acre of Loess soil, in Cooper County 
will be used in growing fruit, and the value of such lands is destined to 
increase exceptionally. Outside of the Loess soil area Cooper County soil 
is rich black loam and for the growing of wheat, corn, clover, and alfalfa 
there is none better. 

In 1918 Cooper County produced: 

Average yield Total yield 

Average per acre in bushels 

Oats 17,320 26 bu. 450,320 

Tame Hay 28,710 1.05 ton 30,140 tons 

Corn 71,430 17 bu. 1,214,310 

Wheat 66,000 19 bu. 1,254,000 

Wheat (1919) 88,140 

(Note. — In 1917 Cooper County produced 2,756,416 bushels of corn.) 

Acre Yields, 1911-1918. 

1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 

Corn 20 42 29 24 42 30 35 17 

Oats 16 40 15 18 36 25 40 26 

Wheat 16 15 16 16 11 6 20 19 

Irish Potatoes 16 134 23 64 78 52 68 60 

Sorghum (Gal.) ___ __ __ __ __ __ 61 

Tame Hay (Tons) 74 1.75 .50 .56 1.50 1.43 1.25 1.05 



280 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Facts Regarding Cooper County. — Land and water area, 357,120 
acres; land in farms (1910), 340,199 acres; improved farm land (1910), 
273,505 acres; Woodland in farms (1910), 54,760 acres; per cent, of land 
area in farms, 95.3 per cent, of improved farm lands, 80.4 ; average num- 
ber acres per farm (1910), 133.6; area in acres town land and block (1917), 
3.660; land values March, 1918 (improved), $95.00 per acre; land values 
March, 1918 (unimproved), $70.00 per acre. 

Shipments of Surplus Products from Cooper County 1915 (based on 
returns made by railroads and express agents (Redbook, 1917). — Cattle, 
14,109; hogs, 69,800; horses, mules, 2,378; sheep, 8,684; goats, 165; jack 
and stallions, 2. 

Wheat, 530,199 bushels; corn, 5,154 bushels; oats, 5,656 bushels; tim- 
othy seed, 31 bushels; clover seed, 198 bushels; hay, 115 tons: tobacco, 
14,505 pounds; cowpeas, 2,000 bushels; planting and garden seed, 145 
bushels; nuts, 19,381 pounds. 

Flour, 40,000 bbl.; cornmeal, 185,500 lbs.; bran shipstuff, 2,880,000 
lbs.; fee and chops, 250,000 lbs.; coal, 1,050 tons; sand, 52,000 tons; stone, 
344 cars; macadam, 24 cars. 

Forest Products: Lumber, cars, 9; logs, cars, 11; cooperage, cars, 
1 ; walnut logs, cars, 16 ; cordwood, cars, 21. 

Farmyard Products: Poultry, live, pounds, 1,332,145; poultry, 
dressed, pounds, 933,924; eggs, dozen, 977,730; feathers, pounds, 21,233. 

Stone and Clay Products : Brick, cars, 19 ; cement products, tons, 60. 

Packing House Products: Hides and pelts, pounds, 169,467; dressed 
meats, pounds, 10,540; tallow, pounds, 13,640; lard, pounds, 2,251. 

Flowers and Nursery Products : Nursery stock, pounds, 184,425 ; cut 
flowers, pounds, 1,155. 

Dairy Products: Butter, pounds, 44,299; ice cream, gallons, 35,232; 
milk and cream, gallons, 167,480. 

Wool and Mohair: Wool, pounds, 63,948. 

Liquid Products : Wine, gallons, 10 ; vinegar, gallons, 408 ; cider, gal- 
lons, 232 ; natural mineral water, gal.. 38 ; soda water, cases, 3,000. 

Fish and Game Products: Game, pounds, 15,770; fish, pounds, 323; 
furs, pounds, 1,048. 

Medicinal Products: Roots and herbs, pounds, 200. 

Vegetables: Vegetables, pounds, 5,012; potatoes, bushels, 528; 
tomatoes, bushels, 26; onions, bushels, 15; canned vegetables and fruits, 
pounds, 1,387. 

Fruits : Miscellaneous fresh fruits, lbs., 1,000 ; melon, pounds, 24,000 ; 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 281 

strawberries, pounds, 95,575; apples, bbls., 9,312; grapes, pounds, 200; 
peaches, lbs., 88,245. 

Apiary and Cane Products: Honey, pounds, 595; sorghum molasses, 
gal., 259. 

Unclassified Products: — Washing compound, cases, 1,306; coke, tons, 
40; junk cars, 42; ice ,tons, 4,100; coal tar, gallons, 5,000; pipe stems, 
383,688; steel harrows, 313; bakery products, pounds, 35,000; corncobs, 
cars, 1 ; corncob pipes, gross, 57,653 ; wooden pipes, gross, 7,246. 

Live Stock, January 1, 1919. 

Average Value 
Number Per Head 

Cattle 24,742 

Milch cows $ 77.00 

Under one year 26.00 

V 2 years 60.00 

2 and above 84.00 

Hogs 76,770 19.20 

Sheep 17,245 16.50 (ewes) 

Horses 8,797 105.00 (above) 

(two ) 
Mules 5,997 185.00 (year) 

Cooper is easily the leading county in the state in breeding high class 
corn. This is evidenced by the premium list furnished us by Professor 
Hackleman, Secretary Corn Growers' Association of Missouri. 

Winners of First Prizes From Cooper County, Missouri State Corn 
Growers' Association From 1907 to 1919, Inc. 

Name. Address. 1st prize won on 

1907. 

R. B. Johnson, Boonville, Reid's Yellow Dent. 

Chris Ohlendorf, Boonville, Cartner. 

Albert Johnmeyer, Boonville, Boys' contest. 

1908. 

Chris Ohlendorf, Boonville, Bu. of shelled corn (Cartner Yellow). 

Wm. Johnmeyer, Boonville, Boone County White (bu. shelled). 

Martin Johnmeyer, Boonville, 10 ears mixed corn south of river. 



282 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 



1909. 

Highest scoring sample (10 ears) any variety exhibited by school 
district in any county, Sweepstakes awarded to Jefferson School District 
near Bunceton. 

Young Men's class (yellow corn). 

Sweepstakes in Young Men's Class. 
Chris Ohlendorf, Boonville, 1st in Variety Class. 



1910. 

Chris Ohlendorf, Boonville, 

1911. 

Chris Ohlendorf, Boonville, 

1914. 

Chris Smith, Bunceton, 

1916. 

H. G. Windsor, Boonville, 

Ewd. Schwalfeldt, Boonville, 

1917. 

H. G. Windsor, Boonville, 



Ben Smith, Bunceton, 

1918. 

H. G. Windsor, Boonville, 



1st on Yellow Corn. 

1st on Yellow Corn. 

1st Black Oats. 

1st 10 ears Yellow Corn. 
Sweepstakes on 10 ears. 
Championship best 10 ears entire show. 
Boy's Class (10 ears Yellow Corn). 

1st 10 ears Yellow. 

Sweepstakes (10 ears Yellow Corn). 

Championship (10 ears Yellow Corn). 

Grand Champion (10 ears Yellow Corn). 

1st Men's Five Acre Yield. 

Sweepstakes on Five Acre Yield. 

1st Men's One Acre Yield. 

Sweepstakes on One Acre Yield. 

Grand Champion on One Acre Yield. 

1st Single Ear of Yellow Corn. 

Sweepstakes. 

Championship. 

Grand Champion. 

1st bu. of Yellow Corn. 

1st best peck of Red Clover Seed. 

1st bu. Yellow Com. 
Grand Champion bu. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 283 

Orchards and Vineyards. — Contributed by C. C. Bell. — Cooper County 
and central Missouri was early recognized by the pioneer settlers as a 
fruit and grape growing country, and among those who had orchards were 
Henry M. Myers, Isaac N. Bernard, Benjamin F. Hickox, David Lilly, 
Isaac Lionberger, Wesley Wyan, David Smith, William Gibson, John G. 
Miller, C. H. F. Greenlease, Robert D. Perry, Jacob Newman, Jesy G. New- 
man, Edmund Elliott, William E. Beard, George and Nicholas Vollrath and 
some others. The apple varieties in those days were mostly Jenetin, Bell- 
flowers, Winesap, Limbertwig, Russets and often some very good seedlings, 
mostly brought here by early settlers from Virginia and Kentucky. 

Boonville and surrounding country became specially noted as a grape 
growing section after 1848, when some leading Germans from the fruit 
and wine growing country of the Rhine settled here. Many of them had 
taken part in the German Revolution against monarchy, and had fled to 
America; and recognizing in the soil and hills of the Missouri River Val- 
ley soil equal and superior to the soils of the famous Rhine wine vineyards, 
located in Cooper County. I can well remember George Husman, in that 
day recognized as the best authority on grape growing, who would often 
visit here to advise with those who had started vineyards ; there were 
many planted about Boonville which gave it the name of the "Vine Clad 
City." 

The Boonville Wine Company had the largest vineyard and it adjoined 
the city on the west. It was organized by William Haas, Dr. E. Roeschel, 
M. J. Wertheimer, Maj. William Harley, Capt. C. H. Brewster and Judge 
Christian Keill. Other vineyards were planted by George Vollrath, 
Ignatius Deringer, Rochus Knaup, Henry Weiland, George Rippley, Fritz 
Schacht and others. Several miles west were John Henry Boiler, J. G. 
Neef, Frederick Demffel, Charles Fiedler and George and Peter Walther. 
East of Boonville in the Squire Herman Schmidt neighborhood were Louis 
Gsell, Martin Bonward, Jacob Kramer, Blasious Eflinger, Franz Joseph 
Sady, and others. 

My father, John Adam Bell, planted the first vineyard, peach and 
apple orchard in the Mount Sinai School neighborhood, and was followed 
by John Wilpret and others. I can well remember how those veterans of 
the 1848 German Revolution, at times would discuss the narrow escapes 
some had coming to America. They were all loyal patriots of this their 
adopted country, true to the cause of the Union and their sons answered 
the call of Abraham Lincoln, in defense of our flag, and many of their 
grand-sons have done good service in the World War, fighting Prussian- 



284 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

ism and Kaiserism, against which their grandfathers had fought in 1848,. 
but lost. In this connection we should remember that large numbers 
(especially southern Germans), are not and never have been in sympathy 
with Kaiserism, Prussianism and Militarism. 

The leading grape varieties were Isabella, Catawba and Virginia Seed- 
ling, later on varieties such as Concord, Delaware, Elvire, Goethe and 
others were planted. However, on account of California extensive grape 
production and wine making, and some other influences the vineyards of 
Cooper County have disappeared, and the large rock-arched wine cellars 
are all there is left of what once was a very promising industry. 

I well recall when Gen. Joseph Shelby made his raid into Boonville in 
Sept. 1863, coming from the south along the Bell Air road, passed father's 
vineyard, which was heavy loaded with ripe grapes. It seemed to me 
that a large part of his men hurriedly stopped off to get ail the grapes 
they could handle. Some of them were very polite and expressed their 
thanks, while others offered to pay in Confederate money; but most of 
them (in war-time soldier style) had nothing to say but took all they 
wanted ; yet there were grapes left, as the crop was very heavy. 

Apple growing has also diminished on account of insect and other 
pests of the orchard. In my boyhood days, we knew nothing of those 
orchard enemies, but now we must fight them by spraying with various 
chemicals, and do it at the proper time. Thirty to 50 years ago when I 
bought apples in Central Missouri, most farmers had a surplus to sell 
from their family orchards; those orchards however, have died out, and 
many farmers from whom I bought apples years ago, now come to my 
orchard for apples for their home use, saying that they can buy their 
apples cheaper than they can fight the insects. 

While this is true, yet when I think of the splendid fruit soils and 
ideal locations along the Missouri River, in convenient reach of large 
markets, I can consistently recommend fruit-growing, provided it is done 
right, and in quantity large enough to make it worth while to equip with 
the best machinery. I would advise planting the best known varieties, 
which are suitable to our soils and localities with work and proper atten- 
tion you can make fruit-growing a great success in Cooper County, and 
in the Missouri River valley. Much of our Missouri soils are the very 
best in the world. We are also well located as to markets with big de- 
mands, and have many advantages over the fruit-growers of the far" west 
and other localities. But it requires work, economy and personal prac- 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 285 

tical application. Avoid Waste — "Get Busy and Stay Busy", and you can 
soon have a home and plenty in Cooper County, or in Missouri. 

Live Stock. — Cooper easily ranks among the first live stock counties 
in Missouri. It is now almost 100 years since the first hei'd of registered 
animals was established in the county. Today, there are perhaps approxi- 
mately 100 herds of pure bred live stock and this number is constantly 
increasing. At one time this county was credited with having more reg- 
istered Shorthorns than any other county in the United States. While 
this is not true today, the number being somewhat less than at that time 
owing to the weeding-out and greater attention to quality, it is a fact that 
no county in the state excels Cooper. Here have been owned many world- 
famous animals, and from this county has gone the seed stock to estab- 
lish or replenish herds throughout the Mississippi Valley, the great West 
and Southwest, and to South America and other foreign territories. It 
was on a Cooper County farm that young Abbottsburn, grand champion 
Shorthorn bull of the Chicago World's Fair (Louisiana Purchase Expo- 
sition), spent his last days. On another farm only a short distance away 
was Lavender Viscount, champion and grand champion at leading Amer- 
ican shows. On yet another farm was the great Goday, famous in Canada 
and America. So might the list be continued at length. What is true 
of Shorthorns is true in large part of practically all other kinds of live 
stock. 

The location of Cooper County in the very center of the agricultural 
universe, the central county of a great central state, could not be improved 
upon. Here is the center of the bluegrass belt ; here, the aristocratic 
animals in the great herds find their happy habitat; here, too, are the 
homes of people who appreciate and love good animals. In these state- 
ments we have the secret of the success that has so long attended this 
county in live stock production. 

One hundred years is a long span of time in the history of a west- 
ern state. During this period of time, the people of Cooper County have 
not been swayed by passing fads or fancies, but have, with commendable 
conservatism and singleness of purpose, adhered to the well-defined policy 
of maintaining on their farms none but good live stock. As a result the 
county has acquired a national reputation, not only as a producer of 
choice, pure-bred animals but year after year hogs and cattle from this 
county have topped the St. Louis and Kansas City markets. 

As a result of live stock farming as it is here being carried on, the 
soil of the county has been built up rather than depleted. The fields 



286 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

have retained their fertility, as will always be the case where the crops 
are marketed "on foot". The effect of live stock farming as here prac- 
ticed is reflected in the large yields of corn, wheat, oats and other staple 
crops, as well as of many minor crops with which the county is credited. 

Brief reference has been made to the importance of the Shorthorn 
industry in the county. Not only was this the first branch of pure-bred 
live stock to be established, but it is today the most important. Some 
of the herds now owned in Cooper County are as follows: Ashwood, C. 
P. Tutt & Sons ; Ravenswood, now owned by N. Nelson Leonard but still 
conducted under the name of C. E. Leonard & Son with Ed. Patterson as 
manager; Eminence, A. J. and C. T. Nelson; Prairie View Stock Farm, 
G. A. Betteridge; Idlewild, W. P. Harned; Crestmead, W. A. Betteridge; 
Mt. Vernon Park, Harriman Bros. ; Wayside Valley, P. F. Smith ; Walnut 
Dale Farm, Ben N. Smith ; Buena Vista, Wm. Meyer & Son ; Geo. W. Lowe, 
Glasgow Bros., and many others are also breeding Shorthorns at the pres- 
ent time. 

Many herds have from time to time because of the death or retire- 
ment of their owners or otherwise been dispersed. One of the most 
famous of these was the old Ellerslie herd of Shorthorns established by 
the late T. J. Wallace and by him maintained at a high-water mark for 
a number of years. Following the great show yard triumph of young 
Abbottsburn at Chicago, Mr. Wallace purchased this great roan bull to 
head his own herd. Here, too, was owned Alice's Prince and other 
famous animals. For a number of years Geo. A. Carpenter maintained 
t'fe Ideal Herd of Shorthorns. At the same time John R. Hepler was 
breeding Shorthorns at his Vermont stock farm. 

Two other names that will live long in Cooper County Shorthorn 
history are those of Sam W. Roberts, who had a large herd of Bates cat- 
tle on his farm near Pleasant Green, and F. M. Marshall, who successfully 
bred both Bates and Scotch Shorthorns near Blackwater. Both Messrs. 
Roberts and Marshall have passed to the Great Beyond. For many years 
E. H. Rodgers, now retired and living in Boonville, was a successful 
breeder of Shorthorns as well as horses, jacks and jennets, and other live 
stock on his Cedar Lawn stock farm near Bunceton. Harris and McMahan, 
the latter now deceased, formerly bred Shorthorns at Sunnyside near La 
Mine. The late W. B. Cully, proprietor of the Sunny brook stock farm, 
was a breeder of Shorthorns as well as Poland China hogs. For many 
years W. H. H. Stephens maintained a good herd of Shorthorns on his 
Clover Leaf Stock Farm near Bunceton. 

Owing to the fact that it is necessary to condense this chapter, only 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 287 

a very brief history can be given of the active Shorthorn herds of the 
county at this time. These individual references follow: 

The oldest herd of Shorthorn cattle west of the Mississippi River and 
one of the oldest in the entire nation, is the Ravenswood herd. Estab- 
lished in 1839, when Nathaniel Leonard purchased the white bull, Comet 
Star for $600 and the Red Heifer Queen, for $500, from George Renick, a 
Kentucky breeder. These were the first registered Shorthorns west of 
the Mississippi River. This was the beginning of the Ravenswood herd 
that has done so much for the upbuilding of the live stock industry in 
Cooper County and the middle west the herd passing in time from 
Nathaniel Leonard to his son, C. E. Leonard, and later to Nelson Leonard, 
the present owner. 

At different times the Leonards have added some of the best speci- 
mens to their herd that money could buy, but they have always been con- 
sidered breeders of, instead of buyers of high class Shorthorn cattle; and 
some of their stock have frequently won prizes at the live stock shows 
over the country. Lavender Viscount was the Grand Champion Short- 
horn bull of America for two years. 

One of the notable sales from Ravenswood was that of Merry Ravens- 
wood 3rd, sold to Walter L. Miller, of Peru, Ind., and shipped by him to 
South America, where one of the calves, "Americus," at the conclusion of 
a successful career in the show ring,- was sold for the sum of 80,000 peos, 
or a little less than $40,000 in American gold. 

The following are among the famous families represented in the 
Ravenswood herd: Lavenders, Duchess of Glosters, Victorias, Campbell 
bred Wimples, Violets, Fancys, Miss Ramsdens, Charming Roses and Rosa- 
monds. 

Some ten years ago A. J. and C. T. Nelson — the latter now located on 
Eminence Farm, two miles east of Bunceton, and the former living three 
miles southwest of Bunceton — established a select herd of Shorthorns 
which is now being maintained under the name of the Eminence herd. 
From time to time new blood is being added so that the herd is each year 
being increased in size and improved in quality. 

Ben N. Smith established some three years ago a small but select 
herd of Shorthorns on the Walnut Dale Farm, which he owns east of 
Bunceton. This herd is being well managed and bids fair to become one 
of the good herds of the county. 

Walter N. Harness has recently established a small but good herd 
of Shorthorns on his farm northeast of Bunceton. 

"Ellerslie" is a name that stands out prominently in the live stock 



288 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

history of Cooper County. Several years ago this farm was owned by 
T. J. Wallace and later became the property of W. B. Wallace, who two 
years ago sold it to W. L. Clay, the present owner. This farm has always 
been known as the home of good live stock, specializing on Shorthorn 
cattle and high class saddle horses. Here for a time was the home of 
Young Abbotsburn, Grand Champion of the Chicago World's Fair. 

This review would not be complete without a reference to the beauti- 
ful old stock farm, Clover Leaf, where a number of years ago W. H. H. 
Stephens founded one of the well known Shorthorn herds. This farm was 
in the Stephens family for almost a 100 years, having only recently been 
disposed of to George Burger of Moniteau County. 

A pretty 200 acre farm, lying just within the edge of Bunceton, is 
the Ashwood farm, owned by C. P. Tutt. Here will be found a fine herd 
of Shorthorns and Berkshires. Mr. Tutt is one of the well informed men 
on Shorthorn cattle. 

In the Mt. Vernon Park Herd of Shorthorns are many choice Scotch 
and Scotch topped cattle, the property of Col. R. L. and Bert Harriman. 
Several years ago the Messrs. Harriman began the assemblying of a great 
lot of cattle. They bought freely and bred as well as they had bought. 
It is the proud boast of the owners of this herd that every cow has paid 
for herself twice over. 

The old idea was that the breeding of Shorthorns was a rich man's 
game, but it remained for G. A. Betteridge, of the Prairie View Herd to 
prove that it was a good game for a poor man to play provided he wanted 
to get on his feet. In the past thirty years Mr. Betteridge has acquired 
a 200 acre farm and has as fine abunch of Shorthorns as one would care 
to see. 

The Crestmead Herd of Scotch Shorthorns, owned by W. A. Bet- 
teridge, eight miles west of Bunceton, consists of over a hundred head of 
some of the very best breeds. Many of these cattle are Cruickshank 
Orange Blossoms and the remainder are of other leading Scotch families. 
Incidentally it may be said that Mr. Betteridge is one of the best posted 
men on Shorthorn pedigrees in the entire country. 

The history of the Idlewild Shorthorn herd dates back to the year 
1865, when the late George Harned, father of the present owner, W. P. 
Hamed, began its establishment. This herd has a strain of blood from 
one of the original members of the herd, "Sally Washington", purchased 
in Kentucky just after the close of the Civil War, and the farm boasts 
of this strain which is more than half a century old. Mr. Harned is 




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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 289 

especially proud of his "Double Marys", long in the herd. Bates, Booth 
and Cruickshank blood have been represented and much attention is paid 
to the development of milking Shorthorns. 

While Shorthorns, early known to many of the pioneer people as Dur- 
hams, were the first registered cattle to be brought to Cooper County, 
other breeds notably the Herefords, are now represented by some well 
established herds of high quality. Blank & Spieler, in the eastern part 
of the county are extensive and progressive breeders. D. E. McArthur, 
of near Billingsville, has also for many years maintained a good herd of 
Herefords. Other beef breeds are also represented, but the number of 

registered animals are limited. Wear, of Prairie Home, and 

Chris Rasmus who owns a fine farm on the Boonville and Lone Elm road, 
are breeding Angus cattle. Both have well established herds. 

Hogs. — Cooper County has many good herds of hogs, including Duroc 
Jerseys, Poland Chinas, Berkshires, O. I. C's., Hampshires, Mule-Foots 
and other breeds. In an early day, Essex and other breeds, then popular, 
were to be found on many Cooper County farms. The late Judge Baker 
and Thomas Tucker were among the early breeders of pure-bred hogs. 
To attempt to give the names of all who are interested in hog breeding in 
the county would be an utter impossibility, but reference is here made 
to some of the well-established herds. 

Prominent among the breeders of Poland Chinas are: Bert Harri- 
man, of the Mount Vernon Park stock farm, near Pilot Grove; Webb L. 
Clay, who secured a part of the Ellerslie herd of Poland Chinas at the 
time it was dispersed by W. B. Wallace — the herd having been sold at 
auction after Mr. Wallace disposed of the farm which had been owned 
by his father, the late T. J. Wallace. 

In this connection it might be said that some of the highest-priced 
Poland Chinas in the United States have been owned in Cooper County, 
prices of $1,000 or more being not uncommon for a single individual while 
more than $5,000, has been paid for one hog. Seed stock from this county 
has gone to practically every state in the Mississippi valley as well as to 
Central and South America. 

Duroc Jerseys have long been bred in this county, S. Y. Thornton hav- 
ing established the Rose Hill herd near Blackwater many years ago. This 
was one of the early herds to be established west of the Mississippi. Today 
Cooper County has a large number of herds of unusual quality. Among 
these might be mentioned the Fountain Valley herd of Richard Rothgeb ; 
(19) 



290 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

the Eminence herd owned by C. T. Nelson and containing hogs of good 
individuality and choice breeding. 

Berkshires are extensively bred by T. A. Harris and Sons at their 
Sunnyside Farm near La Mine. This is one of the best herds of Berk- 
shires to be found in the United States, representatives having been 
winners in leading national and state shows. 

A good herd of 0. I. C. hogs is maintained by John H. NefF at River- 
side Farm near Boonville. 

Richard Rothgeb is the proprietor of the Fountain Valley Herd of 
Duroc Jerseys, which he started in the year 1911. Mr. Rothgeb has 
popularized the Duroc Jersey in Cooper County and has succeeded in 
developing a very fine type of the breed. 

The good Blue Ribbon Herd of Duroc Jersey hogs is owned by Paul 
Winders and wife, near Boonville. 

The late W. B. Cully established the Spring Brook Herd of Poland 
Chinas in 1892, when he bought a choice thoroughbred sow from the herd 
of David Finch, a noted Ohio breeder. From time to time additions were 
made to the herd and in 1906 the entire Cedar Lawn herd of E. H. Rodgers 
was added. In this purchase was the first prize six months boar at the 
St. Louis Worlds Fair, Tecumseh Perfection. 

One of the earliest breeders of Duroc Jersey hogs in all the Mississippi 
valley is S. Y. Thornton, of near Blackwater, proprietor of the Rose Hill 
Duroc Jerseys. This herd was established in the early eighties. Mr. 
Thornton has often been called the original "Red Hog Man" in Missouri. 

Chris Ohlendorf is breeding Mule-Foot hogs on his farm southeast of 
Boonville. 

Hampshires are being bred in a limited way by a number of farmers 
and this market is becoming fairly well established in the county. 

Horses. — Cooper County has long been justly famous for its good 
horses, especially saddle horses and light harness horses. In many cases 
the pioneer brought with him favorite animals from Virginia or Kentucky, 
and the same blood lines have been continued until the present time. An 
example of this may be found in the Ashby "Whips", widely known sad- 
dle horses bred in Virginia, and descendants from the original stock of 
which are still to be seen on the farm of Chas. P. Tutt, of Bunceton. 

In an early day and even up to a few years ago the "nodding" running- 
walker, the best real riding horse the world has ever known, was common 
on every Cooper County road. Some of these horses are still to be seen 
here, but with the growing use of the automobile they are rapidly disap- 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNT.Y 291 

pearing. The five-gaited saddle horse, with his beauty, grace and marked 
show-yard qualities, has here reached a degree of perfection not often 
attained. The truth of this statement is borne out at local fairs, notably 
still at the Bunceton fair, which has been an incentive toward the breed- 
ing of good live stock and especially good horses, for almost a quarter of 
a century. 

The late Capt. Samuel L. Jewett, famous as a miller, farmer and 
stockman, brought to Cooper County, what was known as the "Gold Bank" 
horses. These horses are said by older citizens to have had much stamina 
but to have been high strung. The Glendours and Roebucks were other 
horses which years ago were largely bred in Cooper County, especially in 
the southern part. 

Along about the Civil War period a horse known as Varner's Roe- 
buck was in service near New Lebanon in the southwestern part of the 
county, where there was established a family of grey horses from which 
came some of the best running walkers ever owned in this section. About 
this period and a little later Wm. T. Groves, father of Col. S. H. Groves, 
and of the other "Groves Boys" was breeding, developing and training 
a string of good saddlers. 

Another name familiar to the old timers, is "The Copper Bottoms", 
from which came horses of stamina and endurance. More familiar still, 
to the present generation, at least, seem the Telegraphs. Along about 
this time came the great horse, Denmark Chief, brought to Missouri by 
the late T. J. Wallace. This horse has some wonderfully good sons to 
his credit, especially wheji used on Roebuck mares. 

About five years after the acquisition of Denmark Chief by Mr. Wal- 
lace, the late John F. Rogers, of Boonville, went to Kentucky and there 
purchased Diamond Denmark, later sold to the Luray Stock Farm. 

At this point it is well to briefly review the story of Luray, with which 
the names of Will H. Ewing and Col. R. L. Harriman are intimately asso- 
ciated. It was in 1885 or '86 that Messrs. Harriman anrl Ewing bought 
several car loads of horses in Kentucky and shipped them into Missouri. 
A little later Mr. Ewing went to Pilot Grove, while "Bob" Harriman estab- 
lished himself on Luray stock farm, one mile west of Bunceton. Mr. 
Ewing had gotten hold of the grey horse Dandy Jim and a Nutwood pacer. 
He raced these horses two or three years, then went to Texas with them 
and there disposed of them at high figures for those times. 

A year after the dissolution of partnership with Mr. Ewing, Colonel 
Harriman bought a stallion and a car load of brood mares in Kentucky. 



292 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

The stallion was a Claybred, Royal Windsor, a large 1,200-pound bay 
horse with fine carriage and having a beautiful mane and tail. In the 
carload of horses just referred to were three Alleys, yearlings and two- 
year-olds, which developed into sensational race horses. These mares 
both trotters were Miss Fullerton and Josephine. There was also Pansy 
Blossom, a mare by General Wilkes. Col. Harriman trained these mares, 
developed them into tip-top race horses and campaigned them for three 
years, during which time they won something like $20,000. Miss Fuller- 
ton was the better of the three, winning 75 per cent, of all the races in 
which she started. At the conclusion of her sensational race career she, 
with Josephine was sold to a Boston capitalist for $5,000. 

Profitable as was the investment just referred to, Col. Harriman de- 
clares that the best race horse that he ever got hold of was a Walnut Boy 
pacer, Gyp Walnut, bought in two-year-old form for $450 from Dr. Robin- 
son, of Windsor. Gyp Walnut could make 2:10 in three-year-old form 
over a good track, and was a steady consistent and game race horse. She 
piled up to her credit in two seasons a little more than $8,000. This sum 
was duplicated when she was sold in her four-year-old form to Jerry 
O'Neal, of Boston. 

With the rare foresight that has been his, Col. Harriman early fore- 
saw the coming popularity of the automobile, and as he puts it, "Got out 
of the horse game in order to keep from being run over by Ford cars." 
Before passing from the hasty review of the work of Messrs. Harriman 
and Ewing, the fact should be mentioned that they bought King Harold, 
of Woodland farm, bringing this good standard bred horse by Harold, sire 
of Maud S., to Cooper County at an initial investment of $1,000. 

Of the younger men who are today successfully engaged in the horse 
business and whose work has been of lasting benefit to the county, Trevor 
H. Moore, Bunceton, R. F. D. 4, is entitled to high rank. Mr. Moore some 
fifteen years ago bought of W. S. Waters, who had come to Cooper County 
from the good horse center of north central Missouri, a string of wonder- 
fully bred horses, including King Turner, The Royal Cross, Forest King, 
Jr., and Top Squirrel, all out of Holivy W. 1787, a black Squirrel. From 
this rare foundation of stock Mr. Moore has consistently bred and de- 
veloped horses of merit and of show yard quality, some of his animals 
selling far up in four figures. Among the good horses that Mr. Moore 
has owned might be mentioned, Missouri King 2960, and Forest Rex 3873, 
the latter now at the head of his stables. 

Prominent among those who have been leaders in the development 
of the horse and mule industry in Cooper County, is Ed Patterson, long 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 293 

a breeder of tip top saddle horses and of jacks and jennets. Among the 
good horses that Mr. Patterson has owned there might be mentioned 
Bracken King. 

Before passing from the horse history of the county mention should 
be made of the late Col. Robert A. McCulloch. Back in "the days of real 
sport", Col. McCulloch owned a string of racers of the kind that never 
failed to bring the boys up on their toes. The memory of these game 
horses ridden by negro mounts, is a happy one to many who enjoyed see- 
ing the ponies go. The late John R. Allison, of near Bunceton, was also 
a breeder of speed horses. To T. J. Lovell and his son, E. F. Lovell, the 
latter then living on the home farm, near Prairie Home, belongs the credit 
of having owned and developed some of the best harness and saddle horses 
in the county. Mr. Lovell, Sr., has also been an enthusiastic breeder of 
jacks and jennets. On another farm, only a short distance away, the late 
N. A. Gilbreath bred good jacks and jennets. N. A. George, R. A. George 
and the late I. S. Arnold have written their names in the jack and mule 
history of the county. 

In many instances the breeding of horses and of jacks and jennets 
has been so intimately associated that to mention one is to suggest the 
other. Among other names prominent in horse or jack circles, or in 
both, there should be mentioned E. H. Rodgers, J. M. Rodgers, Green 
Martin, Uncle Billie Martin, W. B. Gibson, C. P. Fairfax, W. A. Sombart, 
Arlie Frost, W. B. Windsor, Judge Turley, the late F. M. Marshall, the late 
Steve M. Smith, L. R. Pedego, John Cartner, and the late Capt. C. E. 
Leonard. Mr. Cartner was one of the first men to own good jacks in 
Cooper County, he having established a breeding stable south of Boonville, 
a half century or more ago. To Capt. Leonard, however, belongs the 
credit of being the pioneer jack man of Cooper County, as well as of a 
large part of the entire central west. Not only was Captain Leonard a 
breeder of jacks, but he was also an importer. As a leading spirit in the 
organization of the first jack book association in America, Mr. Leonard, 
had much to do with the establishment of standards, which have since 
become generally recognized in the mule world. Mr. Leonard once face- 
tiously remarked that it was he who put the black in jack. By this he 
meant that color was at his insistence made one of the standards. 

The following tables supplied by Chris Smith and covering a period 
of years show the prevailing prices on cattle and hogs on Cooper County 
farms previous to 1916. Since that time very much higher prices have 
prevailed, cattle passing the 16c mark and hogs reaching 20c per pound 
on the home market. 



294 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 



Fat 


cattle sold, not including 


Fat 


hogs sold. All 


hogs raised 


cows, 


heifers and calves: 






on farm: 








1886 


20 head @ 


4.25 


per 


b. 


1886 


53 head 


@ 


4.25 per 


b. 


1887 


18 head @ 


4.20 


per 


b. 


1887 


40 head 


@ 


5.00 per 


1,. 


1888 


18 head @ 


3.60 


per 


b. 


1888 


45 head 


@ 


4.00 per 


b. 


1889 


16 head @ 


4.00 


per 


b. 


1889 


50 head 


@ 


3.25 per ' 


b. 


1890 


27 head @ 


4.00 


per 


lb. 


1890 


55 head 


@ 


3.50 per 


b. 


1891 


20 head @ 


5.00 


per 


[b. 


1891 


60 head @ 


4.00 per 


b. 


1892 


23 head @ 


4.25 


per 


lb. 


1892 


45 head 


@ 


5.00 per 


b. 


1893 


26 head @ 


3.60 


per 


b. 


1893 


35 head 


@ 


4.75 per 


b. 


1894 


26 head @ 


4.25 


per 


lb. 


1894 


30 head 


@ 


5.00 per 


lb. 


1895 


19 head @ 


3.75 


per 


b. 


1895 


25 head 


@ 


4.25 per 


lb. 


1896 


23 head @ 


4.10 


per 


lb. 


1896 


55 head 


at 


3.25 per 


lb. 


1897 


20 head @ 


4.35 


per 


lb. 


1897 


60 head 


@ 


3.10 per 


lb. 


1898 


14 head @ 


4.50 


per 


lb. 


1898 


50 head 


@ 


3.50 per 


lb. 


1899 


24 head @ 


5.25 


per 


lb. 


1899 


75 head 


@ 


3.25 per 


ib. 


1900 


26 head @ 


4.75 


per 


lb. 


1900 


60 head 


@ 


4.50 per 


lb. 


1901 


16 head @ 


4.65 


per 


lb. 


■ 1901 


50 head 


@ 


5.00 per 


Ib. 


1902 


16 head @ 


5.75 


per 


lb. 


1902 


40 head 


@ 


6.50 per 


lb. 


1903 


24 head @ 


4.60 


per 


lb. 


1903 


60 head 


@ 


5.25 per 


lb. 


1904 


24 head @ 


4.65 


per 


lb. 


1904 


40 head 


@ 


4.75 per 


lb. 


1905 


28 head @ 


4.50 


per 


lb. 


1905 


35 head 


@ 


5.25 per 


lb. 


1906 


16 head @ 


4.15 


per 


lb. 


1906 


30 head 


@ 


5.75 per 


lb. 


1907 


21 head @ 


4.50 


per 


lb. 


1907 


45 head 


@ 


6.00 per 


b. 


1908 


14 head @ 


4.75 


per 


lb. 


1908 


35 head 


@ 


5.50 per 


b. 


1909 


18 head @ 


4.75 


per 


lb. 


1909 


36 head 


@ 


6.00 per 


b. 


1910 


21 head @ 


5.65 


per 


lb. 


1910 


37 head 


@ 


9.00 per 


lb. 


1911 


38 head @ 


5.25 


per 


lb. 


1911 


40 head 


@ 


6.50 per 


1). 


1912 


24 head @ 


7.75 


per 


lb. 


1912 


40 head 


@ 


7.00 per 


lb. 


1913 


19 head @ 


6.50 


per 


lb. 


1913 


25 head 


@ 


7.25 per 


b. 


1914 


11 head @ 


7.25 


per 


lb. 


1914 


30 head 


@ 


7.75 per 


b. 


1915 


27 head @ 


7.30 


per 


lb. 


1915 


20 head 


@ 


7.75 per 


b. 



Live Stock Products. 

Dairy Products: 

Dairy cows on farms reporting dairy products 5,142 

Dairy cows on farms reporting milk produced 4,898 

Milk produced (gallons) 1,182,479 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 295 

Milk sold (gallons) 32,315 

Cream sold (gallons) 5,042 

Butter fat sold (pounds) 3,428 

Butter produced (pounds) 299,745 

Butter sold (pounds) 103,998 

Cheese produced (pounds) 330 

Cheese sold (pounds) 200 

Poultry Produces: 

Poultry raised 354,881 

Poultry sold 107,172 

Eggs produced (dozens) 1,150,363 

Eggs sold (dozens) 810,004 

Honey and Wax: 

Honey produced (pounds) 16,085 

Wax produced (pounds) 305 

Wool, Mohair and Goat Hair: 

Wool, fleeces shorn 8,294 

Mohair and goat hair, fleeces shorn 187 

Domestic Animals Sold or Slaughtered: 

Calves , 893 

Other cattle 12,249 

Horses, mules, asses and burrows 2,772 

Swine 78,055 

Sheep and goats 3,306 

Sheep. — As far back as three-quarters of a century, Cooper County 
was noted for its fine flocks of sheep. Among the present day breeders 
of sheep might be mentioned the following: S. H. Groves, R. S. Roe, 
Clayton Glasgow, W. H. Glasgow, J. O. Groves, T. J. Burrus, C. P. Tutt 
& Son. 

The 13th census taken in 1910 gives the following figures relative to 
live stock in Cooper County. Cattle were listed as follows: Dairy cows, 
5,765 ; other cows, 3,251 ; yearling heifers, 2,660 ; calves, 2,547 ; yearling 
steers and bulls, 2,798 ; other steers and bulls, 5,482. 

Horses were listed as follows: Mature horses, 7,932; yearling colts, 
814; spring colts, 382; mules (mature), 4,572; yearling colts, 771; spring 
colts, 328 ; asses and burrows, 214. 



296 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Swine were listed as follows : Mature hogs, 44,609 ; spring pigs, 29353. 

Sheep were listed as follows : Rams, ewes and wethers, 9,676 ; spring 
lambs, 6,383 ; goats, 802. 

Soils. — The soil survey of Cooper County made by A. T. Sweet of 
the United States Department of Agriculture, and E. S. Vanatta and B. 
W. Tillman of the University of Missouri, presents a fund of information 
for the farmer and agriculturist of Cooper. It will doubtless be read 
with interest by a large part of our population. We glean from it the 
following : 

The soils of Cooper* County group themselves naturally into four 
principal divisions, the level upland soils, the loessial soils, the residual 
soils, and the alluvial or bottom land soils. 

The origin of the level upland soils is open to some doubt. The soil 
as it exists at the present time is very much like the upland soils of 
northwestern Missouri, which are known to have been derived from glacial 
material laid down either by water or wind. The latter are underlain by 
glacial deposits, while the level upland soils of Cooper County have no 
glacial material beneath them. They lie on the residuary silts and clays 
derived from limestones or on the limestone itself. Typical glacial de- 
posits, like those underlying the northeastern Missouri soil, are not known 
to occur under the level upland soils of central and southern Cooper County. 

The soils in Cooper County are also very much like certain smoothland 
soils in Pettis, Henry, Bates, Vernon, and other counties in southwestern 
Missouri. They extend across the State line into southeastern Kansas. 
These soils are undoubtedly derived from coal measure shales and clays. 
The Cooper County soil is somewhat better soil than the similar soil 
occurring in these counties, but its physical character, the thickness, the 
nature of the subsoil, and relation to the underlying rock are essentially 
the same. Its greater productivity is probably due to its better drainage 
and its higher percentage of humus. 

Because of the absence of underlying glacial material and of the 
close similarity between this soil in Cooper County and those in the 
counties named above, the Cooper County soils have been correlated with 
the latter rather than with the soils of northeastern Missouri, and are 
considered to have been derived from clays and shales of Coal Measure 
age. 

The origin of the loess is not clearly understood, but it is supposed 
to be due, in part at least, to the removal and deposition of materials 
from previously glaciated areas by the wind. The present soils of this 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 297 

group are the result of weathering of these deposits. The residual soils 
have come from the weathering in place of various beds of rock, prin- 
cipally limestone, occupying the hill slopes between the upland prairies 
and the valley floors. 

The alluvial soils are of recent origin, and have been deposited in 
the flood plains of the streams by which they have been carried to their 
present position. 

The loess soils stretch in a rather narrow belt along the northern 
side of the county. On the extreme eastern boundary the loess disappears 
as a typical deposit. A narrow wedge of it ends one mile west of the 
county line -and north of the Petite Saline. Thence westward the belt 
widens, but it does not attain a greater width than two and one-half miles, 
except in one or two places. 

The loess soils are usually recognized by the somewhat rounded topog- 
raphy of the country over which they are spread ; by the light yellowish- 
brown color of the soil; by its smooth satiny texture; by the high per- 
pendicular bluffs, which shut in the older roads; by the absence of rocks 
of any kind, except occasionally near the bottom of the deepest ditches ; 
by the uniform texture of soil and subsoil : and usually by the strong, 
healthy appearance of the growing crops. 

In elevation the loess soils range from a little over 600 feet above 
sea level on the lower slopes to a little over 750 feet along the crest of 
the ridge which extends almost continuously from near Wooldridge on 
the east entirely across the county. The surface, therefore, has a range 
in elevation of only about 150 feet, yet, except for a few flat areas on the 
higher portions of the western end of this ridge, it has a well-rounded 
billowy topography, which is in marked contrast to the sharper cut 
topography of the residual soils farther south. 

Over a large portion of the area covered by the loess soils the same 
material extends entirely over the surface, covering crests, slopes, and 
valleys. The formation is deepest, however, near the Missouri River and 
thins out toward' the south, its southern boundary being a very indefinite 
line. It also seems to be somewhat thicker on the crest of the ridges 
and at the foot of the slopes than on the slopes, and as the southern edge 
of the area of deposition is approached it appears only upon the ridges. 

Although the greater portion of the country occupied by the loess 
soil is quite undulating, limited areas in the northwestern part of the 
county are- more nearly level and are darker in color. 

The loess soils in this area have been divided into two classes, the 



298 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

undulating lighter-colored soil, called the Knox silt loam, and the more 
nearly level darker colored soil called the Marshall silt loam. 

A large part of the uplands south of the loess soils is called prairie 
and is distinguished by the absence of natural timber growth. The soils 
here are characterized by an almost level surface and by a black silty 
surface material which grades into a gray silt, and is underlin by a layer 
of stiff resistant clay several inches in thickness, which in turn is under- 
lain by a mottled yellow and gray silty clay. From the very close resem- 
blance between the subsoil of the prairie, as seen in the exposures on 
eroded slopes, and the subsoil exposed near the edge of the loess sheet, it 
would seem that these prairie soils were partly covered along the northern 
side of the county by loess. 

In many places the transition from the prairie soils to the residual 
soils is quite abrupt, only a few steps intervening between the black 
surface soil .with heavy clay subsoil and the reddish-yellow chert-filled 
residual soil; but throughout the greater part of the area the prairie 
soils are bordered by a soil differing from the prairie soil in being gray 
or yellowish-brown at the surface instead of black, in occupying the 
slopes of small streams which extend back into the prairie in places 
covering the narrow ridges between the small streams, and in having, in 
most cases, no well-defined clay layer in the subsoil. This soil may be 
considered a modified prairie soil, the modification in some places being 
due to the erosion of the surface of the prairie, in others to the gradual 
movement or creep of the soil particles down the slopes, and in others to 
a thorough leaching of the soil along the ridge crests. This region was 
formerly timbered to a considerable extent. 

The level upland soils, then, may be divided into the level black 
prairie soil, called the Oswego silt loam, and the modified glacial soil, 
lighter in color and usually without the heavy layer in the subsoil, called 
the Boone silt loam. 

In the rougher portions of the county south of the Blackwater-Petite 
Saline line there is no possible question about the origin of the soil. It 
is a residula limestone soil, partaking of the nature of the rocks that 
underlie it. The soils in the sandstone-shale-clay belt likewise are residual 
soils, derived from these same sandstones, shales, and clays and partaking 
of their nature. Along the river bluffs and extending southward for a 
few miles the foundation rock, whether it be limestone, as it is in most 
places, or sandstone-shale-clay rock, as it is in a few cases, is covered by 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 299 

the loess, a brown silt deposit. From this material has been made the 
soils of the river hill belt. 

The soils of the uplands south of the Blackwater-Petite Saline belt 
are derived from a silt and clay soil material that lies on limestone but 
has not been derived from it. 

There are at least two possible sources of this material: (1) It may 
be a disintegrated remnant of shales and clays that originally overlaid 
this area. The shales and clays have been broken up by weathering into 
silts and clays, but the material has not been removed by erosion on 
account of the protection afforded by the solid limestone on which it lies. 
(2) It may be a layer of overwash or outwash glacial material that was 
spread out over this region dui-ing glacial times by streams flowing out 
from the glacier. At the present time the former seems to be the most 
probable origin of this material. The general soil belts or areas of the 
county therefore are (1) residual limestone soils, (2) residual sandstone- 
shale-clay soils, (3) loess soils, (4) soils of doubtful origin but probably 
residual soils from shales, clays, and fine-grained sandstones, and (5) 
alluvial soils. The accompanying map shows the distribution of these soil 
areas. The differentation in the field of the residual soils of the sandstone- 
shale-clay belt from the loess soils to the north of it has proved to be a 
difficult matter. They are both silty soils and both brown in color. Where 
the rock does not underlie the soil it is very difficult to locate the boundary. 
The crierion used was the percentage of clay in the subsoil. The loess 
soil has a low clay percentage. When the subsoil had enough clay to make 
it sticky, it was not considered as of loessial origin. The character of 
the native vegetation, especially the trees, was used as a supplementary 
criterion in mapping this difference. 

The alluvial soils are made up from material eroded from all other 
soils of the area, carried by water in suspension and redeposited. They 
vary greatly in character, depending upon the source from which derived, 
the methods of deposition, and the processes they have undergone since 
they have been laid down. 

The alluvial soils in the southern part of the county contain much 
material which has been carried down from the eroded edges of the 
prairie and the gray silt ridges mixed with material from the residual 
soils. Those found along the streams which drain the loess are derived 
almost entirely from that formation and resemble it closely, while those 
deposited along the Missouri River have come from several different 



300 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

sources, are more complex, and differ essentially in composition from the 
other alluvial soils of the county. 

Closely related to the alluvial soils are the soils found in valleys of 
small streams and along the base of long slopes, where the soils, although 
they have not been carried in suspension, have reached their present posi- 
tion through the gradual work of surface water, which has removed the 
particles from the uplands and the slopes to the lowlands. This drift or 
creep often results in almost flat areas of dark-colored soil, more or less 
similar to the true alluvial types, and where these areas are of suflicient 
extent they have been grouped with the alluvial soils. 

The alluvial soils have been divided into two groups. Those derived 
from the loess, glacial, and residual soils and found along the streams of 
the county have been mapped as Wabash soils, and those found along the 
Missouri River have been classified as Sarpy soils. 

The Knox silt loam is a light-buff or very light yellowish-brown silt 
loam, smooth and satiny in texture. At a depth of about 16 inches this 
material passes very gradually into a heavier silt loam, in which the pro- 
portion of very fine sand found in the surface soil is very much reduced 
while the clay content is slightly increased. The subsoil is also more 
yellow and sometimes shows a reddish tinge. It extends to a depth of 
several feet. In many places at a depth of four or five feet there occurs 
a horizontal layer of material discolored a reddish brown by iron cxide. 
This layer usually contains numerous small iron concretions and in places 
small pipes of the same material. Below this depth the soil grades into 
a more or less mottled gray and yellowish silty clay. Where exposed to 
the direct action of running water or to travel, as in public roads, the loess 
from which the type is derived wears away very rapidly and yet the soil 
seems to be of such a texture, the soil grains of such a shape, or else the 
material is so held together by a very slight cementation that instead oi 
creeping and moving to form slopes it stands in perpendicular banks. Aa 
it weathers it also develops a peculiar system of perpendicular cracks 
which, with horizontal cracks at greater intervals, gives it a peculiar 
columnar structure somewhat resembling basaltic columns. 

This soil was formerly timbered and supported a heavy growth of 
white, bur, and laurel oak, black and white walnut, hickory, elm, hack- 
berry, wild cherry, ash, honey locust, pawpaw, sassafras, wild plum, and 
hazel, but on account of its value for agricultural purposes very few areas, 
and these of small extent, remain uncleared. When the land is first 
cleared, owing to the very large amount of leaf mold and humus at the 
surface, this portion of the soil is quite black, but after weathering and 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 301 

leaching for a few years, it becomes much lighter in color, and in many 
places the surface when well leached and dry is a light-gray differing but 
little in color or texture from the gray silt ridges of the Boone silt loam. 
As noted already, the Knox silt loam occupies the larger part of the survey 
between the main east and west lines of the larger streams of the county 
and the Missouri River, the area approximating one-fifth of that of the 
entire county. 

As a whole the Knox silt loam is the best soil of the area. It is a 
deep, well-drained soil, yet holds moisture well. This is noticeable during 
periods of dry weather when the crops on it are much better able to 
withstand the drought than those on some of the other soils of the area. 
In the fall, too, the forest trees on it remain green much longer than on 
the more shallow residual soils. This soil is warm, friable, easily culti- 
vated, and productive. The average yield of corn on fields in the best 
condition is about 48 bushels and of wheat 19 bushels per acre. 

The Marshall silt loam, like the Knox silt loam, is of loessial origin, 
but it differs from the latter in color, topography, and character of the 
subsoil. On the other hand, it differs from the Oswego silt loam, which 
it resembles at the surface, in having a deeper surface soil and in lacking 
in places the stiff resistant clay layer found in the subsoil of the latter. 

The surface soil of the Marshall silt loam is a very dark gray to 
black, smooth, friable silt loam, which extends to a depth of about 20 
inches, the lower part of the section usually becoming somewhat lighter 
in color. The subsoil is a brown mottled silty clay grading at a depth of 
24 to 30 inches into a yellowish and grayish mottled silty clay, some- 
what lighter in texture. In the more level areas a heavy, almost imper- 
vious layer of brown silty clay, six to 10 inches in thickness, forms the 
upper portion of the subsoil, but in the more rolling areas this heavy 
layer is almost or entirely wanting. 

The Marshall silt loam is found in only a few small areas in Cooper 
County, the largest of these occupying the more level land in the extreme 
northwestern portion of the county. A few small bodies also occur south- 
west of the town of Blackwater, north of Lone Elm, and in the vicinity 
of Clarks Fork. 

This soil is well supplied with humus and is a friable, easily culti- 
vated productive soil. Corn yields from 40 to 50 bushels and wheat from 
13 to 18 bushels per acre. 

To a depth of 10 inches the Oswego silt loam is a smooth, friable, 
black or very dark brown silt loam, often containing in the first few 
inches an appreciable quantity of very fine sand. Below 10 inches the 



302 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

dark-colored surface soil grades into a lighter colored gray silt. The soil 
also becomes slightly heavier in texture with increased depth, and at about 
16 inches rests on a very heavy, tenacious, brown silty clay, which often 
contains numerous small iron concretions. The line of contact between 
the soil and this heavy subsoil is very sharp, but the thickness and tenacity 
of this heavy layer varies considerably in different parts of the area, being 
thicker and more resistant on the more level and poorly drained portions. 
At a depth of about 30 to 34 inches this heavy subsoil grades into a 
yellowish and gray mottled silty clay subsoil lighter in texture than the 
soil above and resembling closely the subsoil found in places under the 
loess soils. In the subsoil, usually in the lower portion of the heavy layer, 
small irregularly lime concretions are found, the quantity in places being 
relatively large. 

The Oswego silt loam is one of the extensive soil types in the area 
and occupies the higher and more nearly level portions of the area covered 
by the upland glacial soils. The largest body of it occurs east of Bunce- 
ton and south of Lone Elm, but other large bodies occur in the vicinity 
of Prairie Home, between Moniteau Creek and Stephens Branch jn the 
east and Petite Saline on the west, and between Petite Saline and the 
Lamine. Small areas also occur in the southeastern and in the south- 
western parts of the county. 

Although the soils of these areas resemble each other to a sufficient 
extent to be classified under the same name, there is considerable varia- 
tion in appearance and in crop value, the soils west of a north and south 
line through Bunceton and especially those southwest of Vermont being 
dark-brown instead of black in color, having a somewhat shallower and 
more resistant subsoil, and as a whole being less able to withstand 
droughts. They are also not so well suited for deep rooted crops. There 
are also variations between the soils of areas which drain toward Moni- 
teau Creek and those farther north which drain into the Petite ' 'inn, 
the latter in most places being slightly deeper, darker colored, and re- 
sembling more closely the Marshall silt loam. 

The Oswego silt loam is a corn, timothy, and pasture soil, although 
wheat and oats are grown on it to a considerable extent. Some farmers 
are using portions of it where the subsoil is not too heavy quite success- 
fully for clover. On the average the type yields 42 bushels of corn and 
15 bushels of wheat per acre. 

The Boone silt loam has not only the widest distribution, but also the 
greatest range in variation and crop value of any soil in the area. Typi- 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY ,')03 

cally it consists of a yellowish-brown or grayish-brown silt loam of fairly 
uniform texture, with a depth of about 15 inches, at which depth it 
becomes slightly heavier in texture, grading into the same mottled yellow 
and gray silty clay subsoil found in the Oswego silt loam. This subsoil 
persists to a depth of three feet or more, or where thin rests upon the 
underlying stony material derived from the underlying rocks. This ma- 
terial has a granular structure much like that of the residual limestone 
soils, and where it occurs typically no heavy layer occurs between the soil 
and subsoil. 

The Boone silt loam borders the Oswego silt loam, or prairie soils, 
on all sides, and may be considered a transitional type between the Os- 
wego silt loam and the lower lying residual soils. It is also always more 
or less mixed with both, the prairie soils being washed down and mixed 
with it and the underlying residual soils mixed with it through the move- 
ment of the soil particles down the slope, so that its boundaries are in 
places very indefinite. In origin it is like the Oswego silt loam, and is in 
reality a modified form of that soil, resulting from the removal of ma- 
terial from the surface. In areas where erosion has taken place the yel- 
lowish brown less productive soil is exposed at the surface. Boone silt 
loam where the black prairie soil formerly existed can be noted around 
the source and along the slopes of many small streams which head well 
back into the prairie. 

At the foot of long slopes and especially along the heads of small 
streams the wash may accumulate, forming a deep, often dark-colored 
soil. Where such areas are of sufficient extent they have been mapped 
as alluvial soils, but where too small to be indicated on the soil map they 
have been included with the Boone silt loam. 

Another phase of this soil is to be found along the tops of long, nar- 
row ridges which extend from the prairie out between the upper courses 
of small streams. The soil of these ridges ranges in color from an ashy 
gray to cream color and in texture from that of the loess to a loose flour- 
like silt, probably not loess, the loess areas being found in the northern 
part of the area covered by the type, and the whiter ridges principally 
in the southern part of the county. The light soil of these ridges seems 
to be the result of thorough leaching, in which not only the color but also 
much of the fertility of the soil has been removed. In many places along 
the tops of the ridges a heavy brown clay layer has been developed at a 
depth of from 14 to 18 inches, the transition from the light silt to this 
layer being very abrupt. Below the brown clay occurs the mottled silty 



304 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

clay, found under the remainder of this soil. These ridges in the northern 
part of the area undoubtedly in many places bear a thin capping of loess 
and approach the loess in crop value, but those farther south are less 
productive. 

A large part of the Boone silt loam was originally timbered by oak, 
post oak and bur oak being the principal growth on the ridges, which 
are locally called "post oak ridges' and have the heavy layer in the subsoil. 

The Boone silt loam as a whole is not so productive a soil as the 
prairie soil on the one side nor the limestone soils on the other. It has 
been one of the worst used soils in the area, is deficient in organic matter, 
and does not hold moisture well, yet is a soil which can readily be built 
up and made to yield profitable crops. 

The Bates silt loam is a dark-gray to grayish-brown silt loam with a 
yellowish tinge which becomes quite noticeable where the soil is eroded. 
At a depth of six to 10 inches this graduates into a yellowish-gray to 
yellowish-brown silt loam. The clay percentage increases downward until 
at 30 inches it becomes plastic and in places quite sticky. The lower 15 
to 20 inches is usually mottled yellow and gray. Bands of brown to 
reddish-brown silt, in places faintly cemented, in others having the iron 
somewhat concentrated in nodules, occur rather abundantly from 24 
inches downward. They lie horizontal. Layers of light ashy gray silt 
and silty clay occur also, showing an ashy gray color in the freshly 
plowed fields when it has been exposed. 

This soil differs from the Knox silt loam mainly in its more yellow 
color and its higher percentage of clay in the subsoil. Its color is also 
much less uniform than is that of the Knox. On plowed hillside fields its 
color varies with the erosion and the color of the particular layer out- 
cropping, while that of the Knox is uniform. 

The timber growth is like that of the Knox, but contains a higher 
percentage of oaks, especially laurel, pin and post oak, and a lower per- 
centage of walnut and elm. 

The Bates silt loam is derived from Coal Measure shales, clays, and 
argillaceous sandstones mixed more or less with the material of the Knox 
silt loam. It occurs in an east-west belt across the northern part of the 
county. Where the surface is flat the soil is essentially the same as the 
Oswego silt loam. It becomes the Boone silt loam only within the areas 
where the surface has been eroded. The belt of its occurrence lies along 
an- east-west pre-Coal Measure valley which was filled with Coal Measure 
material during Coal Measure time. It lies deeper than the same rocks 



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FROM OSCAR SPIELER'S PENS 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 305 

on the uplands to the north and south of it. They have disappeared from 
the latter areas, but still exist in this belt. 

The soil of the Clarkoville silt loam is a reddish or yellowish-brown 
silt loam having a somewhat granular structure, by which it can often 
be distinguished from the other silt loams of the area. Typically it ex- 
tends to a depth of about 15 inches, where it grades into a siity clay 
usually brighter, often a brick red, in color. This subsoil may persist to 
a depth of three feet or more, but often at a less depth rests upon the 
underlying bed of chert or limestone, that part of the subsoil immediately 
above the rocks usually being a very stiff red or yellow clay. 

This soil is residual in origin, having been derived from the disinte- 
gration in place of beds of fossiliferous limestone, the principal formations 
being the Burlington and Choteau. These, especially the Burlington, con- 
tain much chert, the disintegration of which takes place much less rapidly 
than does that of the purer limestone, so that the soil is often quite shal- 
low, and fragments of chert are mingled with the soil and scattered over 
its surface. Where the soil is very shallow and the chert fragments are 
so thick as to interfere seriously with cultivation, the areas, if of sufficient 
size to be shown on the soil map, have been mapped as the Clarksville 
stony loam. 

The Clarksville silt loam occurs along the lower slopes of all streams 
in the area, except those in the northern part of the area which are cov- 
ered by loess, the tributaries of Moniteau Creek and some of the tribu- 
taries of the upper Lamine. Where the crests of the ridges and hilltops 
carry no capping of glacial or loessial material the entire surface is cov- 
ered by this soil. 

Originally the Clarksville silt loam was heavily timbered with black 
walnut, laurel oak, elm, hickory, and sassafras, and many splendid groves 
of black walnut are found on it at present in different parts of the area. 
Where of good deoth, comparatively free from chert, and well handled, 
it is probably the best wheat soil of the area. Corn yields range from 
35 to 40 bushels and wheat yields from 16 to 22 bushels per acre. 

The Clarksville stony loam is agriculturally an unimportant type and 
consists of those areas in the Clarksville silt loam in which the percentage 
of rock at or near the surface is so large that they are of little or no 
value for farming. Some of the less stony portions might be cleared of 
stones and used for orchard and pasture, but in many cases the surface 
of the ground is almost or entirely covered with fragments of chert. In 
(20) 



306 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

other places there is a surface covering of soil, but this is so thin that 
it can scarcely be cultivated. Areas in which limestone outcrops along 
the bluffs and hill slopes have been included with this soil as well as some 
of the stony areas found along Moniteau Creek and surrounded by Baxter 
silt loam. 

The greater portion of the Clarksville stony loam is still timbered, 
usually with post and bur oak, and clumps of these trees in areas of Clarks- 
ville silt loam usually mark the stony areas. Many areas of this soil on 
account of their small size have not been separated from the silt loam. 

The surface soil of the Baxter silt loam consists of a light yellowish 
brown silt loam which, at a depth of about 16 inches, grades into a silty 
granular clay. The subsoil becomes heavier in texture and redder in 
color to a depth of about two feet, where it is mottled in appearance, this 
mottling extending to a depth of three feet or more. 

The Baxer silt loam, like the Clarksville silt loam, is residual in 
origin. It is derived from the disintegration of the less fossiliferous and, 
in this area, more cherty Magnesian limestone which outcrops in the 
southeastern and also in the southwestern part of the county. It differs 
but little in color or texture from the Clarksville silt loam, but on the 
whole is less productive. The timber growth consists principally of white, 
bur, and post oak, the walnut, elm, and other trees of the Clarksville soils 
being almost entirely wanting. Many of the ridges also have the whitish 
appearance of the post-oak ridges of the Boone silt loam. 

This soil in places is three feet or more in depth, but is often underlain 
at a less depth by chert fragments or by limestone. Chert and fragments 
of the soft white "cotton rock" are often scattered over the surface and 
through the soil, making it unfit for cultivation. 

The Wabash silt loam is an alluvial soil composed of material eroded 
from the other soils of the area, worked over by the streams, and rede- 
posited along their flood plains. In the northern part of the county, along 
the lower course of the Petite Saline and the small streams which flow 
into the Missouri, this soil has been derived very largely from the loess ; 
but in other parts of the area it has come from areas occupied by the 
residual soils and the upland soils of glacial origin, the light-colored silt 
from the gray ridges being in many places quite noticeable. 

Although varying considerably in color, texture, and structure the 
Wabash silt loam, as occurring in this area, may be described as a dark- 
gray or, when moist, a black, smooth-textured, friable, light silt loam, 
which becomes lighter in color at a depth of about 12 inches, but shows no 
change in texture to a depth of two feet or more. At this depth the ma- 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 307 

terial usually becomes darker and heavier, retaining these characteristics 
to a depth of several feet. In places, however, the subsoil is underlain by 
gravel, unconsolidated and residual material, or the solid rock. In many 
places a gray, flourlike silt covers the surface of small areas, and in others 
the gray layer below the surface soil is wanting, the dark, rather heavy 
silt loam extending from the surface to the depth of three feet or more. 
In still other places the surface soil is found to contain a relatively high 
content of very fine sand. Where the light-colored phase occurs it is, like 
the gray silt ridges from which it has been eroded, somewhat less pro- 
ductive than the darker soils. On the other hand, where the very dark, 
rather heavy silt loam extends through the entire soil section the type 
is often poorly drained and somewhat refractory under cultivation. Much 
of the Wabash silt loam is subject to annual or occasional overflow, and 
while this adds to the richness of the soil through the deposition of silt, 
especially when the material comes from the loess or the residual soils, 
these periods of high water usually occur at times when they do consid- 
erable damage to crops. 

Where second bottoms occur they are in most cases above the reach 
of flood water. The soils are also comparatively uniform in texture, well 
drained, and among the most productive of the area. Along the steep 
slope which usually separates the lower bottom from these second bot- 
toms there is often exposed a narrow strip of red residual soil. 

As a whole, the Wabash silt loam, although lacking uniformity, is 
among the best soils of the county. It is especially well a'dapted to alfalfa, 
owing in part to the position of ground water, which is near enough the 
surface for this deep-rooted plant to reach. Corn yields an average of 45 
bushels and wheat between 14 and 20 bushels per acre. 

The Wabash clay is an unimportant type in this area, only a few 
small bodies of it having been mapped, although many others too small 
to be shown on the soil map occur in the lower poorly drained portions of 
the Wabash silt loam. It is a heavy, sticky black clay, which dries and 
cracks at the surface, the soil breaking into small, irregular cubelike frag- 
ments. At a depth of about 16 inches this black soil grades into a stiff, 
waxy clay, somewhat lighter in color, which extends to a depth of throe 
feet or more. The type is of alluvial origin, being the result of deposition 
of the finer soil particles from very quiet water. Its formation has also 
in most places been influenced by conditions of very poor drainage. 

The largest area of this soil found in the county occurs along the 
Lamine River near its mouth, but other small areas are found farther up 
the Lamine Valley and along Blackwater and Petite Saline, much of that 



308 * HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

near the town of Blackwater being somewhat lighter and better suited for 
farming than the typical Wabash clay. This soil is commonly known as 
gumbo, and is cultivated with considerable difficulty, unless handled when 
in just the proper condition. When so handled it produces good crops of 
wheat and grass and is used to some extent for corn. It can, however. 
be greatly improved by thorough drainage and by cultivation. The yields 
of wheat and corn are somewhat lower than on the type just described. 

The Sarpy silty clay is a yellowish dark brown to almost black silty 
clay, underlain at a depth of about 14 inches by a very fine sandy loam, 
light in color and extending to a depth of three feet or more. In places 
thin layers of silt or silty clay are encountered in the subsoil, and in other 
places the heavy surface soil extends to a depth of three feet or more, 
the subsoil being lighter in color than the surface material, but very 
plastic and puttylike. The light-textured subsoil, however, seems to pre- 
vail over the greater part of the type. 

Only a small area of Sarpy silty clay occurs in Cooper County, this 
being near Wooldridge. 

This soil is heavy and cracks and breaks into cubes when dry. It is 
thei'efore somewhat difficult to handle, but is a rich, productive soil and 
well suited to the principal crops of the area, which yield about as well 
as on the Wabash soils. 

The Sarpy silt loam, like the Sarpy silty clay, is of alluvial origin, has 
a level surface, and is subject to occasional overflow. It consists of a 
yellowish-brown rather heavy silty soil, though lighter both in color and 
texture than the silty clay, which extends to a depth of about 16 inches, 
where it is underlain by a lighter-colored fine sandy loam similar to the 
materials found under the silty clay. In places, hoewver, the heavy sur- 
face soil extends to the depth of three feet or more. This soil is easily 
cultivated and very productive. It occurs in only one area located near 
Wooldridge. 

The Sarpy fine sandy loam consists of a rather silty fine sandy loam 
with a depth of about 12 inches, resting on a fine sand. It is an unim- 
portant type in this area, a few small areas only having been outlined 
along the Missouri River. The principal cultivated area is on Terrapin 
Island. 



CHAPTER XIX. 



THE PRESS 



FIRST NEWSPAPER— SECOND NEWSPAPER — "THE COON HUNTER" — OTHER PIO- 
NEER PAPERS— BOONVILLE ADVERTISER FOUNDED— BOONVILLE EAGLE- 
CENTRAL MISSOURIAN — TOPIC — WESTERN CHRISTIAN UNION — PILOT GROVE 
BEE— SHAVE TAIL COURIER— BLACKWATER NEWS— OTTERVILLE MAIL- 
CENTRAL MISSOURI REPUBLICAN— BUNCETON EAGLE. 

The first newspaper in Cooper County was established at Boonville 
about the year 1834, and was called the "Boonville Herald." It was owned 
by James 0. Middleton, and edited by Benjamin E. Ferry, who was after- 
wards county clerk of Cooper County. In the year 1838, Robert Brent 
bought one-half interest in the paper from James Middleton, and on the 
8th of April, in that year, they changed the name of the paper to that of 
"The Western Emigrant." March 7, 1839, C. W. Todd purchased Brent's 
interest in the paper, and the paper was edited about one year by Messrs. 
Middleton and Todd. April 30, 1840, C. W. Todd purchased Middlton's 
interest in the paper, and changed the name to that of the "Boonville 
Observer." C. W. Todd continued as sole proprietor of the paper until 
Feb. 3, 1842, when he sold one-half interest in it to T. J. Boggs. March 
29, 1843, F. M. Caldwell and J. S. Collins purchased the paper from Todd 
& Boggs. They continued to edit it in partnership only until June 7, 
1843, when F. M. Caldwell purchased the interest of Collins, and became 
sole proprietor. Caldwell soon sold one-half interest in the paper to Allen 
Hammond, and it was edited under the firm name of Caldwell & Hammond 
until June 9, 1846, when Caldwell sold out his interest to Allen Ham- 
mond. Hammond continued to edit it alone until Nov. 7, 1850, when F. 
M. Caldwell returned from Virginia, and again purchased a half interest 
in the paper. They continued to edit it in partnership for several years, 



310 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

when they sold the paper to Augustus W. Simpson, who remained pub- 
lisher of it until it ceased publication in 1861, on account of the excitement 
incident to the war. In politics the paper was Whig until the year 1354, 
when the Whig party ceased to exist. It then became Democratic, and 
remained so until it ceased publication. 

The next newspaper established was the "Missouri Register," pub- 
lished by William T. Yoeman. The first number of it appeared in July. 
1839. It was the first Democratic paper published in western Missouri, 
and was established mainly to aid in the campaign of 1840. On April 22, 
1841, Yoeman sold one-half interest in the paper to Edgar A. Robinson, 
and the paper continued to be published by Yoeman and Robinson until 
Aug. 9, 1843, when Ira Van Nortwick purchased it from them. It waa 
afterwards successively owned by Quisenberry, Price, Ward & Chilton, 
the last named of whom continued to publish it until the great temperance 
excitement broke out in 1853. The paper had previous to this time been 
taken up almost exclusively by political discussions, but it was then pur- 
chased by a man named Benjamin F. Buie, who filled its columns exclu- 
sively with discussions in regard to the great question of temperance, 
which was then agitating the public mind. Buie soon sold out the paper 
to Allen Hammond, and soon after this the paper ceased publication for 
want of patronage. 

During the heat of the campaign of 1840, the editors of the "Missouri 
Register," Messrs. Ward & Chilton, started a weekly campaign sheet, 
which advocated the claims of Van Buren for President. As soon as the 
campaign was over, and Van Buren defeated, the paper ceased publication. 
The name of this paper was the "Boonville Argus." 

"The Coon Hunter" was published by Ward & Shelton, in 1840. The 
next paper was the "Democratic Union," established in the fall of 1844, 
and run by Blair and Chilton. Following this in succession in 1847, was 
a Whig paper, called the "Boonville Bulletin," published by Caldwell & 
Hammond. On Dec. 31, 1850, Messrs. Caldwell and Hammond, proprie- 
tors of the "Boonville Observer," commenced the publication of a sheet, 
called the "Tri-Weekly Observer," which was printed three times a week. 
It was continued unutil March 8, 1851. "The Iris," a college magazine, 
was published in 1851. In 1852, the "Central Missourian" was started, 
but was soon discontinued. It was succeeded by the "Boonville Missour- 
ian," in 1853, which occupied the same office. The paper was edited by 
A. C. Speer, who was a strong advocate of Whig principles, and also a 
staunch friend of the temperance cause. "The Ladies' Garland" was 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 311 

started in 1856. The next paper was the "Boonville Patriot," which was 
established by a man named John Gill, in the year 1856. It was after- 
wards sold to F. M. Caldwell, who continued to publish it until the year 
1861, when the materials, presses, etc., belonging to the office were seized 
by General Worthington, in command of some Federal forces at Jefferson 
City, and taken by him to the latter place. Soon afterwards, Lewis H. 
Stahl went to Jefferson City, and with the assistance of some of the most 
influential Federals, succeeded in getting possession of the material be- 
longing to the office, which General Worthington had seized, and brought 
them back to Boonville. Immediately upon his return, Messrs. Caldwell 
and Stahl commenced the publication of the "Boonville Advertiser," the 
first number of which appeared June 15, 1862. After publishing it for 
some time, they sold out to Messrs. Drury and Selby, who published the 
paper for a year or two, when F. M. Caldwell & Company again got pos- 
session of it, and continued proprietors of it until April, 1878. The edi- 
tors of this paper, during this period, have been J. G. Pangborn, H. A. 
Hutchinson, George W. Frame, Charles E. Hasbrook, Judge Benjamin 
Tompkins and S. W. Ravenel. 

October 25, 1875, the proprietors of the "Boonville Advertiser" com- 
menced the publication of a daily edition of the same, under the name of 
the "Boonville Daily Advertiser". The "Daily Advertiser" was discontinued 
March 7, 1879. Mr. Ravenel took charge of the "Advertiser" in March, 1878, 
as manager and local editor, and on March 7, 1879, leased the paper, and 
was until 1884 manager and editor. He was succeeded by Walter Wil- 
liams, now the dean of the College of Journalism at the State University. 
He in turn by Messrs. Stahl with James R. Allen, editor. Succeeding Mr. 
Allen as editor was Lucien Wright. Later the paper was pui'chased by 
the veteran editor Capt. C. J. Walden, who is now the manager and editor 
of the same. 

The "Boonville Eagle", a weekly paper, was established in Sept. 
1865, by Milo Blair. Sept. 28, 1875, he took Charles H. Allen into 
partnership with him. In politics it was republican. 

The "Wachter Am Missouri", a paper published in the German 
language was established in 1867, by L. Joachimi. It was purchased in 
1874 by F. W. Ludwig, who changed its name to the "Central Missourier". 
Haller was the proprietor until 1907. It suspended publication Dec. 26th, 
of that year. In politics it was republican. 

The "Boonville News" was started October 1, 1880, by A. B. Thornton, 
who was afterwards killed. The paper was continued for a short time by 



312 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

his wife, Mrs. M. 0. Thornton, and her daughters. It was politically, a 
greenback paper. 

George W. Ferrell started the "Boonville Weekly Topic", Aug. 18, 
1877, and after running it about eight months, F. M. Caldwell became 
owner. Caldwell published the paper alone till Feb. 8, 1880, when A. B. 
Thornton purchased an interest. September 18, 1880, Col. H. A. Hutchison 
bought Thornton's interest, the paper was edited by Hutchison, and pub- 
lished by Caldwell & Hutchison, Caldwell as business manager. It was 
democratic in politics. Capt. S. W. Ravenel and William McCarty then 
became the owners of "The Topic" until the same was purchased by Col. 
William Switzler, who changed the name to the "Missouri Democrat". 
Switzler in turn was succeeded in the ownership of the "Democrat" by 
W. D. Jones, who, after running it two or three years sold it to Gordon 
Kapp. The Democrat was then changed to a daily and as such prospered 
for a year or so. The last two or three months it was edited and con- 
ducted by N. H. Johnson and Simpson after which Gordon 

Kapp, who was the owner, disposed of the property. Some time during 
the 80's the "Boonville Tri-weekly Star" made its appearance under the 
management of Bert Plant, with whom was associated at different times a 
number of writers and editors. The paper was of a sensational character 
and its columns were open to various writers. It flourished for a while 
and died of mental exhaustion. 

The "Western Christian Union" was started a number of years ago 
by the Rev. E. W. Pfaffenberger, which throughout the years has been a 
pleasing, interesting and beneficial journal. 

The "Pilot Grove Bee" was established in 1882, the first number being 
issued the first week in September, by James Barton. It was a seven- 
column folio, and democratic in politics. This plant was purchased by J. 
J. Dickinson, afterwards major of the 6th Missouri regiment in the Span- 
ish-American War and now a prominent newspaper man in New York City, 
and the name was changed to the "Pilot Grove Record". He was succeeded 
in ownership of the paper by Traughber and he in turn by D. L. Roe and 
Charles Houx, D. L. Roe eventually becoming the owner. D. L. Roe after- 
wards sold the paper to W. F. Johnson, who after conducting it about two 
years disposed of it to W. R. Annan. This paper sometime during the 
years was changed to the "Pilot Grove Record", its present name, and 
through successive changes came into the possession of G. B. Harland, who 
is now the owner and editor. 

In this history of the newspapers of Cooper County, we should not 
omit from the list the "Shave Tail Courier", which deserves honorable men- 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 313 

tion, because it was much esteemed by the old settlers of that day. 

At an early day, Napoleon Beatty, quite an original character, lived 
18 miles west of Boonville, in Cooper County, on what was called Shave 
Tail Creek. In that vicinity a store was located, the predominating articles 
of trade being tobacco and whiskey, the latter the matutinal drink of the 
old pioneer. Beatty was noted for his bonhommie, and was not only the 
recognized fiddler of the neighborhood where he resided, but was intensely 
fond of and well posted in all the rural games and sports of that day. Dur- 
ing his early manhood he was 

"In wrestling nimble, in running swift; 
In shooting steady, in swimming strong. 
Well made to strike, to leap, to throw or lift, 
And all the sports that shepherds are among." 

His fiddle was his inseparable companion, and when spending an even- 
ing with friends, he had the happy faculty of discoursing to them the most 
delightful music, always accompanying his instrument with a unique and 
improvised song, which was replete with wise and startling hits and felicit- 
ous inuendoes, touching the vulnerability of some one or more of his 
entranced and rustic auditors. 

Beatty was the sole editor and proprietor of the "Shave Tail Courier", 
which appeared, at regular intervals, in manuscript form. The happenings, 
the sayings and the doings of the neighborhood were faithfully gathered 
and garnered by this original chronicler, who read aloud his paper to his 
admirers, in his own inimitable style. If there occurred a dance in the 
locality, a record of it was made in the "Courier". If a quilting party or a 
shooting match came off, the particulars were given in the "Courier". If 
a wedding took place, the event was mentioned in a recherche manner in 
the "Courier". The bride was the special theme for highest eulogium, 
and the wedded pair elicited the warmest wishes for their future happiness, 
in fact, the "Courier", like the good mirror, reflected not only the redoubt- 
able editor's views of matters and things, but reflected as well, on popular 
subjects, the will of the people. 

The "Blackwater News" was established in Blackwater, Mo., in the 
seventies by Thomas Horn, who was a forceful and vigorous writer. It 
was conducted by him until the time of his death and is now successfully 
managed by his widow, Mrs. Horn. 

The "Otterville Mail" of Otterville was established over twenty years 
ago and is now successfully and ably conducted by G. P. Garland. 

The Boonville Publishing Company was organized in 1884 for the pub- 



314 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

lication of the "Central Missouri Republican". The first issue of this paper 
appeared July 1, 1884. Some of the prime movers and stockholders in the 
enterprise were Eugene Haller, Prof. A. H. Sauter, Martin Haller, and 
Col. C. C. Bell. Others were interested also but we have not the names at 
hand. This journal continued under various editorial management until 
about 1904 when Mitchell and Mitchell became the owners, who after con- 
ducting the paper a year or so, sold it to John M. Grimes, who in turn sold 
it to Meadow. In a short time, however, Mitchell again became the pro- 
prietor and conducted the paper until his death. Ferguson and Harte then 
purchased the same from the widow of Mr. Mitchell on the first day of 
February, 1915. Ferguson retired from any connection in August of that 
year and Mr. Houston Harte is now the proprietor and editor of the same. 
It is an up-to-date, newsy, and bright paper. 

The present Bunceton "Weekly Eagle" was established in Bunceton in 
1888 by the late J. Monroe Norris under the name of the "Bunceton Enter- 
prise". In a short time Mr. Norris sold the paper to Asa W. Pizer and Dr. 
J. B. Norman, who in turn sold it in 1889 or 1890 to W. E. Gold, who 
changed the name to the "Bunceton Weekly Eagle". After publishing the 
paper a short time Gold sold to J. L. (Fritz) Johnson, who in turn sold to 
C. L. Cully, who upon his appointment to the postmastership in Bunceton, 
sold to L. 0. Nelson, in June, 1893. 

Soon after acquiring the "Eagle" Mr. Nelson took into partnership 
with him his brother, W. L. Nelson, and the firm name became L. 0. and 
W. L. Nelson and remained such until Aug., 1915, when L. 0. Nelson re- 
linquished the active management of the paper to become postmaster at 
Bunceton. Edgar C. Nelson, who had been connected .with the "Eagle" in 
a reportorial capacity for several years, became the active publisher and 
the firm name became Nelson Bros. 

The "Eagle" is the most widely read newspaper in Cooper County and 
is known all over Missouri as a county farm and stock weekly. For many 
years special attention has been given to county farm and stock news and 
the "Eagle" has had a wonderful success along that line. It is never less 
than eight pages, all home print, and during the busy season in the spring 
it often carries from 12 to 16 pages. 

In politics the "Eagle" has always been Democratic. It is one of the 
few weeklies in Missouri that is strictly cash in advance as regards sub- 
scriptions, and its readers seem to appreciate this policy. 



CHAPTER XX. 



BANKING AND CURRENCY. 



EARLY CONDITIONS— FIRST BANKS— DR. TRIGG ESTABLISHES FIRST BANK IN 
BOONVILLE— BRANCH OF BANK OF ST. LOUIS ESTABLISHED— CENTRAL NA- 
TIONAL BANK— COOPER COUNTY BANKS — BOONVnJLiE NATIONAL BANK- 
FARMERS' TRUST COMPANY— COMMERCIAL BANK OF BOONVILLE— BANK OF 
BUNCETON — COOPER COUNTY BANK OF BUNCETON — FARMERS' STOCK BANK 
OF BLACKWATER— EANK OF BLACKWATER— PILOT GROVE BANK— BANK OF 
WOOLRIDGE— BANK OF PLEASANT GREEN— FARMERS' AND MERCHANTS 
BANK OF OTTERVILLE. 

Cooper County entered early in the history of the state in the banking 
business. It is true that banking in Missouri is just a little more than 
one hundred years old, yet the first banks were mere efforts and proved 
abortive. The first bank in the state was established in St. Louis in 1816, 
about fifty years after the place had been founded. This bank had been 
chartered in 1813, and called the Bank of St. Louis, and in 1817, the Bank 
of Missouri was chartered. Neither of these banks, however, lasted very 
long. The Bank of St. Louis failed in 1819, and the Bank of Missouri 
went in the same way in 1822. 

. In 1819, there was a country-wide panic, caused by the riotous of 
reckless speculation all over the country, particularly in the newer parts. 
There was a great mania for buying and selling property, especially land, 
in the Boonslick country. It was not until 1821, that Missouri had another 
bank. This was a branch of the United States bank, and was established 
in St. Louis. It in turn had several branches throughout the state, but 
this bank was forced to wind up its business in 1836, by reason of President 
Jackson's veto of the bill to renew the charter of the United States bank. 
At this time, St. Louis had a population of about six thousand people, and 



316 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

there was a crying need for a bank, and in fact, a number of banks through- 
out the state. 

In 1837 the Legislature authorized the opening of a state bank. The 
Bank of the State of Missouri was for ten years the only bank of sort in 
the state, but in 1847, the Boatsmen's Saving Institution was established 
in St. Louis. This bank still exists under the name of Boatsmen's Bank. 
This year also marked the banking business in Cooper County. 

In 1847, the first bank in Boonville, Mo., was established by Dr. William 
H. Trigg, and was located on the northeast corner of Main and Morgan 
streets. James Quarles was cashier. Dr. Trigg continued a general bank- 
ing business, in his own name, until 1858. He then formed a banking 
association, under the name of William H. Trigg & Co., composed of some 
of the leading capitalists and ablest financiers of central Missouri. After a 
prosperous career this association was compelled to wind up its extensive 
and rapidly increasing business on account of the troubles into which the 
country was thrown by the unfortunate war between the two sections. 
The cashier of the Trigg & Co. bank was John Ainslee, and in the latter 
period of the bank liquidation, John T. Pigott and William M. Johnson were 
the cashiers. 

The next banking enterprise in Cooper County was the opening at 
Boonville of a branch of the Bank of St. Louis in the year 1856. With this 
enterprise were connected William E. Burr, Joseph L. Stephens, James M. 
Nelson, C. W. and J. Sombart, William Harley, John R. French and others. 
In 1865 the Central National Bank was established in which enterprise 
were associated some of the leading financiers of Boonville and Cooper 
County. During the life of Joseph L. Stephens until his death in 1881 this 
was one of the leading financial institutions of central Missouri and con- 
tinued so to be for a number of years thereafter. After the death of 
Joseph L. Stephens, the bank was largely under the control and mrnacrs- 
ment of W. Speed and Lon V. Stephens and for a number of years was a 
strong and flourishing financial institution. Oct. 28, 1916, it was forcer! 
to close its doors by the comptroller of currency and went into liquidation. 
There was no run upon the bank and every depositor received his money. 
The supposed cause of the closing of the bank was a series of bad loans 
running back through a number of years. There is pending at this time 
a suit by some of the stockholders against certain officers of the bank, the 
result of which is not yet determined. The closing of this supposed strong 
financial institution was a surprise and shock not only to the community 
but to central Missouri. Its management had been generous and those 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 317 

connected with the bank had been liberal and leaders in every enterprise 
in the community. 

There are at this time in Cooper County 15 banks and one Trust Com- 
pany, all safe and sound financially and conducted in a thorough and con- 
servative manner. We have written to each of these banks for a brief 
history of the same and if perchance it does not appear in this chapter it 
is no fault of the editor, but because some officer of the bank has either 
neglected to send the data or has been indifferent to the opportunity 
afforded. The following are the names of the banks of the county : Boon- 
ville National Bank, Boonville, Mo. ; Commercial Bank, Boonville, Mo. ; Bank 
of Bunceton, Bunceton, Mo. ; Cooper Co. Bank, Bunceton, Mo. ; Bank of 
Pleasant Green, Pleasant Green, Mo.; Prairie Home Bank, Prairie Home, 
Mo. ; Bank of Woolridge, Woolridge, Mo. ; Clifton City Bank, Clifton City, 
Mo. ; Pilot Grove Bank, Pilot Grove, Mo. ; Citizens Bank, Pilot Grove, Mo. ; 
Farmers Stock Bank, Blackwater, Mo. ; Bank of Blackwater, Blackwater, 
Mo. ; Bank of Speed, Speed, Mo. ; Bank of Otterville, Otterville, Mo. ; Farm- 
ers & Merchants Bank, Otterville, Mo. 

The Boonville National Bank. — The fact that Boonville boasts the 
largest bank in the United States in cities of 5,000 inhabitants, or less 
should impress the observer as an important fact, and is evidence of the 
prosperity of Cooper County. The Boonville National Bank was opened 
for business Oct. 30, 1916 as the successor to the old Central National 
Bank. In less than three years time it has risen to a place of importance 
and standing in the financial world of the Middle West. In August of 
1913 the Farmers Bank, an old established institution was absorbed by 
the Boonville National, resulting in a substantial increase in the assets and 
deposits of the bank. By this merger the large amount of one million 
dollars was added to the deposits of the Boonville National. 

The Citizens Trust Company of Boonville, subsidiary of the Boon- 
ville National was established in splendid quarters for the purpose of 
handling trust funds and caring for the safe deposit feature of the bank. 
This concern is capitalized at $100,000, with a surplus of $25,000 and the 
old Farmers Bank Building, remodelled, in which the Trust Company is 
located, is owned by the Boonville National. The same directors which 
control the bank are also in charge of the Trust Company. 

The first officers of this bank were E. E. Amick, president : W. A. Som- 
bart, vice-president; W. W. G. Helm, chairman of board; B. M. Lester, 
cashier; R. L. Moore, Jr., asst. cashier. The first board of directors were: 
W. W. G. Helm, J. E. Thro, N. Nelson Leonard, Roy D. Williams, H. T. 



318 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Zuzak, A. W. Nelson, E. E. Amick, G. W. Jewett and W. A. Sombart. 

The resources of this bank at the close of business on June 29, 1919 
had reached the grand total of $1,062,759.62. The capital stock of the bank 
was $75,000 with a surplus fund of $25,000. It was the only National Bank 
and the only member of the Federal Reserve System in Cooper County. 

The present officers of the bank are: A. W. Nelson, chairman of the 
board ; E. E. Amick, president ; F. S. Sauter, vice-president ; W. A. Som- 
bart, vice-president ; B. M. Lester, vice-president ; J. L. Meistrell, vice-presi- 
dent; R. D. Williams, counsel; H. T. Redd, cashier; R. L. Moore, Jr., assist- 
ant cashier. The directors are : A. W. Nelson, W. W. G. Helm, L. T. Sites, 
H. F. Blankenbaker ; W. A. Sombart, J. E. Thro, J. A. Fischer, N. N. Leon- 
ard, H. T. Zuzak, R. D. Williams, Julius Oswald, G. W. Jewett, E. E. Amick, 
F. S. Sauter, and W. W. Kingsbury. 

The capital stock of the bank has been increased to $200,000. The 
surplus fund is now $70,000. The deposits has attained to the grand total 
of $2,000,000. 

The Farmer's Trust Company of Boonville, Mo., has been recently 
organized with a capital of $100,000 and a surplus of $35,000. The officers 
are Harry A. Creagan, president; Frank J. Felton, vice-president; Edward 
J. Muntzel, secretary and treasurer; and Fred Dauwalter chairman of the 
board. The Board of Directors are W. A. Whitehurse, Fred Dauwalter, 
Robert P. Burge, Edward J. Muntzel, Frank J. Felton, Homer C. Davis, 
Harry A. Creagan. 

The Farmers Trust Company has secured the south room on the ground 
floor of the Knights of Pythias building on Main street, large and com- 
modious quarters for its banking business. A large fire-proof vault has 
been built, safety boxes installed and the furniture and equipment are 
handsome and elegant and are unexcelled by that of any banking institu- 
tion in central Missouri. 

The Commercial Bank of Boonville, Mo., was oraganized in 1883 and is 
the oldest financial institution in Cooper County and one of the strongest 
and most important in central Missouri. Charter No. 247 providing for 
the organization of this bank was obtained by the following citizens : John 
S. Elliot, R. P. Williams of Fayette, Mo., Col. John Cosgrove, John 
Often, William Johnson, C. W. and Julius Sombart, Joseph Combs, Col. 
Thomas A. Johnston, John Viertel, Jacob F. Gmelich, W. R. Hutchinson, 
B. E. Nance and John Lee of Howard County. These gentlemen were the 
original stockholders of the bank which was organized with a capital stock 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 319 

of $50,000. John S. Elliot was the first president ; Jacob F. Gmelich was 
the first vice-president and the first cashier was W. R. Hutchinson. On 
January 16, 1888, Mr. Elliot was succeeded as president by Jacob F. 
Gmelich. Upon Mr. Gmelich's election as state treasurer in 1905, Mr. 
John H. Zollinger was elected president of the bank. Mr. Zollinger served 
until July 7, 1913 and was succeeded by the present incumbent of the 
office, Mr. Edward W. Chilton, who had previously served as assistant 
cashier. 

This bank has weathered all financial panics and is conducted on a 
safe, conservative plan which commends it to the hundreds of patrons who 
have always had the utmost confidence in the integrity of the institution. 
The present capitalization is $50,000 ; surplus and undivided profits exceed 
$50,000; and the deposits are over $500,000. The officers of the Com- 
mercial Bank are as follows :, Edward W. Chilton, president ; W. W. Trigg, 
vice-president; R. G. Hadelich, cashier; J. A. Smith, bookkeeper. The 
directors are: E. W. Chilton, John Cosgrove, W. W. Trigg, W. A. Hurt, 
H. G. Windsor, T. A. Johnston, R. G. Hadelich, Thomas Hogan, and M. R. 
McDowell. 

The Bank of Bunceton was organized Aug. 25, 1887, with a paid-up 
capital stock of $10,000 and the following officers: J. H. Goodwin, presi- 
dent, Edward Cramer, vice-president; E. W. Moore, cashier; W. B. Kerns, 
secretary; and with the following directors, J. H. Goodwin, Edward Cramer, 
E. W. Moore, W. B. Kerns, T. J. Wallace, John Coleman, Geo. A. Carpenter, 
Wm. Lusk, Hugh Rogers 

The bank now has a paid-up capital of $50,000 and a surplus of $35,000, 
with resources totaling more than $6,000,000 The following are the pres- 
ent officers: Dr. A. W. Nelson, president; H. .E. Meeker, vice-president; 
Snode Moms, vice-president ; A. Blomquist, cashier ; G. H. Meeker, assist- 
ant cashier. The directors are Dr. A. W. Nelson, R. L. Harriman, Snode 
Morris, Geo. K. Crawford, A. T. .Hockenberry, Geo. A. Carpenter, N. N. 
Leonard, C. W. Oglesby and H. E. Meeker. 

The Cooper County Bank of Bunceton was incorporated on June 26, 
1893, with a capital stock of $20,000. J. A. Waller was the first president 
and W. J. Boschert, cashier. The original Board of Directors consisted of 
the following: John S. Vick, Gordon L. Stephens, John A. Wallace, Newton 
A. Gilbreath, William J. Boschert, Samuel T. Baugman, Edward Cramer, 
E. H. Rodgers, James A. Lander. The present capital stock is $20,000, sur- 
plus and undivided profit earned, $43,000, total deposits $307,500, total re- 



320 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

sources $380,000. The present officers are W. J. Boschert, president ; 
George W. Moms, vice-president; F. C. Betteridge, cashier; C. W. Olley, 
bookkeeper. 

The Farmer's Stock Bank of Blackwater, Mo. was organized in 1895 
with a capital stock of $10,000. The first officers were: G. A. Cramer, 
president; Erhardt Fischer, vice-president; F. S. Sauter, cashier. In 
1907 F. S. Sauter tendered his resignation as cashier of the above bank 
and C. E. Steele was elected to fill this vacancy which position he has held 
since the above date. The present capital stock is now $20,000 with an 
earned surplus of $25,000 and deposits aggregating $200,000. The present 
officers are: S. Y. Thornton, president; H. C. Griffith, vice-president, C. E. 
Steele, cashier. 

The Bank of Blackwater, Mo. was organized in 1906 with a capital 
stock of $25,000. The officers were: T. B. Gibson, president; Joseph 
Fischer, vice-president; C. M. Shepherd, cashier. C. M. Shepherd served 
three years as cashier of the above bank, and was succeeded by H. T. Redd, 
who served eight years, and he was succeeded by Walter Shouse, the pres- 
ent cashier. The bank now has an earned surplus of $17,000 and deposits 
aggregating $150,000. The present directors are: W. B. Gibson, L. T. 
Sites, R. B. Hill, H. M. Wing, Joseph Thompson, C. P. Hudson, T. B. Gib- 
son, Walter Shouse, Joseph Fischer. 

The Pilot Grove Bank of Pilot Grove is the second oldest bank in 
Cooper County, the Commercial Bank of Boonville being the oldest. The 
Pilot Grove Bank was incorporated June 13, 1884 and was organized by 
Edward H. Harris, who was the president of the same and E. H. Harris, Jr., 
the cashier, with a capital stock of $10,000. This bank had a remarkable 
career in that for over a quarter of a century under the management of the 
Harris not a dollar was lost by bad loans. The capital stock was increased 
from time to time and now, 1919, the capital stock is $20,000, surplus 
$20,000, undivided profits $6,321.26. The total assets of the bank March 
4, of this year, were $371,259.45. The present officers are J. H. Thompson, 
president; Andrew Davin, vice-president; and C. M. Shepherd, cashier. 
The directors are Ham Lusk, E. B. McCutchen, B. J. Felton, Jacob Hoff, A. 
Davin, W. A. Scott, W. B. Simmons, Reuben Thomas, A. C. Harriman, R. 
A. Harriman, B. E. Sly, J. A. Thompson, J. L. Painter. 

The Bank of Woolridge was organized in June, 1902, with a capital 
stock of $10,000 and the following officers: George Vaughan, presi- 
dent; J. K. Bruce, vice-president; M. A. Smith, cashier; and George 




WHAT THE TORNADO I>II> TO MRS. EMMA srHMAI.FEI.HTS RESIDENCE 
JUNE 5. 1917, NEAR LONE ELM 




JPSL 







WHAT WAS LEFT OF ERNEST OERLY'S HOME AFTER THE SAME STORM 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 321 

Vaughan, W. J. Wooldridge, E. I. Smith, Ben Heying, Charles Leuger, J. 
K. Bruce, and W. L. Hays, directors. M. A. Smith was the organizer of 
the bank. 

The present capital stock of the Bank of Wooldridge is 810,000 with 
a surplus of $8,000, undivided profits of $2,000, deposits amounting to 
$100,000. Corresponding banks are the National Bank of Commerce ot St 
Louis, Missouri; National Stockyards National Bank of East St. Louis, 
III. ; and the Boonville National Bank of Boonville, Mo. 

The present bank officials, at the time of this writing, are: W J 
Wooldridge, president; J. A. Clayton, vice-president; A. F. Nixon, cashier '; 
and F. B. Hopkins, bookkeeper. The directors are: W. J. Wooldridge a' 
F. Nixon, J. A. Clayton, A. D. Renfrew, C. L. Eager, Henry Knorp, 'and 
Carl Lenger. The bank owns its building, a frame structure, erected in 
1902. The Bank of Wooldridge is one of the strongest financial institu- 
tions of Cooper County. 

Bank of Pleasant Green, Pleasant Green, Mo.-The stockholders of 
the Bank of Pleasant Green met on the 11th day of April, 1905 They 
organized by electing Judge J. D. Starke, chairman, and Dr. John S Parrish 
secretary, with a capital stock of $10,000. At the same meeting they 
elected the following board of directors: R. E. Ferguson, J. S. Parrish S 
L. Rissler, W. B. Rissler, A. J. Read, W. E. Roberts, S. W. Roberts and J.' 
D Starke and George Stemberger. The board proceeded to organize by 
electing Dr. J. S. Parrish, president; A. J. Read, vice-president; W B 
Rissler, cashier; and S. W. Roberts, secretary. 

The bank did not pay any dividends until it had an accumulated and 
certified surplus an amount equal to the capital stock, which was in the 
year 1913. Since then it has paid an average dividend of 15 per cent The 
following constitute the present Board of Directors: Adam Bergmann, 

L r\ c^ Hlte ' '• S - ParrlSh ' A - J - Read ' W - B - Riss1 -. Geo. Stem- 
berger, C. E. Stone and J. W. Walker. The present officers are J S Par- 
rish, president; A. J. Read, vice-president; W. B. Rissler, cashier, and J. W 
Walker secretary. There has been no change in the officers since the 
beginning with the exception that of secretary 

Sent T 10 1 4 arm r an f M , erchants Bank < Nervine, Mo., was organized in 
Sept., 1914 with a capital stock of $12,000. The first officers were : H D 
Case president; J. E. Golladay, vice-president; Joe G. Cox, cashier The 

WE STl - H * ^ ^ ^ G ° lladay ' J ° e G - C ° X ' James A - Laws 
Schupp PP ' °- Wilkerson ' C - Rodenbach and August 

(21) 



322 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

The present officers are the following: H. D. Case, president; J. E. 
Golladay, vice-president; Allen H. Cox, cashier, and Mattie Belle Hupp, 
assistant cashier. 

The present directors are the following: H. D. Case, J. E. Golladay, 
Joe G. Cox, J. S. Bane, W. D. Ross, Charlie Hupp, L. C. Wilkerson, C. 
Kodenbach and August Schupp. 

The capital stock remains $12,000. The surplus is $5,000 ; undivided 
profits, $2,900; loans and discounts, $107,000. The total deposits are 
$136,000. The total resources are over $188,000. 



CHAPTER XXI. 



FLOODS AND STORMS. 



FLOODS OF 17S5. 1811 AND 1S2S — FLOOD OF 1844— GREAT DAMAGE CAUSED — DEVAS- 
TATING FLOOD OF 1905— REBUILDING OF BRIDGES IN THE COUNTY— BUILD- 
ING OF NEW COURT HOUSE— BONDS ISSUED— TORNADO. 

The first unusual high waters of the Missouri River, of which we have 
any account, was in 1785, and of the destruction wrought at that time, we 
know but little. However, we know that there were no settlements in 
Cooper County, or upon the north side of the river. 

In the spring of 1811, the waters of the Missouri rose to an unprece- 
dented height. The first settlements had been made in Cooper County, and 
in Howard County, opposite Boonville, the previous year. Hence there 
were no farms to be injured or crops to be destroyed. 

We have no means of knowing how high the water reached that year. 
The high waters in the spring of 1826 set the seal of fate to Franklin. 
But by far the most destructive flood that ever occurred in the Missouri 
River was in 1844. It was caused as usual by continuous rainfall on the 
lower river, coming on top of the annual rise. The month of May had been 
attended with unusual rains, and for weeks previous to the 10th of June, 
the precipitation had been unprecedented. 

On the 5th of June, the water began to overflow the banks, and the 
river continued to rise until the 18th, when at Jefferson City it came to 
a stand and began to recede. 

The entire bottom from the mouth of the Kaw to the mouth of the 
Missouri was completely submerged, and from bluff to bluff, the river pre- 
sented the appearance of an inland sea. 

The destruction of property, considering the small population, was 
enormous, and much suffering ensued. 

Again in 1845, and yet again in 1851, there were unusual high water, 



324 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

but the damage was slight compared with the destruction of 1844. The 
next most destructive flood was in 1881. The second bottoms and low- 
lands were under water, and considerable damage was done, especially in 
the lower reaches of the river.* This flood, however, was different from 
the others, that had preceded it, in that it occurred in March and the first 
part of April. It was caused solely by the unusual rainfall, and not from 
the melting of snows in the Rockies. 

It seems the circumstances that attended the flood of 1903 were sim- 
ilar to those attending the great flood of 1844. On Friday morning, June 
5, at seven o'clock, 1903, the government gauge registered a stage of water 
in the river at Boonville, of 30.6 feet. This was just six feet higher than 
the mark of 1881, and lacked but about three feet of that of 1844. 

However, by noon of that day, the water rose to 30 feet and ten inches 
above the low water mark, and remained on a stand until Saturday morn- 
ing, when it began to fall slowly. During the day, there was a fall of 
only two inches, but it was enough to bring gladnesss to the hearts of 
many, and a feeling of relief among those who had so anxiously watched 
for the good news. 

Much damage was wrought by the flood in the vicinity of Boonville. 
Houses on islands and the lowlands were washed away, crops destroyed, 
and much livestock drowned. Cooper County alone suffered much from the 
destruction of ruined crops along the Missouri and Lamine Rivers, and the 
Petit Saline creek, which overflowed its banks from the Missouri and did 
considerable damage to the farms along its bottoms. 

The destruction in the vicinity of Overton and Woolridge was greater 
than in any other part of the county. The greatest damage was done, how- 
ever, in the Howard County bottoms. Both up and down the river from 
Boonville, the water on the north side of the river presented the appearance 
of an inland sea. The water during the high stage reached almost from 
bluff to bluff, submerging land on which were crops of growing corn, and 
almost matured crops of growing wheat. Scarcely any land in this section 
was above the stage of the water. Much livestock was lost also. 

The greatest losses, though, were experienced by those tenants, who 
had all their possessions carried away and destroyed. Many cases were 
reported in which tenants lost all their earthly possessions. Some of these 
were even thankful to escape with their lives, and the clothes which they 
wore. 

As it was impossible at that time to approximate the amount of the 
losses occurring to the farmers in this territory, it is equally impossible 
to make an estimate at this time. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 325 

The citizens of Boonville responded nobly to aid the flood sufferers. 
Mayor W. G. Pendleton called meetings, and appropriate committees were 
appointed to raise the necessary funds to meet the temporary and im- 
mediate relief of the sufferers. Over one thousand dollars were raised and 
distributed to those who were most in need. 

The road bed of the M. K. & T. on the north side of the river was 
greatly damaged and traffic upon that road was suspended for several 
days. Probably the greatest damage done the farming and railroad inter- 
ests in the Missouri valley below Kansas City, however, was in the bottoms 
between St. Charles and the rivers mouth. Here was a broad expanse of 
territory in a high state of cultivation and dotted over with residences 
and other buildings. Every vestige of the promising crop of wheat, corn, 
hay, oats, onions, potatoes, etc., was drowned out and washed away. 

Losses to the people in close proximity to Boonville were heavy indeed, 
but compared with those of people in other parts, they did not seem so 
great. 

Charles A. Sombart had every reason to remember the flood of this 
year, because of the threatened damage to his milling property. He had a 
rectangular solid stone about six feet in length planted at the northwest 
corner of his warehouse, on which is indicated by cuts in the stone, the 
highest point in the river June 4, 1844, and June 5, 1903. The latter mark 
is only about two feet and nine inches below the mark of 1844. 

Grand and mighty old Missouri, blessing and destroying, blessed and 
cursed, the great artery of the continent! Old Joaquin Miller has struck a 
noble strain in his spirited poem to the "Missouri". He refers to her as a 
lord of strength, the yellow line and mad molder of the continent, and con- 
cludes with these words : 

"Hoar sire of hot, sweet Cuban seas, ' 

Gray father of the continent, 
Fierce fashioner of destinies, 

Of states thou hast upreared or rent, 
Thou know'st no limit ; seas turn back, 
Bent, broken from the shaggy shore; 
But thou, in thy resistless track, 
Art lord and master evermore. 
Missouri, surge and sing and sweep. 

Missouri, master of the deep, 
From snow-reared Rockies to the sea, 
Sweep on, sweep on eternally." 



326 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Again in Sept., 1905, the devastating flood visited Cooper County. The 
cause of this high water was similar to that of 1881. The local rains were 
so great that streams flowing into the Missouri overflowed their banks, 
and practically all the bridges in Cooper County were washed away and 
destroyed, entailing on the county a great loss in dollars and disturbance 
of traffic. 

The county at that time faced a difficult problem because these bridges 
had to be replaced at a great expense. Prior to this flood the county court 
of Cooper County had called an election for a bond issue for the purpose of 
building a court house. By reason, however, of the great loss to the county 
caused by the high water of the various streams, the court saw fit and 
proper to call off this election. 

While the need of a new court house was imperative and patent to the 
voters of the county, no agitation in behalf of the same was made until 
1911. There being a demand on the part of the county votes that the 
city of Boonville should do something in addition, and beyond that done 
by the rest of the county, a proposition was submitted by the city council 
to the voters of Boonville to bond the city for $15,000 to aid in the con- 
struction of a court house. 

The election was held June 5, 1911, and the vote in favor of the bonds 
was practically unanimous, being for, 724, against, 6. The county court 
upon the proper petition called an election for May 11, 1911, submitting to 
the people of the county the issue of a $100,000 5-20 5 per cent, bonds, from 
the sale of which to erect a new and suitable court house. 

The Commercial Club of Boonville took charge of the campaign and 
appointed as managers of the same W. D. Pendleton, then mayor of the 
city of Boonville, and W. F. Johnson, then president of the club. The 
favorable result of .this election was a great surprise to many. The cam- 
paign was quiet and no public meetings were held. An appeal was made 
to the intelligence of the voters which resulted for the bond issue, 1,977; 
against 799. 

It is needless to say that the result of this election caused great re- 
joicing, especially in Boonville, where great crowds gathered on the street 
after supper, as soon as the vote was announced, and by the playing of 
bands, speech-making and shouting manifested their satisfaction. 

As soon as the sale of the bonds were negotiated, the contract for 
building the new court house was let by competitive bids to W. J. Cochran 
of Boonville. Something over a year was consumed in the erection of the 
present beautiful court house, the total cost of which, including the addi- 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 327 

tional site, together with furniture and fixtures, reached approximately 
$140,000. 

Tornado. — About nine o'clock at night, on Tuesday, June 5, 1917, the 
most destructive storm that had ever visited Cooper County, swept a path 
150 yards wide, and approximately 20 miles long through the northeast 
part of the county. 

It began fts destructive course at Lone Elm store, and swept in a 
straight northeastward direction, leaving the county at a point about mid- 
way between Woolridge and Overton, crossing the Missouri River, and doing 
much damage in Boone County. 

At Lone Elm, a number of trees were blown down. The cattle barn 
of Henry Koenig, one mile east of Lone Elm, was unroofed, and scores of 
forest trees in the woodland pasture, where the annual Lone Elm picnic is 
held, were uprooted. 

Mrs. Emma Schmallf eldt's residence, a nine room frame building, was 
unroofed, with the exception of one room, the walls blown in, and the 
furniture blown away. A part of the barn, a chicken house, and a sum- 
mer kitchen were blown from their foundations. Two chicken houses 
and a smoke house were unroofed. A granary was also demolished. 

The entire east side of the residence of Henry J. Muntzel, located a 
few hundred yards southwest of the Clarks Fork Trinity Luthem Church 
was blown out and the house was unroofed on the east side. A summer 
kitchen was blown off into foundation, and a negro farm hand, Winston 
Carr, who was in the building suffered two broken ribs. A windmill was 
also blown down, as well as fences and trees. The wooden cross on the 
steeple of the large church building was blown down, and the walls of the 
building were cracked by the force of the wind. A new barn at the rear 
of the church parsonage was completely demolished. The school building 
just south of the church edifice was blown from its foundations, and a 
number of monuments in the cemetery were blown down. 

A cattle barn on the farm of Mrs. George Myer was destroyed. The 
Walnut Christian Church, a beautiful edifice, which was erected at a cost 
of over $6,000, and dedicated July 25, 1915, was completely demolished 
and blown northward across a deep ravine, and the wreck was lodged in 
a grove of trees, or carried out into an adjoining field. The floor was 
swept clean of all the furnishings, with the exception of a few chairs and 
the organ, which was not damaged. 

Of the scores of monuments in the church cemetery, only three were 
left standing. William Wisdom, of Prairie Home, who was in the build- 



328 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

ing at the time, in attempting to leave, was struck down, and blown from 
the building, without receiving serious injury. His horse and buggy was 
hitched near by. The buggy was completely demolished, but the horse 
escaped uninjured. 

A pine timber 1x4 was blown through a tree about seven inches in 
diameter. Large monuments were blown over and the framing of the 
church building was completely demolished. 

The barn of Jesse Newkirk was blown down, and his* residence was 
damaged. The tenant house occupied by the Phipps family, on the T. B. 
Jewett farm was badly damaged, the house being blown off its foundation, 
and several of the rooms were wrecked. Lon and George Phipps had a 
narrow escape from death, when the roof fell in on the bed on which 
they were sleeping. 

John Schmolzi and his family, who lived two miles east of Clarks 
Fork were great sufferers. Mr. Schmolzi grabbed his baby, and rushed to 
a small cave in the yard, and shouted to his wife and three other children 
to follow. However, they were too late, and the house of logs was blown 
down upon them. Mrs. Schmolzi and her young son, Willie, fourteen 
years old, were taken from the ruins of their humble home, badly injured. 
The mother received internal injuries, and the boy sustained a fractured 
skull. Every building on the Schmolzi farm was demolished, farm ma- 
chinery was blown away, the apple orchard destroyed and the poultry 
killed. 

A freak of the storm here was the taking of a corn planter, twisting 
it to pieces, and then taking the axle of the planter with one wheel still 
attached, and driving it into the heart of a big oak tree twelve or fifteen 
feet from the ground. 

A heavy road grader was lifted from the side of the road, crumpled 
into junk, and hurled across the road into a grove of trees. Two barns 
south of the residence of Hogan Freeman were destroyed. One was a 
new structure, 16x30, and the other was 42 feet square, and housed six 
head of work stock, all of which escaped injury. However, seven head 
o fcattle grazing in a pasture were killed by the flying debris from the 
ruined Schmolzi home and outbuildings. 

Auntinie Overton and Nick Robertson, negro farmers, had their 
houses torn 'down. The residence of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Oerly, located 
on the brow of the hill, a quarter of a mile northwest of Gooch Mill was 
completely demolished and blown away. Mr. Oerly was struck by falling 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 329 

timbers, and his wife was found lying unconscious in a pool of blood sev- 
eral yards from the side of the house. 

The young son of Nick Blank was in the house at the time and escaped 
uninjured. 

The ground where the residence stood was swept clean of all debris, 
and the timbers carried for hundreds of yards. An automobile was turned 
into scrap iron, and literally scattered over a forty acre field. Cattle and 
horses were maimed and killed and dead poultry was to be seen on every 
hand. 

Tom Christman's house, about a mile north of Gooch's Mill was 
demolished. Allene Oerly, the 13-year-old daughter of Will Oerly, a 
Woolridge merchant, was killed. All the family succeeded in reaching a 
cyclone cellar beneath the summer kitchen, when the storm in its fury, 
picked up Allene and hurled her away in the fury of the wind. Her body 
was discovered about 75 yards away from the cellar. 

The residence on the Joe Hickman farm, occupied by Charles Phipps, 
was destroyed, but no one was injured. Tom Calvert's four-room house, 
where were Mr. and Mrs. Calvert and Thomp Clayton, wife and one child, 
was blown down without injury to any of the occupants. 

In the household of Fred Fluke, Fred Fluke himself was crushed by 
falling timbers and killed, and other members of the family were badly 
injured. The storm moved the house of James Adair from its foundation, 
and broke Mr. Adair's leg. 

About half way between Woolridge and Overton, the storm struck 
the home of Theodore Morchel, killed two children and badly injured the 
wife and mother. 

This was the most appalling calamity that had come to Cooper County 
in years, and the property loss was great. 



CHAPTER XXII. 



THE WORLD WAR. 



UNITED STATUS ENTERS THE GREAT WAR— COOPER COUNTY'S FINANCIAL CON- 
TRIBUTION—LOYALTY OF CITIZENS— COUNCIL OF DEFENSE— PROCLAMATION 
—ARMISTICE SICNED— LIST OF COOPER COUNTY SOLDIERS— COMPANY B, 
THIRD REGIMENT. CALLED— CASUALTY LIST— SUMMARY. 

It is not in the province of the history of Cooper County, nor within 
the purview of this short chapter to attempt a history of the great World 
War that threatened the very foundation of civilization, and seriously 
affected every nation upon the face of the earth. 

President Wilson, in his speech before Congress on April 6, 1918, 
used these eloquent and forceful words that found spontaneous response 
in the true patriotism of America: 

"Let everything that we say, my fellow countrymen, everything that 
we henceforth plan and accomplish, ring true to this response till the 
majesty and might of our concerted power shall fill the thought and 
utterly defeat the force of those who flout and misprize what we honor 
and hold dear. 

"Germany has once more said that force, and force alone, shall decide 
whether justice and peace shall reign in the affairs of men, whether right 
as America conceives it, and dominion, as she conceives, shall determine 
the destinies of mankind. 

"There is therefore but one response for us; force, force to the 
utmost, force without stint or limit, the righteous and triumphant force 
which will make the law of the world, and cast every selfish dominion 
down in the dust." 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 331 

Cooper County did generously and nobly her part in financing the 
great World War. According tp the best information at hand, the county 
subscribed $2,598,481 to the various war activities. Of this amount, 
almost $100,000, to be exact, $97,131 was actually given by citizens to 
take care of the boys who fought for freedom and for right. 

The Red Cross received splendid support, receiving $54,756, as nearly 
as can be estimated. The Y. M. C, A., $9,375; Salvation Army Fund, 
$1,000; United War Work Fund, $32,000. This vast amount was given 
with no hope of return, other than patriotically aiding in the war. In the 
Liberty Loans, our people invested over two and one-half millions dollars 
in government securities, the amount being divided between the four 
drives as follows: First Liberty Loan, $100,000; Second Liberty Loan, 
$525,000; Third Liberty Loan, $616,350; Fourth Liberty Loan, $846,000. 
Added to this amount is $414,000 invested in War Savings Stamps. 

The above statement does not take into consideration the various 
sums contributed to other causes connected with the war, such as the 
Tobacco Fund, Armenian Relief, French War Orphans, etc. 

It may not be amiss to state here that Cooper County has no German 
citizens, but a goodly number of American citizens of German birth or 
parentage. As a class, they are frugal, saving, prosperous and honest, 
withall good livers. 

Before our entrance to the great war, most of them were in sympathy 
with Germany, and such were not neutral. Germany's great propaganda, 
in which over $100,000,000 were spent, was insidious. The effect of many 
publications like "The Fatherland"- had little to say in favor of their 
government, or of their institutions, but in practically every line eulogized, 
praised and upheld the institutions and theories of the German Empire, 
in direct opposition to American principles and institutions. But with 
the unfurling of Old Glory from the housetops, their hearts beat true, 
and they at once sprang to action, and responded as a class to every call. 
If there were reservations in the minds of a few, the number was indeed 
small, and existed largely in the minds of the suspicious. 

By reason of the peculiar situation of this class of our citizens, the 
editor feels called upon to pay this short tribute. We are Americans, 
regardless of the route each has traveled to become one. We are one 
in love of home and country. The names of our boys who toiled, suffered 
and bled in Flanders field are confined to no nationality. Each is a true 
American. 



332 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

"About his brow the laurel and the bay 
Was often wreathed — on this our 
Memory dwells — 

Upon whose bier in reverence today 
We lay these imortelles. 
His was a vital, virile, warrior soul ; 
If force were needed, he exalted force; 
Unswerving as the pole star to the pole, 
He held his righteous course. 
He smote at wrong, if he believed it wrong, 
As did the Knight, with stainless 
Accolade ; 

He stood for right, unfalteringly strong, 
Forever unafraid. 

With somewhat of the Savant and the 
Sage, 

He was, when all is said and sung, 
A 

Man, 

The flower imperishable of his valiant 
Age, 
A true American." 

We had no spies to watch in Cooper, yet following the precedent 
established throughout the country, A Board of Defense was appointed, 
consisting of the following gentlemen: Dr. A. W. Nelson, chairman; 
H. A. Jewett, A. H. Harriman, E. E. Amick, D. A. McArthur, A. A. Wal- 
lace, Homer Wear, Roy D. Williams and L. 0. Schaumburg, secretary. 
Their activities were tame, for there was no necessity for unusual vigil- 
ance. 

In Sept., 1918, the above Council of Defense of Cooper County, met 
and passed the following resolutions : * * * 

"WHEREAS, a spontaneous sentiment from every quarter of the 
county, arising from the patriotic hearts of the citizenship of Cooper 
County, has appealed to the Cooper County Council of Defense to take 
action in the matter of suppressing the use of the German language in 
churches, schools, public meetings of every sort, including conversation 
over telephone lines, and also on the public streets and thoroughfares of 
the county; 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 333 

THEREFORE, it is unanimously resolved by the Cooper County 
Council of Defense that the citizenship of this county be and is hereby 
urgently requested to refrain from communicating in the language of our 
enemy in all public places and on all public occasions as above enumerated 
during the period of the war. 

An appeal is made to our patriotic citizenship to aid with every means 
within our power in carrying out the provisions of this proclamation." 

Early Monday morning, Nov. 11, 1918, the news was flashed through- 
out the country that the armistice had been signed. Great demonstra- 
tions were held throughout the county and especially in Boonville. It 
was a gala day from early morning till late at night. Bands were play- 
ing and demonstrations of all characters were being carried on in jubila- 
tion of the end of the most stupendous tragedy in the history of the world. 

A treaty of peace has been signed and our boys are returning to their 
homes. The material is not at hand to give more than the names of those 
who gave their services to their country. We are not able to give the 
pi-omotions or special deeds of valor of our boys, for any attempt so to do, 
with the meager information at hand would be unjust to many. The 
ladies of Boonville have also prepared a list, and upon comparing their 
list with ours, we find that they have apparently omitted a number of 
names which appear upon our list, and upon the other hand, we find that 
they have names that we have not secured. We therefore give first the 
list that we have secured, and after that, we give those that appear upon 
the list secured by the ladies, which do not appear upon ours. We do not 
vouch for the correctness of either. 

Arnold, Earl ; Anderson, Douglas ; Allison, Earl M. ; Alpers, Wm. H. ; 
Ausemus, C. E. ; Armstrong, John ; Amick, Eugene Earl ; Albin, Jesse 
Vigel; Alpers, John Wm.; Anderson, Hy. 

Burger, Wm. Arthur; Boswell, Merritt H. ; Boswell, Henry; Boggs, 
Thos. J. ; Brown, Oliver Carl ; Brent, Earl F. ; Barnes, Paul ; Burnham, 
Connie; Bell, Jas. V.; Burke, Jaine Martin; Banty, Earl James; Beatty, 
Jas. ; Brown, Louis Alvin ; Bradley, Arthur L. ; Bower, Clark E. ; Brock- 
man, John; Bowmer, Newton; Bishup, Oscar; Bowmer, Jas. R. ; Butts, 
Orville Ray; Brandt, Leon Norrite; Brooks, John H. ; Buckley, Carl A.; 
Berry, Franklin ; Bonham, Alfred ; Brown, Ervine W. ; Bottom, Lawrence ; 
Banks, Coleman C. ; Buchanan, Frank G. ; Brengarth, Henry L. ; Brown- 
field, Veit; Burrell, Ben E. ; Bauman, Lee Ernest; Burger, Wallace Walker; 
Bradley, Frank R. ; Bryan, Lloyd ; Blackstone, Mack L. ; Baker, Henry J. ; 
Baugh, Harry; Burd, Charlie; Baker, Wm. Elmer; Berry, Harry Lon; 



334 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Bell, Stanley Ira; Baker, Auburn C; Burger, Joseph A.; Butler, Elaske; 
Bruce, Amos ; Byler, Robert H. ; Buckner, Hallie ; Burrus, John Milton ; 
Byler, Garland ; Brewster, Harry E. ; Barnert, Edgar L. ; Brown, Harvey 
E. ; Binkley, Jas. ; Baldwin, Ira C. ; Blalock, Jas. T. 

Carl, Edward G. J. ; Cave, John ; Coleman, Calvin ; Cramar, Ray ; Con- 
way, Raborn Lee; Coleman, Jas. H. ; Croft, Geo. W. ; Coleman, Wayt J.; 
Clawson, John ; Conway, John Richard ; Conway, Jas. F. ; Chase, John H. ; 
Cornwell, Clarence; Copas, Wm. F.; Crawford, Willie; Clawson, Jas.; 
Crawford, John H. ; Crump, Sherman ; Coats, Wilbur ; Cordry, Omer E. ; 
Chamberlin, Leonadus ; Crockett, Jas. F. ; Coleman, Nelson ; Campbell, 
Roy; Clay, Charlie; Cassell, Charlie; Cooper, Linn; Cardin, Dudley B.; 
Clark, Leonadus M. ; Cochran, William J. ; Cramar, Chas. D. ; Coleman, 
Chas. C. ; Cardin, Chas. E. ; Cox, Allen ; Clark, John B. ; Corum, Martene 
W. ; Conway, John Robert ; Cash, H. M. ; Coleman, Chas. W. ; Corder, F. F. ; 
Cary, H. E. ; Cramar, E. D. ; Callegari, E. ; Cole, F. L. ; Chenault, Clarence 
D.; Cosgrove, D. W. 

Diel, Wm. 0.; Duncan, Herbert; Dohn, J. E. ; Diel, Raymond F. ; 
Davis. Samuel ; Dunfield, Jos. ; Dief endorf , John ; Davis, Porter E. ; Dick. 
John Henry ; Derondinger, Emil E. ; Deurmeyr, Harry ; Diehl, Wm. ; 
Draff en, Lot Elbert; Davison, Harry; Drew, McKinley; Douglass, Ray- 
mond; Davis, Lewis C. ; Diggs. Arthur E. ; Decker, Ray H. ; Dick, Lewis 
Wm. ; Devine, Michael Thos. ; Davis, Harland H. ; Davis, Walter; Drew, 
Isaac; Diemler, Lewis G. ; Daniels, Roy Oliver; Dumolt, Urban A.; Dix. 
Pearlie Lee; Davis, J. E. ; Driver, Wm. Henry. 

Earley, Arnold J.; Evans, Herman B. ; Evans, Loney ; Embry, Sidney 
E. ; Enloe, Lewis M. ; Eubank, Louis A. ; Eichman, Milton R. ; Eades Cha*. 
H. ; Edwards. Robert S.; Ernst, Otto W. ; Enquist, Geo. S. ; Embry. Roy 
H. ; Edson, Henry; Embry, Virgil F.; Evans, Benj. F.; Edwards, Riley 
Bird ; Ellis, Clay W. 

Fry, John R. ; Felton, Leo H. ; Fetters, Ben ; Farris, Nuckols ; Frandes, 
Wm. Carl ; Fowler, Tyre B. ; Fry, Elmer Leon ; Fairchild, Wm. W. ; Fried- 
erich, Herman B. ; Friedrich, Carl; Fry, Jesse A.; Friedrich, Jacob W. ; 
Felton, Francis Richard; Fairfax, Lon ; Friedrich, Edward C; Folkerts. 
Lewis J. 

Griffin, Victor R. ; Gargus, Geo. F.; Grose, Vanmeeter; Gooseberry, 
Ernest; Gantner, Walter E.: Gravell, Jos. Lewis; Golden, Addie; Groves, 
Oscar B.; Gronstedt, Wm.; Givens. Bryan B.; Gillum, Geo. C; Gilson, Ira 
E. ; Gantner, Urban A. ; Gerke, John ; Givens, Clarence A. ; Gunn, J. P. ; 
Givens, Clay Carl; Green, John W.; Golden, Hickman; Goode, Mack J.; 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 335 

Green, Julian Bact ; Gantner, Earl Jerome ; Good, Isaac N. ; Grazier, Sher- 
man; Gerling, Jos. J.; Gilbreath, Hugh K. ; Geiger, Lawrence; Gavisk, 
Morgan; Gronstedt, Martin; Griffin, Harry B.; Gibson, Robert Lercy; Gil- 
more, Finis Glen; Gensler, Thomas; Grotinger, Ferdinand; Geiger, John 
Wilbur ; Gump, Roy. Jord ; Gantner, Jos. ; Grose, Jas. W. ; Gray, Olaff ; Gar- 
land, Homer; Gibson, Wm. M. 

Hirst, John R. ; Hepler, Jesse J. ; Harris, W. B. ; Hogan, Lenwood ; 
Hopkins, Chas. W. ; Holmes, Wm. ; Haller, Richard W. ; Heisler, Herman 
V. ; Hogan, Alfred ; Henderson, Chas. C. ; Hoellerich, Aug. ; Harris, Loy E. ; 
Holliday, Arthur L. ; Hutchinson, P. T. ; Haley, Joel ; Hull, Wm. S. ; Haley, 
W. L. ; Holmes, Barney ; Hilden, Herman P. ; Hutchinson, Robt. M. ; Harte, 
Houston ; Harris, Chas. D. ; Harris, Edgar W. ; Hogan. Oliver A. ; Huth, 
Wilbur L. ; Hausser, Albert ; Houcker, Geo. F. ; Hupp, Chas. J. ; Huff, Ray- 
mond P. L. ; Hogan, Jas. Otey; Harned, Walter P.; Hardiman, Wm.; 
Howard. Claud ; Holliday, Ernest ; Hale, Frank O. ; Hoff , Edward L. ; Hec- 
tor, Herbert A. ; Hedgpeth, Robt. Geo. ; Huckaby, Samuel T. ; Hotsenpiller, 
Irl H. ; Hopkins, Jesse; Helmreich, Elbert E. ; Hunt, Robert V.; Hams, 
Terry E. ; Hill, Jasper L. ; Hickam, Chas. S. ; Hurt, Ewing; Hammonds, 
Ernest ; Hale, John P. ; Harris, Marion C. ; Hurt, Porter Marion ; Haunsen, 
Aaron W. ; Haller, S. John ; Harris, Wm. J. ; Huckaby, Pearl ; Hain, Geo. 
John ; Howard, Joe ; Harlan, Geo. C. ; Hupp, Isaac Gill ; Holliday, Virgil ; 
Hedrick, Lon M. ; Hoberecht, Ray. 

Irvin, John T. 

Johnson, Leslie Smith; Jones, Brent; Jones, Chas. Elmer; Jegglin, 
Wm. A.; Johnson, Johnny; Jenry, Wm. H. ; Jones, Richard C; Jenry, Job" 
M. ; Johnson, Ellis; Jackson, Walter; Johnson, Robt. Perry; Jegglin, 
Ulmont; Jenkins, Phillip; Jones, Roy E. ; Johnson, Andrew D. ; Johnson. 
Clyde Gail ; Jones, Roy Lindsay ; Johns, Wm. Kelly ; Jaeger, Albert, Jr. 

Knabe, Herman H. ; Kallian, Chas. ; Kraus, Frederick A. ; Kirschman, 
Lester L. ; Klenklen, Wm. T. ; Knorp, John G. ; Krohn, Frederick H. ; Kos- 
field, Herman Henry ; Kaiser, Wm. Theodore ; Kimlin, Fred A. ; Kaiser, Geo. 
F. ; Kibler, Wm. Walter; Kistenmacher, Karl; King, Lawson Lander; 
Knipp, Peter J., Jr. ; Klenklen, Victor S. ; Klein, Elmer Henry ; King, Judd ; 
Kinney, Dorsey ; Koontz, Frank L. ; Kahle, Herman F. ; Kinney, Jewel M. ; 
Korte, Homer E. 

Langlotz, Verner C. ; Long, John T. ; Loesing, Geo. Henry ; Layne, 
John W. ; Long, Chas. Clifford ; Langkep, Walter ; Lusk, Marshall B. ; Lyle, 
Chas. F. ; Lovick, Wm. A. ; Lewis, Edward ; Lance, Geo. ; Lacy, Geo. Whit ; 
Lawson, Barney E. ; Lee, Wm.; Lawson, Roy; Lewis, Harry; Leuckert,. 



336 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

C. D. ; Langkop, Edward Chas. ; Logan. Urbie Jas. ; Lamm, Oscar Irving; 
Lee, Nelson; Lamm, Jas. Forrest; Lee, Harrison G. 

Miller, Roy F. ; Miles, Homer ; McKinley, Lenwood ; Mersey, Elmer E. ; 
Moore, Jeff T. ; Miles, Eugene ; Mersey, Wm. H. ; Minor, Hogan ; Mayer, 
Chas. H.; Meller, Thos. E. ; Manning, Floyd H. ; Miller, Geo. L. ; Mallory, 
Gilbert; Mcllveny, John; Meredith, Wm. Owen; Moore, LeRoy ; Meredith, 
Geo. H. ; Morris, Clay ; Moore, Hilliard H. ; Miller, H. J. ; Miller, John L. ; 
Madison, Ernest; Myer. Henry Robert; Morris, Warren Cole; McDonnell, 
Paul Brooks; McCleary, James; Meyer, August; Mochel, Wm. F. ; Moehle, 
Geo. E. ; McDowell, Sid ; Marshall, Rudolph ; Minor, J. W. ; Morrison, Paul ; 
Moore, Hugh Shelborn ; Miller, Archie ; Montgomery, Wm. ; Meyers. For- 
rest; Mize, Richard B. ; Meisenheimer, R. D. ; Muessig, Robert; Myers, 
Fred Wm., Jr.; Morrow, Silas A. 

Needy, Forrest; Nichols, Willis; Nookerman, John A.; Nelson, Wm. ; 
Neef, Henry Carl ; Nelson, Ruben C. ; Niederwimmer, H. ; Nelson, Wm. ; 
Newbauer, Emil; Neale, Monroe, Lee. 

Oerly, Frank J.; Ohlendorf, Henry F. ; Odneal, Hugh B.; Oak, Walter 
S. ; Odil, Jan Anderson ; Odom, Radford F. ; O'Neal, Samuel Amos ; Odneal, 
J. Geo. Poindexter; Owings, William T. ; Orendorf, Robert Lee; Oak, W. W. 

Pepper, Herman ; Peeples, Harold ; Palmer, Frank D. ; Pare, Oscar H. ; 
Piatt, Wm. B. ; Paxton, John H. ; Phillips, Paul W. ; Plater, Calvin ; Porter, 
Willie; Poindexter, Alfred; Pulley, Clarence; Parkhurst, Geo. A.; Pearson, 
Carl C; Powers, Elmore; Philpott, James E. ; Phipps, Geo. Wm. ; Parrish, 
James ; Poindexter, Arthur L. ; Phipps, Marion Lee ; Patterson, Jas. W. ; 
Poindexter, John William; Pulley, Leonard B. ; Putnam, Thos. B.; Park- 
hurst, Fred A.; Potter, A. Zabe H. ; Poindexter, Chas. F. ; Poole, Ellis': 
Poertner, Ernest J. ; Powell, Earl ; Pethan, Oscar W. H. ; Perry, Elmer J. ; 
Phillip, Noah; Potter, Lilburn A.; Perry, Hiram; Porter, Chas. 

Quint, Wm.; Quinley, Henry Vernon; Quigley, Wm. Oliver; Quint, 
Geo. 

Read, Chas.; Ronan, Lee Albert; Reavis, Henry F. ; Rassmussen, 
Arthur; Rawlins, Howard M. ; Roth, Louis G.; Richey, Charlie; Redmon. 
Chas.; Richey, Alphus N. ; Runkle, Wm. K.; Ross, James A.; Reynolds, 
H. W. ; Richardson, Clarence ; Reynolds, Geo. S. ; Robinson, Press ; Richter, 
John H. ; Robinson, Carter; Rucker, Ray; Roberts, Roy Daniel; Redd, Roy ; 
Rentschler, Samuel D. ; Ries, Herman ; Reed, John Wm. ; Rolfe. Sidney R. ; 
Riggs, Geo. E.; Roberts, Cecil C. ; Riggs, Oscar; Rau, Frank Joseph. 

Schuster, Wilbur J.; Smith, Edgar E. ; Schilb, Francis Oscar; Stretz, 
Wilbur F.; Sims, Roy B.; Spillers, Guy E. : Simms, John W. ; Schmidt, 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 337 

Edward Joseph; Simmers, Luther; Sanders, Thos. P.; Stegner, Lloyd E.; 
-Stephens, Ralph ; Smith, Walter R. ; Schupp, Wm. ; Stacy, King George ; 
Sevier, Walker ; Smith, P. L. ; Schupp, R. ; Stephens, Lon V. ; Sanders, Jas. ; 
Stuart, Jesse E. ; Stephens, Clyde; Smalley, Joe B. ; Soph, Raymond; 
Sharp, John W. ; Smallwood, Joe ; Schwartz, Joseph H. ; Stephens, Joseph 
L. ; Scott, Willie M. ; Skith, Henry A. ; Shaw, Robert J. ; Schoen, Frank S. ; 
Shackleford, John; Schlup, Ovey; Simmons, Chas. C. ; Salmon, Thos. J.; 
Straub, John F. ; Sweeny, David, Jr.; Smith, Russell B.; Schultz, Frank; 
Steinmetz, Samuel T. ; Smith, Thomas B. ; Schwartz, John C. ; Sanders, 
Lester J.; Simms, Morrison C. ; Schneibner, Carl F. ; Schmidt, Harry L. ; 
Stephens, Whitney A.; Sullins, Elsa Victor; Schrader, Wm. H. ; Selck, 
Hilliard ; Schilb, Alva E. ; Snyder, Lee F. ; Stretz, Norbert ; Stephens, Reid ; 
Sparks, Daniel ; Sombart, Harry E. ; Sieckmann, Wilhelm ; Schupp, Con- 
rad; Smith, Arthur; Schupp, Fritz; Sutton, Lewis H. ; Scholle, Albro; 
Snider, Alex ; Sanders, Timothy ; Strickf adden, Geo. ; Simon, Russell ; 
Schilb, Enslie Irvin; Stapleton, Winston; Schlotzhauer, Hallie C: Sim- 
mons, Roy E. ; Shinn, Henry; Schoen, Charles; Sites, William Lee; Smith, 
Douglass ; Stephens, Walter ; Smith, J. A. ; Schwartz, Jacob John ; Simms, 
Thomas A.; Simpson, Sylvester; Stephens, James; Speaker, Neal F. ; 
Shafer, William 0.; Shemwell, George; Stockard, Frank L. ; Smith, 
Edward B. 

Thompson, Herman ; Turley, John C. ; Trester, John ; Toler, Frank G. ; 
Toley, William B. ; Taylor, Julius; Thompson, Clem Arnold; Toler, Joseph 
A.; Toennis, John Gustave; Theiss, Lawrence; Thomas, Lewis; Turner, 
William C. ; Todd, Frank; Turner, Henry; Tolbert, Floyd A.; Twenter, 
Albert H. ; Tuirtcis, Paungistis ; Taliaferro, Louis G. ; Tompkins, John 
Cheatham ; Thomas, George M. ; Tuttle, Joseph Morton ; Thoma, Frank J. ; 
Teele, Burke; Thompson, Joseph; Templemire, Edward; Trester, Harry 
Peter; Tumy, William H. ; Thomas, John L. ; Terrell, Arthur. 

Utz, Winfield Roy. 

Varnum, F. R.; Vieth, August William; Vamer, Robert E. ; Verts, 
Joseph L. ; Verts, Harry Lee; Verts, Chalos Isaac; Varnum, George W. ; 
Vaugn, Roy R. 

Westerman, Ernest; Wolfe, Lewis E. ; Wiemholt, Fred A.; Williams, 
Lawrence; Whitlow, Henry C; Windsor, Wilbur C; Wright, Harry; 
Woodhouse, Henry; Willson, Willis; Wallace, Roscoe A.; Woodhouse, 
Albert ; Walterscheid, Peter M. ; Williams, Howard ; Wolfe, Oral W. ; Wil- 
liams, Grover C. ; Windsor, Edward H. ; Williams, Charles ; Wilhite, John 
(22) 



338 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

F. ; Wide], John B. ; Watkins, Theodore ; Wright, Clarence ; Wall, William 
Arthur; Wilson, Charles W. ; Wolfe, William M. ; Weyland, Morgan L. ; 
Windsor, John II. ; Williams, Roy ; Williams, Edwin A. ; Wendleton, John 
E. ; Williams, Charles A. ; Witt, Jeroid Lee ; Wisner, John B. ; Whitlow, 
Elliot W. ; Windsor, John Leonard ; Wassman, Orion F. ; Wilhite, Elea S. ; 
Wallje, Ernest B. ; White, Arthur F. ; White, Walter C. 

Yeager, Frederick W. L. ; Young, Rudolph H. 

Zimmerman, Robert. 

The following names we give as those that appear upon the list that . 
was prepared by the ladies of Boonville that do not appear upon the above 
list prepared by us. 

Biltz, Rolla ; Blank, Albert ; Bonen, Leo Albert ; Brandes, William 
Carl; Bryan, Charles Virgil; Burke, John Joseph; Barr, David Albert; 
Bamby, Earl James. 

Cash, Horace Miller; Campbell, Arthur Harrie; Cannon, James Nel- 
son; Cramer, Ernest Dewitt; Cole, Charles Betteridge; Collegan, Ernest. 

Deimber, Albert. 

Gooseberry, Ernest; Gabriel, Samuel Emery. 

Hutchison, William Thomas; Huffman, Paul Bush. 

Kreeger, Heo. H. ; Kelly. Dr. R. Q. 

Larrimore, William H. 

Meeker, Hiram; Meagher, Leo. James; McElroy, Charles Willey; 
Matheny, William. 

Pfeiffer, John. 

Reed, Nolan Potter; Reynolds, Virgil Lee. 

Stegner, Joseph William; Skinner, Elvie Elmer; Stewart, Wilbur; 
Schmitt, Urban Frank; Stephens, Robert; Smith, Samuel. 

Tuff, Henry G. 

Wilson, Fred W. ; Watson, George; Williams, Douglas Kyril ; Waller, 
Elliott. 

Company B, Third Regiment Infantry, N. G., Boonville, Mo., was 
called into Federal service March 25, 1917, and drafted into Federal service 
August 5, 1917 and consolidated with Co. B, 6th Mo. Infantry and desig- 
nated Co. B, 140th Infantry. 

Captain, Carl F. Scheibner; 1st Lieutenant, Warren T. Davis; 2d 
Lieutenant, William F. Short; 1st Sergeant, Merl Joseph Barnert; Mess 
Sergeant, Juneious C. Davis; Suply Sergeant, Carl A. Miller; Sergeants, 
John P. Logan, Jr., Forest E. Callahan; Corporals, William Lachneij, 
Joseph C. White, Ewell K. Walden; Cooks, Morrison C. Simms, George 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 339 

Langhans; Buglers, Monte C. Coulter, Edward T. Willard ; Privates, 
Robert Annly, Stephen Y. Bagby, Daniel Becker, Wayne R. Berry, Rolla 
Biltz, Burke E. Bledsoe, Rolla T. Bottom, John W. Buchanan, Arthur L. 
Campbell, Frank W. Cash, John Cauthon, John Cochran, Charles B. Cor- 
nett, Wyatt Cramer, Oscar Crum, Jesse H. Davis, Oscar J. Dewell, James 
L. Donohew, John C. Edwards, Jewell Fenical, Paul R. Goode, Monte H. 
Haller, Rutherford B. Hayes, George Hayes, James J. Haley, Roy P. Haley, 
Tom A. Hickcox, Harry R. Holmer, Henry J. Hilscamp, Ewing Hurt, 
Charles H. Huber, Cecil Jenkins, Eugene E. Johnston, Eugene F. Kleasner, 
James L. Kreeger, George Leininger, Edgar C. Lohse, Sylvanus W. Malott, 
Andrew L. Mayfield, John H. McMellon, Emett H. McRoberts, Carl W. 
Mock, Sam A. Mock, Charles S. Moore, Kemper Moore, Riley W. Murphy, 
Claude L. Muncy, Walker Oswald, Raymond R. Partee, Phillip Peeples, 
David H. Pfeifer, Otto E. Poertner, George Potter, Robert C. Renfrow, 
Earl W. Russell, Albert Schell, William Scotten, Rodney E. Simmons, Web- 
ster Joseph Simmons, Ernest N. Simpson, Fred Sims, Jo B. Smalley, 
Ernest F. Spaete, Robert H. Stephens, Jesse 0. Stillwell, Curtis Stiner, 
Stanley M. Thatcher, William R. Thomas, Ralph A. Tuckley, Robert Von 
Oertzen, Dewey F. Wells, Lon H. Weyland, James White, Roger E. White, 
Richard N. Windsor, Grady T. Wood, William H. Yontz. 

Casualty List. — Through the kindness of Floyd C. Shoemaker, sec- 
retary of the State Historical Society of Missouri, we herein give the 
casualty list of the Cooper County boys. Mr. Shoemaker, at considerable 
trouble, has compiled this list and it is barely possible that it does not 
contain all the casualties, yet in the main it is correct: 

Annley, Robert, private, Boonville, wounded slightly. 

Barnes, Lucien Nelson, private, Blackwater, wounded slightly. 

Berry, Wayne R., private, Speed, wounded (degree undetermined). 

Bietz, Rolland, private, Bunceton, wounded slightly. 

Blackstone, McLawrence, private, Pilot Grove, died of disease (U. 
S. A.). 

Coleman, Wayt J., private, Woodridge, wounded slightly. 

Coulter, Monte C, corporal, Boonville, wounded severely. 

Cramar, Ray, private, Blackwater, wounded severely. 

Dickinson, Jonathan 0., lieutenant, Boonville, wounded slightly. 

Diel, Raymond Felix, private, Pilot Grove, wounded (degree unde- 
termined). 

Diel, O. William, private, Pilot Grove, died of disease (U. S. A.). 

Dishion, Pierce J., private, Bunceton, wounded slightly. 



340 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Duncan, Herbert, private, Overton, wounded slightly. 

Embry, Sidney E., private, Cooper County, killed in action. 

Fairfax, Lon S., private, Otterville, died of disease. 

Fowler, Tyre Boon, private, Boonville, wounded (degree undeter- 
mined). 

Haller, Richard William, private, Boonville, died of disease. 

Harlan, George Clark (navy), died of disease. 

Harris, William, lieutenant, Boonville. wounded (degree undeter- 
mined). 

Johns, William Kelley, private, Boonville, killed in action. 

Johnson, Everett Hale, Blackwater, killed in action. 

Junkerman, Albert F., private, Blackwater, died of disease. 

Klien, George J., private, Blackwater, missing in action. 

Knabe, Henry Herman, private, Boonville, wounded (degree unde- 
termined). 

Knoep, Elmer T., private, Prairie Home, wounded severely. 

Kreeger, George H., corporal, Boonville, prisoner, wounded. 

Langkop, Walter T., private, Bunceton, died of disease. 

Logan, John P., sergeant, Boonville, wounded severely. 

Long, Charles C, private, Pilot Grove, wounded slightly. 

Malott, Sylvanus W., private, Pilot Grove, wounded slightly. 

Mayer, Charles H., private, Boonville, wounded severely. 

McAllister, Arthur T., private, Boonville, died of wounds. 

Meyer, Henry R., recruit, Prairie Home, died of disease (U. S. A.). 

Miller, Carl A., private, Boonville, wounded severely. 

Miller, George True, private, LaMine, wounded (degree undeter- 
mined). 

Miller, John L., private, Speed, wounded slightly. 

Miller, Roy F. (navy), Boonville, died of disease (U. S. A.). 

Mock, Samuel A., lieutenant, Boonville, wounded severely. 

Odneal, Hugh B., private, Prairie Home, wounded severely. 

Ohlendorf, Henry E., private, Boonville, wounded severely. 

Poertner, Otto Ernest, private, Boonville, killed in action. 

Robey, William M., private, LaMine, wounded severely. 

Ross, James Alfred, private, Boonville, wounded severely. 

Sanders, Thomas P., private, Boonville, wounded slightly. 

Salmon, Thomas J., private, Otterville, wounded severely. 

Sears, Ernest Cecil, private (marine), Blackwater, wounded severely. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 341 

• 

Simmons, Charles C, corporal, Boonville, wounded slightly. 

Simmons, Henry T., private, Boonville, wounded severely. 

Simmons, Rodney E., private, Boonville, wounded slightly. 

Simmons, Webster J., sergeant, Boonville, wounded slightly. 

Smith, Edward B., private, Cooper County, missing in action. 

Smith, Perry D., private, Blackwater, died of disease. 

Speaker, Neal F., sergeant, Otterville, wounded (degree undetermined). 

Spray, Walker, corporal, Boonville, wounded slightly. 

Stephens, Clyde P., private, Bunceton, wounded slightly. 

Stephens, Robert, corporal, Bunceton, wounded severely. 

Stock, August W., corporal, Overton, wounded slightly. 

Stoner, Curtis, private, Pilot Grove, wounded (degree undetermined). 

Straub, John Franklin, bugler, Pleasant Green, wounded (undeter- 
mined) . 

Taylor, George Estel, private, Boonville, died of disease. 

Thoma, Leonard E., mechanic, Boonville, died of wounds. 

Thomas, William, private, Pilot Grove, wounded severely. 

Vaughn, Harley P., corporal, Boonville, wounded severely. 

Watson, George W., mechanic, Blackwater, wounded severely. 

Whitton, Henry C, private, Blackwater, wounded severely. 

Wilson, Arthur C, private (marine), Pleasant Green, wounded se- 
verely. 

Zoeller, Frank S., corporal, Pilot Grove, wounded (degree undeter- 
mined). 

Summary. — From "Statistical Summary of the War with Germany" 
prepared by Col. Leonard P. Ayres authorized by the War Department is 
extracted the following, which, of course, is of interest to our readers: 

Among each 100 Americans five took up arms in defense of the 
country. 

During the Civil War 10 out of every 100 inhabitants of the North- 
ern States served as soldiers or sailors. In that struggle 2,400,000 men 
sei-ved in the Northern army and the navy. 

Between April 6, 1917, and Nov. 11, 1918, when the armistice went 
into effect 4,800,000 men constituted our land and naval forces. Yet 
a force proportional to that put forth by the North during the Civil 
War would have produced nearly 10,000,000 American fighting men. 

The British sent to France in their first year of the war more men 
than did the United States in the first twelve months. On the other 



342 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

hand, it took England three years to reach a strength of 2,000,000 men 
in France, while the United States was able to place that number across 
the seas in one-half that time. 

The organization of an immense army as that of the United States, 
its equipment and transportation across the ocean has never been equaled 
in the history of the world. 

Two out of every three American soldiers who reached France took 
part in battle. The number that reached France was 2,084,000 and of 
these 1,300,000 were engaged at the front. 

American divisions were in battle for 200 days and engaged in 13 
major operations from the middle of August until the armistice. 

The American divisions held during the greater part of the time a 
front longer than that held by the British in October. The American 
divisions held 101 miles of line or 23 per cent of the entire western front. 

In the battle of Saint Milhiel 550,000 Americans were engaged, as 
compared with 100,000 on the North side in the battle of Gettysburg. 

The artillery fired more than 1,000,000 shells in four hours, which 
is the most intense concentration of artillery fire recorded in the history 
of the world. 

The Meuse-Argonne battle lasted 47 days, during which 1,200,000 
American troops were engaged. 

During the period of hostilities two out of every 100 American sol- 
diers were killed or died of disease. The total battle death of all nations 
in this war was greater than the total of all the deaths of all the wars 
in the previous 100 years. 

For every man killed in battle seven were wounded. 

Five out of every six men sent to hospitals on account of wounds 
were cured and returned to duty. 

In the expeditionary forces battle deaths were twice as many as 
death from disease. 

The number of American lives lost was 122,500, of which about 
10,000 were in the navy and the rest in the army and marines attached 
to it. 

The war cost of America was $21,850,000,000, or approximately 
$1,000,000 an hour. The greatest number of men sent over seas in a 
single month was 306,000 and the largest returned home in a single 
month at the time of the report was 333,000. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 343 

The supplies shipped from the United States to France was 7,500,000 
tons in nineteen months. 

The registration of men for the draft was 24,234,021 and of these 
2,810,296 were inducted into service. The largest number inducted into 
the service in a single month was 400,000. 



CHAPTER XXIII. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



MEXICAN BORDER TROUBLE— GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC— UNITED VET- 
ERANS OF THE CONFEDERACY— OTTERVILLE TRAIN ROBBERY— SHERIFF 
CRAMER MURDERED— A. B. THORNTON KILLED— THE PROHIBITION QUES- 
TION. 

Mexican Border Trouble. — Company B, 3rd Infantry, National Guard 
of Missouri, was called with other National Guard units for service on the 
Mexican border on June 18, 1916. Capt. R. A. Johnston, who was in com- 
mand, left Boonville with sitxy-seven men for the mobilization camp at 
the government reservation near Nevada, Mo. 

The departure of this organization caused much sorrow among the 
relatives and friends of the men. The citizens turned out in masse, 
escorted the company to the train, and gave the men a rousing send-off. 
After being in camp at Nevada a few days the citizens sent a committee 
headed by the Mayor and presented the company a beautiful silk United 
States standard. 

On June 30, 1916, the men were examined physically and formally 
mustered into the service of the United States. There were now near 
ninety men in the company as Lt. Carl F. Scheibner had been left in Boon- 
ville when the company departed and had gathered in several recruits. 
Also several men recruited in other places had been assigned to Com- 
pany B. 

The physical examination was most rigid and several were disqualified 
and sent back home, among them the captain of Company B. 

The list of those accepted and mustered in the service of the United 
States follows: 

Company B, 3d Infantry, Missouri National Guard. Called into Fed- 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 345 

eral service June 18, 1916. Mustered into Federal service June 30, 1916. 

Captain, Rea A. Johnston ; 1st Lt., William F. Short ; 2nd Lt., Carl F. 
Scheibner; 1st Sgt, John S. Cobb; Mess Sgt., Carl A. Miller; Sgts., War- 
ren T. Davis, Martene Corum, John Parker Logan, Juneious C. Davis, Wil- 
liam Bell. Corps.: Forrest Callahan, Fred A. Kimlin, Charles Henry 
Huber, James A. Ross, Merl J. Barnert. Cooks: Morrison C. Sims, Paul 
R. Goode. Artificer: George Potter. Buglers: Ralph Brumbaugh, Monte 
Coulter. Privates : Bailey, Curtis F. ; Bottom, Rolla T. ; Campbell, James 
W. ; Cauthon, John; Cochran, John; Cordes, Dewey E. ; Culp, Henry; 
Deuel, Oscar J. ; Finn, William W. ; Fowler, Ira 0. ; Haley, James J. ; Haller, 
Manfred H. ; Howard, Wallace E. ; Hutchison, Presley T. ; Johnston, 
Eugene E. ; Kane, John D. ; Kidwell, John H. ; King, Judd ; Kohn, William 
P. ; Kratzer, Leroy ; Kreeger, James ; Lachner, William G. ; Langhans, 
George ; Lohse, Edgar C. ; Long, William ; McAllister, William ; McRoberts, 
Emmett F. ; Mock, Samuel A.; Moore, Charles S. ; Pack, Hardie; Paxton, 
John; Peeples, Phillip; Potter, Henry V.; Potter, John R., Jr.; Renfrow, 
Robert C. ; Schroeder, Albert W. ; Shea, John E., Jr. ; Sim, Fred ; Simmons, 
Webster J. ; Smalley, Joe B. ; Spaete, Ernest F. ; Stillwell, Jesse 0. ; Sum- 
merskill, Marshal J. ; Tezon, William ; Von Oertzen, Robert ; Walden, Ewell 
K. ; Webster, James H. ; White, Roger E. ; White, Joseph C. ; Wilhite, James 
F. ; Wilmesher, Herman ; Yontz, William H. 

Organizations of Civil War Veterans. — A Grand Army Post was 
organized in Boonville, on Aug. 19, 1885 with seventeen members and 
with the following officers : Col. Joseph A. Eppestein, Commander ; Judge 
T. M. Rice, Senior Vice-Commander; Capt. George Meller, Junior Vice- 
Commander; P. H. McNulty, Quartermaster; Dr. John B. Holman, Sur- 
geon; Sylvester Young, Chaplain; W. C. Culverhouse, Officer of the Day; 
James Mitchell, Officer of the Guard; Franklin Swap, Adjutant; R. W. 
Whitlow, Sergeant-Major ; and W. W. Taliaferro, Quartermaster Sergeant. 
Capt. E. J. Smith, of Sedalia, Mo., was the special mustering officer on 
the occasion. This organization was named John A. Hayn Post No. 240, 
Grand Army of the Republic. The Boonville battle having been the first 
land battle of the Civil War, and John A. Hayn having lost his life in that 
battle, this post was properly named in his honor, he being the first soldier 
who gave his life for the Union in a land engagement. 

Judge T. M. Rice was elected Commander of the Post on Dec. 21, 
1888, and appointed R. W. Whitlow, Adjutant of the Post, who has since 
continuously served as Adjutant of the Post and holds that office at this 



346 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

time. Mr. Whitlow is now the only surviving member in good standing 
of the charter membership. 

In all this post has had 234 members. Its present membership con- 
sists of only 27 as follows: Joseph Leiber, Commander; R. W. Whitlow, 
Adjutant; C. C. Bell, Chaplain; Peter Trester, Officer of the Day; John W. 
Rudolph, George W. Rudolph, Mathew R. McDowell, Walter Bai-ron, George 
W. Drennen, James P. Tally, John F. Wassmann ; William T. Tally, Officer 
of the Guard; Joseph Memmel, Charles R. Cartner; F. J. Boiler, quarter- 
master; Gottlieb Baumann, George W. Piper, Junior Vice-Commander; 
John F. Dilthey, Senior Vice-Commander; Daniel Muntzel, August Steg- 
ner, Sergeant ; Henry Hoppe, George A. Jacobs, James H. Wilkinson, Henry 
Roesler, Gilbert L. Wilson, Martin L. Weekly, E. H. Rodgers. 

The George B. Harper Camp No. 714 United Veterans of the Con- 
federacy was organized in the city of Boonville, Aug. 17, 1895, with the 
following roster of attending veterans: 

Robert McCulloch, B. F. Bedwell, J. L. Campbell, A. M. George, F. M. 
Davis, J. C. Berry, Jan Halley, H. Allen, James Powell, E. I. Smith, J. H. 
B. Street, T. B. Simmons, Amos O'Neal, R. A. Kirkbride, W. E. Toler, 0. 
F. Arnold, W. W. Trent, J. E. Fairchild, J. W. Williams, Isaac Henry, J. 
M. Givens, A. W. McFarland, Eph Simmons, A. L. Zollinger, John M. 
Boyles, J. H. Zollinger, R. E. Howlett, W. H. Eades, J. A. Howard, A. G. 
Dinwiddie, John Heplin, Dr. H. H. Miller. 

Gen Robert McCulloch was elected Commander of the camp. He ap- 
pointed the following gentlemen to constitute the staff for the eastern 
district for Missouri: 

Maj. Harry Hill, Adjutant General, St. Louis; Maj. James F. Edwards. 
Inspecting General, Forestell ; Maj. Edmund Casey, Quartermaster-Gen- 
eral, Potosi, Washington County; Maj. John S. Mellon, Commissary-Gen- 
eral, St. Louis; Capt. R. E. Howlett, Surgeon-General, Otterville, Mo.; 
Capt. A. L. Zollinger, Aid-de-Camp, Otterville, Mo.; Capt. W. W. Trent, 
Asst. Adjutant-General, Boonville, Mo. 

In 1904 the Gen. Dick Taylor consolidated with the George B. Harper 
Camp under the name of the latter. 

The last meeting of this camp of which we find any record was held 
at Otterville, Mo., on Aug. 10, 1915. At the present time Dr. R. E. Howlett 
is Commander-in-Chief; James Speed, Second Commander; R. T. Draffen, 
Third Commander; and the following appointive officers, C. N. Zollinger, 
Adjutant; Arch George, Quartermaster; W. G. Streit, Commissary. Some 
of the younger officers are sons of veterans. 

The Blue and the Gray have given way to the khaki, one color, one 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY ,'>47 

Union and a united love of country. The ranks of the old veterans are 
sadly thinning. Alas, alas, the fleeting years go swiftly by ! 

Horace in one of his odes, says: 

"Alas, Postumus, Postumus, the fleeting years glide by, 
Nor can piety bring delay to wrinkles, importunate old age, 
And invisible death." 

The modern poet, in his liberal translation has evolved the following 
touching lines. 

"Ah, Postumus, the years, the fleeting years 
Still onwards, onwards glide; 
Nor mortal virtue may 
Time's wrinkling fingers stay, 
Nor Age's sure advance, nor Death's all-conquering stride." 

Otterville Train Robbery.— On the night of the 13th of July, 1876, a 
passenger train on the Missouri Pacific Railroad, was robbed about one 
mile east of Otterville, in Otterville township, by a band of eight men. 
Their names were Frank and Jesse James, Cole and John Younger, Bill 
Chadwell, Clell Miller, Charley Pitts and Hobbs Kerry. 

After opening the safe of the United States Express Company and 
the safe of the Adams Express Company, the robbers proceeded the same 
night to a point on Flat Creek, where they divided the treasure, which 
consisted of about $22,000 in money, and other valuables, such as jewelry, 
bonds, coupons, and exchange, which were being carried east by the 
express companies. They, however, took nothing with them but the 
money. At the point above named, on Flat Creek, Hobbs Kerry, one of 
the band, separated from his companions. Hiding his saddle and bridle 
in the woods, he turned his horse loose on the prairie and walking to 
Windsor, took the Missouri, Kansas and Texas train to his home at Gran by, 
Mo., where some weeks after he was arrested. He confessed the crime 
and guided the officers of the law to the place where the robbers had 
divided the money, and where was found much of the jewelry and other 
valuables taken by them, being such property as they could not well use, 
and were afraid to have on their persons. 

At the November term, 1876, of the Cooper Circuit Court, Hobbs 
Kerry was indicted, and at the April term, in 1877, Kerry was tried, con- 



348 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

victed and sentenced to four years' imprisonment in the penitentiary. 
James H. Johnston, prosecuted, and John R. Walker, defended. 

Immediately after the train robbery at Otterville, the robbers were 
joined by one of the Younger brothers, the youngest, who supplied the 
place of Kerry, and all proceeded to Northfield, Minn., where on the morn- 
ing of the 7th day of Sept., 1876, in the attempt to rob the bank at that 
place, Bill Chadwell, Clell Miller and Charlie Pitts, were killed outright 
and the three Youngers were wounded, captured, convicted and sentenced 
to the Minnesota penitentiary. The James brothers made their escape and 
were engaged in many robberies subsequent to that time. Jesse James 
was killed by the Ford boys (Bob and Charley), on the 3d of April, 1882. 
Frank James, afterwards, and in Sept., 1882, surrendered himself to Gov- 
ernor Crittenden, of Missouri, in the executive office, in Jefferson City. 
He quietly walked into the governor's office, announced who he was, un- 
buckled his belt, containing his pistols and cartridges, and handing them 
to the governor, surrendered. 

Sheriff Cramer Murdered. — On the night of March 21, 1890, an inci- 
dent occurred which evolved a train of events culminating in the murder 
of a noble officer, and a hangman's noose for the murderer. A man who 
gave his name when arrested as William E. West, and his comanion named 
Temple were ejected from a freight train at Otterville, on the night of 
March 21, 1890. 

Upon being ejected, West, who after proved to be Turlington, shot at 
the brakeman and when he arrived at Sedalia, he was arrested, and served 
a term in jail for carrying concealed weapons. When his time had ex- 
pired, he was brought to Cooper County on a charge of felonious assault 
with a deadly weapon, the shooting at the brakeman having occurred in 
Cooper County. 

Turlington's personality was pleasing, rather than forbidding, an:'. 
he gave no appearance of being the hardened character and criminal 
he was. It was at this time that the warm heart of Thomas C. Cranmer 
went out in sympathy to his prisoner, and it was upon his insistent request 
that the firm of Cosgrove & Johnson, both warm friends of Sheriff Cran- 
mer, undertook the defense of Turlington. By reason of their efforts 
and the intercession of Cranmer Turlington pleaded guilty and received a 
small jail sentence. 

On Satui-day evening, June 14, 1890, after supper had been given the 
prisoners, Sheriff Cranmer entered the jail and stood at the door of the 
lower cell where Turlington was confined, while a trusty removed the 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 349 

dishes. He was standing with his left hand resting on the door, when 
Turlington suddenly appeared and said, "Come on, throw up your hands." 
Mr. Cranmer steped back and drew his pistol. West sprang through the 
door and fired. The bullet passed through Cranmer's left arm, just above 
the wrist, entered the left side of the abdomen, passed through and struck 
the left kidney, and lodged in his back, just beneath the skin. Almost 
at the same time, Cranmer drew his pistol and fired at Turlington and 
shot at him a second time before Turlington got out the door. 

Cranmer, although mortally wounded, deliberately turned, closed, 
locked the jail door and went into the residence part of the jail and re- 
ported to his wife that he had been shot. Immediately the alarm was 
given and pursuit was instituted. Quite a number of citizens, among 
whom were Joe Green, John Thro, Alex Frost, William Koenig, Frank 
Stover succeeded in locating Turlington, but as they were unarmed, and 
he still carried his large pistol, surrounded him and sent word for arms. 
Marshall W. W. Taliaferro and policeman Frank Stretz were soon on the 
ground, well armed and at their command, the prisoner surrendered and 
was returned to jail. He was out of prison less than an hour. 

When the dying sheriff heard of the capture, with a characteristic 
desire to see the law respected, he requested that no violence should be 
done his assailant and that he should be dealt with according to the laws 
of the land. 

Death closed the eyes of Sheriff Cranmer at about seven-thirty o'clock 
Sunday morning. The news that Mr. Cranmer was dead spread quickly. 
Men gathered in groups on Main street and discussed the terrible and sad 
affair. The indignation so generally felt through the night was more 
bitter than ever, and the feeling that justice should be meted out to the 
murderer at once became intense. 

About noon, great crowds of friends of Cranmer from different sec- 
tions of the county were gathered at the Central National Bank corner 
and as they looked toward the jail,' their faces were stamped with anger 
and the talk was of taking the prisoner out to his death. 

At this time the Rev. Doctor Broaddus ascended the bank steps and 
attracted the attention of the crowd for a short time. He spoke feelingly 
of he sorrowing family of the deceased and pronounced pleasant encom- 
iums upon the character of Cranmer. He told how the widow and children 
had been left in straitened circumstances and that as the husband and 
the father had been slain, while in the services of the community, if the 
people there assembled desired to do something in memory of a worthy 



350 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

officer, it became them best to raise funds for the assistance of the family, 
rather than wreak their vengeance upon one whom the law would punish. 

His appeal was eloquent and touched a responsive chord in the hearts 
of his hearers and had much to do with curbing the feeling of those who 
might have eventuated into a mob. 

While Turlington was confined in the jail at Sedalia, he met and 
became acquainted with West Hensley, of Sedalia, a youth of some 
eighteen or nineteen years. Turlington promised him that if he would 
secure for him and bring to Boonville, a pistol, he would pay him three 
hundred dollars, and after he had escaped from jail, would take him into 
the business of robbing and stealing. And thus playing upon the imag- 
ination of Hensley, he elicited his interest. Hensley came to Boonville 
the Friday before the murder and slipped the pistol to Turlington, using 
a ladder to reach the window in the upper tier of cells, through which he 
passed the pistol. Hensley was convicted for his part in the crime and 
sentenced to the penitentiary. 

On Monday night, after the tragedy, Turlington confessed that his 
name was not William E. West, but John 0. Turlington, and that his part- 
ner's name was Temple. He also confessed of having robbed a passenger 
train at Prior Creek, I. T., assisted by Temple. Temple was at the time 
serving a term in the Arkansas penitentiary. Turlington had served 
several terms in jail and two penitentiaries and when arrested in this 
county, was eluding the officers of the Tennessee State Prison. 

Turlington was convicted of murder in the first degree and the penalty 
of death was assessed against him. His case came up for trial at the 
July term, 1890, of the Circuit Court, and on the 25th of that month, the 
jury found him guilty of murder in the first degree and he was sentenced 
to be hanged Sept. 11, 1890. His case was appealed to the Supreme Court. 
That court on the 27th da yof January, sustained the decision of the lower 
court, and Friday morning, March 16, 1891, was the time for his execution. 

While his case was before the Supreme Court, on the night of Octo- 
ber 31, he made his escape from the jail under peculiar circumstances, 
while two guards were on duty. He placed a dummy in his bed and by 
this means deceived those who were guarding him. He was recaptured 
in Caseyville, Ky., and once more returned to Boonville. 

Sheriff A. Hombeck, who succeeded the dead sheriff, kept his prisoner 
in a cell day and night, but had no guards. This plan worked well until 
on the morning of Dec. 26, 1890, when the sheriff found that his prisoner 
had once more escaped. He cut out the top of his cell and went through 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 351 

the trap door of the roof and by the aid of a rope, descended to the ground. 
He stole the sheriffs horse and was once more at liberty. He was re- 
captured the same night at Otterville by Messrs. George Potter and John 
Hayner. This was his third and last escape from the Boonville jail. He 
was hanged in the jail yard. 

Thus ended the career of a desperate man that had brought death 
and sorrow to the county and had tested the loyalty of our citizenship to 
law and order. 

A. B. Thornton Killed.— On Saturday, Nov. 17, 1881, Thomas H. B. 
McDearmon, shot and instantly killed A. B. Thornton, editor of the "Boon- 
ville News". We copy from the "Advertiser" of Nov. 25, 1881: 

"On Saturday afternoon last, about 4:30, our city was suddenly 
thrown into a state of excitement seldom before witnessed here. The 
cause of the excitement was the hearing of many of rapid pistol firing 
up Main street, and the quickly following report that "Tom McDearmon 
had killed Thornton," which report grated only the truth on the ears of 
the unwilling hearers, for Marshal McDearmon had, at a moment when 
maddened with indignation at the publishing of a very severe articie on 
him by the editor of the "News" sought out and shot and instantly killed 
Dr. Thornton. Some weeks ago, Mr. McDearmon and Dr. Thornton had 
a dispute and difficulty over the settlement of an ice bill, which was fol- 
lowed by the publication of a severe article on McDearmon in the "News". 
Mr. McDearmon, though very much aggravated, listened to his friends 
and took no notice of it and since then there has been no very kind feel- 
ings between the two." 

The shooting was the outcome of a series of articles which Thornton 
had published in his paper derogatory to the official conduct of McDearmon. 

McDearmon had a preliminary examination and was bound over to 
answer an indictment at the succeeding term of the Circuit Court. He 
was prosecuted by John R. Walker, county attorney, and defended by Cos- 
grove and Johnston. The case was taken to Boone County, on a change 
of venue, and there tried at the March term in 1882. 

The case was quite an exciting one, there being much interest taken 
in the proceedings and in the result. McDearmon was acquitted. 

The Prohibition Question.— Again in July, 1887, the vital question, 
"Wet or Dry", or "Saloon or no Saloon", was raised in Boonville. This 
campaign was in sharp contrast to that of 1853, to which we have already 
referred. Deep interest was taken in the campaign, but the appeal to the 
voters was rational and free from malice and passion. It was conducted 



352 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

by the citizens of Boonville and no imported talent was brought into the 
city to arouse to riotous feelings those who could be so affected. The 
ministers of the city were active, and those in favor of the saloons wer<? 
equally so. The remarkable feature of this campaign was that no hard 
feelings were engendered and after the result of the election was made 
known, friends were yet friends, and neighbors still neighbors. The spirit 
of live and charity prevailed. At this time there were probably twelve 
or fifteen saloons in Boonville, and the temperance wave was not nearly 
so strong and great as it has been in recent years. Yet the saloons pre- 
dominated only by a majority of 105, the vote for the saloons being 428 
and against 323. 

The "Wet and Dry" issue was not again raised in Boonville until the 
year 1915. At this time a large tabernacle, at the cost of between two 
and three thousand dollars, was erected in the city and Rev. Charles T. 
Wheeler was secured to conduct therein a revival. Mr. Wheeler was an 
experienced dry leader and the meeting was soon turned into an organ- 
ization to direct the campaign for the "drys". He was a forceful and 
strong speaker and in his arguments used plain and not always pleasant 
words. 

Great crowds attended the meetings, both from the city and from the 
surrounding country. The support of the preachers and various congre- 
gations were elicited and secured. Day by day the excitement increased 
and the feeling was intensified. On a proper petition, an election was 
called in the city of Boonville for Dec. 3, 1915. Those who advocated 
the saloons or the saloon organization brought into the city speakers from 
a distance, who held their meetings in the opera house, which on each 
occasion was crowded and packed. Yet on the occasion of each of these 
meetings the tabernacle of the Drys was equally thronged. A week or 
so before the day of the election the Drys in squads of fives or sixes 
patrolled the streets and alleys of the city during the late hours of the 
night and the early hours of the morning. 

Just before the election at night a monster and spectacular parade 
was organized by the Drys in which participated men, women, boys and 
girls, both from the surrounding country and the city. They were garbed 
in sheets fashioned around them with a red cross showing in front. Many 
men were horseback and a great number of automobiles, loaded to their 
capacity, made up part of this parade, all of which intensified and 
strengthened the feelings of the respective parties to the issue. 

The result of this election of December 3, was 721 for, 405 against, 
the majority in favor of licensing saloons being 316. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 353 

The Drys, however, not being discouraged, by proper petition called 
for an election on the same issue in the county, excluding Boonville. This 
campaign was orderly and well conducted and no special bitterness was 
aroused in the country. The election was held on Feb. 10, 1916, which 
resulted as follows: Against, 1,756, for, 1,445, showing that outside of 
Boonville, the majority against the licensing of saloons was 311. 

It is to be hoped that time will soon heal the wounds caused by the 
campaign of 1915, that the years will not be many before those who were 
deeply interested in the exciting controversy can look back upon it as an 
experience of the past and its incidents not to be held with prejudice 
against those with whom they differed and with whom they now mingle 
and associate from day to day. It is the common experience of mankind 
that when ones interest becomes too deeply intensified and feeling runs 
riot the tongue becomes an unruly member and even he who has' been 
known as well balanced may do and say things that in cooler moments he 
would not care to say and do. It is therefore well to draw the veil of 
charity over the faults and foibles of our neighbors, who perchance may 
have given way to the enthusiasm and excitement of the moment. 

The statu quo with reference to saloons continued until June 30, 1919. 
Saturday, June 28th and Monday, 30th, were active, busy days in Boon- 
ville, especially at nights when the streets were hardly long enough nor 
broad enough to accommodate the numerous automobiles from far and 
near. On these days some of the erstwhile dry leaders as well as the 
occasional Wet advocates and practitioners were protecting themselves 
from the drouth to come. The saloons did an enormous business. On 
both days the crowd was good-natured and there was neither rejoicing 
or shedding or tears. Monday night marked the last night of the saloons 
under the act of Congress closing them during the period of war and until 
the demobilization of the army. National prohibition goes into effect in 
Jan., 1920, but even before the constitutional amendment of prohibition 
was ratified by the states three-fourths of the United States was already 
dry territory. Of the 48 states, 32 were "bone-dry" without any federal 
law, and local option had dried up practically three-fourths of the remain- 
ing territory. Whether or not the saloons will be permitted to open 
before Jan., 1920, the future historian must record. 



(23) 



CHAPTER XXIV. 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 



Hon. Jacob Friedrich Gmelich. — Success is measured by the degree 
of an individual's accomplishments during his lifetime, what he does in 
his own behalf and in behalf of his fellow men are taken as true crite- 
rions of the measure of his success. If this be true, the late Hon. Jacob 
F. Gmelich, for many years an influential figure in Cooper County and 
Missouri, was a successful citizen in every sense. Coming to America 
from a foreign land in his boyhood days, making of himself a skilled arti- 
san, becoming a shrewd and successful business man, engaging in politics, 
and evincing ability as a statesman, he held two of the highest offices 
within the gift of the people of Missouri when at the zenith of his inter- 
esting career. 

Mr. Gmelich was born July 23, 1839, and died Feb. 21, 1914. At the 
age of 12 years he accompanied his parents, Jacob and Barbara (Walter) 
Gmelich, to America. After remaining in Ohio a short time, the family 
located at Peru, 111., where Mr. Gmelich was reared and educated, learn- 
ing the trade of watchmaker and jeweler. He spent two years in Chi- 
cago, employed at his trade ; then spent one and a half years in St. Louis ; 
was married in 1861, and in May of that year he located in Boonville. 
During the previous year he had made a trip to Boonville and purchased 
the stock and good will of a small jewelry store. During the Civil War 
he was a member of the Missouri State Guards, and participated in the 
Battle of Boonville. When Shelby's raiders captured Boonville, his store 
was looted, but Mr. Gmelich induced the commanding officer to give him 
a receipt for the watches belonging to his patrons which were taken away 
by the Confederates. His store was closed for six weeks while he was 
away on soldier duty. In 1864, he went to St. Louis, made a visit to 
Peru, 111., and then remained in St. Louis until the close of the Civil War 
in 1865. A brother, Gottlieb Gmelich, was a soldier in the Union Army. 
After the war, Mr. Gmelich built up an extensive business in Boonville 
and the surrounding country, and amassed considerable wealth. He pur- 
chased a three-story brick residence on High Street, where the family 
lived for 28 years prior to taking up his residence in Jefferson City. Upon 
his return from the State capital he began building one of the finest homes 
in Boonville, which was half completed when death called him. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 355 

Mr. Gmelich served as president of the Boon-ville Commercial Bank 
for a number of years, and owned considerable real estate in Boonville, 
besides his controlling interest in the large jewelry store operated under 
the name of Gmelich & Schmidt. He was also interested in Kansas City 
real estate. 

Mr. Gmelich's political career was a noteworthy one. He served as 
mayor of Boonvile for eight years during a time when the duties of mayor 
included that of police judge. He was always a consistent booster for a 
greater and better Boonville and continuously advocated the securing of 
factories and public improvements for the city. One of his ambitions 
was to secure the building of a wagon bridge across the Missouri River. 
He became prominent in republican politics throughout the State, and in 
November 1904, he was elected to the office of State treasurer, and served 
in this high office from Jan. 1, 1905, to Jan. 1, 1909. His next State 
office was the post of lieutenant governor of Missouri, with Gov. Herbert 
L. Hadley's administration. 

May 8, 1861, Jacob F. Gmelich and Miss Doris Mueller were united in 
marriage. Mrs. Doris (Mueller) Gmelich was born in Germany, Sept. 
27, 1842, and is a daughter of Carl and Johanna (Bishop) Mueller, who 
emigrated from Germany and settled in Illinois, later locating at Collins- 
ville, 111. When 14 years of age, the future Mrs. Gmelich came to Amer- 
ica, accompanied by three sisters and a brother: Mrs. Minna Mueller, 
East St. Louis, 111. ; Mrs. Eliza Raybock, widow of a Union veteran, Col- 
linsville, 111.; and Mrs. Christina Schappino, St. Jacobs, 111.; Emil Mueller 
died in St. Louis. Two brothers were already in America, namely: Ern- 
est Mueller, died later in California, at the age of 94 years ; and August, 
died in St. Louis in 1898; Mrs. Annistina Schmidt lives in California; 
Mrs. Carola Witte, Aberdeen, S. D. 

No children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Gmelich, but they have had 
an adopted child, a daughter of Emil Mueller whom they adopted at the 
age of one and a half year, Louise, wife of Max E. Schmidt, proprietor of 
the Gmelich & Schmidt Jewelry Store. The wedded life of Jacob and 
Doris Gmelich was a very happy and prosperous one. During their 
earlier years, when trials and vicissitudes often came upon them they 
stood side by side and bore their hardships with fortitude and with a 
bright and optimistic outlook into the future. The Gmelich store was 
frequently raided and stripped by the Confederates during the Civil War, 
and one of the interesting relics which is preserved as indicating customs 
of raiders during the Civil War is a receipt signed by the rebel commander 



356 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

for a bunch of watches taken by force from the Gmelich store and which 
reads: "Taken by Force of Arms — a Batch of Watches." 

During the eighties, Mr and Mrs. Gmelich made a tour of Europe 
and remained for six months. May 8, 1911, their fiftieth or golden wed- 
ding anniversary was celebrated in Jefferson City, Mo., in the governor's 
mansion. A dinner was served and the celebration was a notable one in 
the history of the State Capital, hundreds of people attending from all 
parts of the State. Two days later the golden wedding was again cele- 
brated at the Schmidt residence in Boonville, many relatives and friends 
taking part. 

During the early seventies, Mr. Gmelich served as a member of the 
Missouri State Legislature. At the time of his election to the position 
of lieutenant governor, the vote was so close that Gmelich's margin was 
but 75 votes over Painter, his opponent. Painter instituted a contest 
and it was found that Mr. Gmelich's majority was 275 votes. His attor- 
ner at that time was the present Senator Spencer of Missouri. A hand- 
some silver loving cup was presented to Mr. Gmelich by the Senate of 
the 45th General Assembly of Missouri, over which he presided at the 
close of the session of 1909, as a token of their esteem for him. A hand- 
somely engraved golden loving cup, presented by relatives on the occasion 
of the golden wedding anniversary, and highly prized by Mrs. Gmelich, 
bears the inscription, "1861-1911." 

Mr. Gmelich was a member of the Evangelical Church, and lived an 
upright and Christian life. He was liberal to a fault, loved his home 
city, was charitably inclined and supported all worthy enterprises with a 
free purse and an influential voice. He was prominent in the affairs of 
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was patriarch of the Grand Lodge 
of Missouri, and frequently attended the sessions of the Grand Lodge of 
America. Aug. 22, 1880, he received a commission as colonel of the 
First Regiment of Missouri, Patriarchs Militant. He served for one year 
as grand master of the Missouri Odd Fellows. His life was worth while; 
he left memories of a man who did his duty by himself, his family, his 
home city and county, and his country which had given him the opportu- 
nity to make of himself what he was. 

Charles A. Sombart. — The Sombart family have been one of the 
most prominent and substantial families in Boonville for over 80 years. 
Members of this old pioneer family have been closely identified with the 
commercial and industrial history of Cooper County since the first advent 
of the ancestor of Charles A. Sombart into Cooper County in 1837. They 
have been industrial developers, and men of progress and initiative, and 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 357 

have used their capital for the betterment and advancement of their home 
city. Charles A. Sombart, retired miller, of Boonville, is a worthy de- 
scendent of excellent ancestors, and has been a builder and developer of 
the most progressive type. He was born in Boonville, Nov. 22, 1856. 

The history of the Sombart family begins with William Sombart, 
who was born in Burg by Harrtingen on the Ruhr, Prussia, Sept. 22, 
1796. He came of a good family and was well educated in his native land. 
He studied at the University of Berlin and became a skilled engineer. 
During the German War he volunteered in the army and fought under 
Marshall Blucher in the battle of Ligney, June 16, 1815. When 22 years 
of age he was given the office of inspector of roads in Olpe, and later had 
charge of the roads in Gielenkirchen by Achen. Illness, caused by hard- 
ships endured during his war service, necessitated his retirement from 
the service on a pension. He married Julia Westhoff, the daughter of 
a minister, and after his marriage they resided at Bonn. In 1837 he 
immigrated to America, and after a stay of some months in St. Louis, he 
came to Cooper County and located on a farm near Billingsville, where, 
on account of having independent means of his own, he took life easy and 
lived comfortably. He retired from the farm in old age and located in 
Boonville, where he died at the ripe old age of 82 years. His wife died 
Aug. 7, 1872. They reared a family of seven children. 

His son, Charles William Sombart, father of Charles A Sombart, of 
this review, was born in Olpe, Province of Westphalia, Prussia, May 2, 
1820. He first attended school in Germany and completed his education 
in Cooper County. He was reared on his father's farm, and in 1849, he 
and his brother, Julius, became inoculated with the prevailing "gold 
fever," and made the overland trip to Californa, where they remained 
until 1852. They engaged in mining and trading, and were very suc- 
cessful, laying the foundation of their future large fortunes. Upon their 
return to Boonville, in 1852, the brothers engaged in the milling business 
under the firm name of C. W. & J. Sombart. They commenced with a 
small, old-fashioned mill, a short distance below the Sombart mill in 
Boonville, but a few years later acquired the present Sombart Milling Co. 
property. They soon built up an extensve milling business and by addi- 
tions and improvements to their property created one of the most valu- 
able and best known milling properties in central Missouri. In 1879 the 
concern was reorganized and became the Sombart Milling and Mercantile 
Company, C. W. Sombart, president. 

Aside from his milling business, Judge Sombart dealt, largely in the 



358 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

purchase and sale of real estate, and became the owner of much fine 
property in Boonville. He was interested in the "Star" line of Missouri 
River steamers. Jan. 6, 1852, he was married to Mi-s. Catherine Thro, 
formerly Catherine Robinrith, born in Alsace, and coming from there to 
St. Charles County, Mo. She died May 10, 1885. The following children 
were born to this marriage: William Alexander, Kate, Charles Augustus, 
of this review; Fannie, Frank Siegel, Robert Nathaniel, and Henry 
Edward. All of these are deceased excepting W. Alexander, a resident 
of Boonville ; Charles A. ; and Robert N., who resides in St. Louis. Judge 
Sombart was married the second time to Mi's. Sophie Hain, widow of the 
late George Hain, of Boonville. Judge Sombart departed this life in 
June, 1898. He was prominent in the affairs of the republican party, 
but was never ambitious for political preferment. He served the people 
in various capacities, such as a member of the Board of Education, and 
judge of the County Court. He held the latter office for four years and 
ably served the people of Cooper County during that time. Judge Som- 
bart was a director in the old Central National Bank, and the Commercial 
Bank of Boonville. 

Charles A. Sombart, of this review, was reared in Boonville, and 
studied at the private school conducted by Prof. Allison, one of the found- 
ers of Kemper Military School at Boonville. When the Sombart Milling 
Company was incorporated in 1876, he became a member of the organiza- 
tion with his brother, William Alexander, and a cousin. After the death 
of Judge Sombai-t, he and a brother, Henry E. Sombart, bought control 
of the milling company and conducted the business successfully until 
1909, when Charles A. Sombart became sole owner of the business, as a 
family corporation. Dec. 25, 1918, he sold the mill to a corporation and 
retired from active business, having been a miller from 1876 to 1896, 
and been engaged in the business for 42 years. Mr. Sombart has well 
earned his retirement. He has, like his father before him, always taken 
a commendable interest in local enterprises and invested his working 
capital so as to benefit his home city. He was one of the organizers of 
the Farmers Bank and the Citizens Trust Company of Boonville, and is 
financially interested in the Boonville National Bank. For some time 
he was president of the Farmers Bank, and was president of the Citizens 
Trust Company until its amalgamation. He is largely interested in 
Boonville real estate, and has always been a worker for the best interests 
of Boonville, its growth and advancement. 

In 1905, Mr. Sombart erected the Hotel Frederick, an imposing, mod- 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 359 

ern structure, costing over $40,000. This investment was mainly for the 
purpose of providing Boonville with a modern hostelry, and has never 
paid him an adequate return on the investment. Mr. Sombart erected 
this building at a time when there was a crying need for a modern hotel 
in Boonville, and others were loath to place money in a venture which 
did not promise an adequate financial return. 

Mr. Sombart has one of the most beautiful residence properties in 
Boonville, which he erected. Mr. Sombart also built the block at the 
southwest corner of High and Main Streets. He was married Feb. 2, 
1887, to Mary Frances Brechwald, of Galesburg, 111., a daughter of Charles 
Brechwald. Mrs. Mary Frances Sombart died Nov. 17, 1917, at the age 
of 57 years. Three children were born to this marriage, two of whom 
are living: Helen Frances and Frederick Charles, at home in Boonville. 
Frederick C. is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and 
Knights of Pythias. Mr. Sombart is a republican, but has never had 
aspiration for office or political matters to any great extent. His children 
are members of the Episcopalian Church, and he is affiliated with the 
Knights of Pythias. 

Charles J. Walden, editor and publisher of the "Weekly Advertiser", 
Boonville, Mo., is a native Missourian, and one of the "old timers" in 
newspaperdom in this section. He was born in Carroll County, Oct. 27, 
1844, and is a son of James M. Walden, a native of Indiana. His father 
went overland to California, and died there in 1851. His mother brought 
her family to Howard County in 1852, and in 1855 Charles was appren- 
ticed to learn the printer's trade. He worked in the office of the "Howard 
County Banner" for four years and then studied for one year at Central 
College, Fayette. 

In 1861 he enlisted for sei*vice in the Confederate Army under Gen. 
J. B. Clark and for six months served with the Richmond Grays. His 
last service was in the Trans-Mississippi department under command of 
Gen. Joseph 0. Shelby. April 13, 1865, he stacked arms with many of 
his comrades at Shreveport, La. Upon his return home he found things 
in such an unsettled state that he went to Illinois. After remaining 
there for about one year he returned to Missouri and settled at Glasgow 
in 1867. 

In 1872, Mr. Walden purchased the "Weekly Advertiser" at Fayette. 
In 1895 he was editor of the Nevada, Mo., "Daily Mail" for one year. In 
1896 Mr. Walden took charge of the "Sedalia Daily Sentinel" and pub- 
lished this paper for three years; was appointed beer inspector by Gov- 



360 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

ernor Stephens in 1898 and served two years. In 1890 he went to Bruns- 
wick and was engaged in newspaper work in that city until the construc- 
tion work began on the St. Louis World's Fair buildings. He then re- 
ceived the appointment as chief of the Labor Bureau in connection with 
the Exposition and remained in that capacity until the close of the Louisi- 
ana Exposition. In April, 1905, he purchased the "Weekly Advertiser" 
at Boonville, and took charge of the newspaper in May of that same year. 
The "Advertiser" is a newsy, well edited and well printed newspaper 
which has a large circulation in Cooper County. 

Mr. Walden is the father of seven children as follow: Wilbur L., a 
linotype operator, employed on the "Globe Democrat", St. Louis, Mo. ; Jem- 
mie M., wife of J. G. Jones, general manager of the Hamilton Commercial 
College, New York City ; Jessie B., wife of William M. Patterson, a bank 
cashier, Monroe City, Mo. ; Fred H., an advertising man employed on the 
"Globe Democrat" staff; Homer, located in Jersey City, N. J.; Charles, 
buyer for a feed commission house of St. Louis, Mo. ; whose headquarters 
are at Farmington, Mo. ; Spahr, a druggist, St. Louis, Mo. 

Mr. Walden is a democrat in politics and the policy of the "Adver- 
tiser" is democratic. His family are worshipers at the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church, South. He is a Mason and a member of the Knight Temp- 
lars. 

Mr. Walden served as postmaster of Fayette, Mo., for four years and 
six months under the administration of Grover Cleveland. 

Col. Thomas Alexander Johnston. — When one thinks of the Kemper 
Military School of Boonville, it is only natural to think also of Col. T. A. 
Johnston, the commandant and head of this famous institution. The pres- 
tige, strength and popularity of this school throughout the Middle West 
is due to the executive and organizing ability of Colonel Johnston. Pri- 
marily founded in 1844 as a school of higher learning for young men, its 
popularity as a school for training young men both physically and men- 
tally has been enhanced from year to year. The school has had its 
greatest growth since the year 1872, when Col. Johnston, a former stu- 
dent of the school, having graduated from the State University, became 
assistant principal, succeeding to the superintendence^ in 1881. In Col. 
Johnston are combined the attributes of a splendid teacher, a strict dis- 
ciplinarian, an excellent business man and financier — a combination rarely 
found among scholarly men, or among those who have devoted their lives 
to teaching. Col. Johnston was born an educator, became a business 
man, and developed a talent as an organizer which is unsurpassed by men 




COL. T. A. JOHNSTON 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 361 

of his class. One has but to look at the group of splendid buildings, cost- 
ing many thousands of dollars, which have been erected on the Kemper 
Military School grounds during his regime as superintendent of the school, 
gee with pleasure the fine appearing young men who have had training 
and instruction in the halls of Kemper, to realize that this school is an 
institution of which any Cooper County citizen can rightly boast. Kem- 
per Military School is distinctly a Boonville institution, its builder is a 
native son of Cooper County, and a descendent of one of the older Cooper 
County pioneers, who has spent practically all of his life in the county of 
his birth. Col. Thomas A. Johnston was bom on a farm in Cooper 
County, 11 miles south of Boonville, Nov. 13, 1848. He is a son of John 
Benoni Johnston, and a grandson of Alexander Johnston, who settled in 
Cooper County in 1817, when this section of Missouri was largely an 
unpeopled wilderness. The family is of Southern origin, and its mem- 
bers were among prominent families of Tennessee and the Carolinas. 

The Johnston family is also one of the oldest in America. The his- 
tory of the family in America begins with Gavin Johnston, a native of 
North Ireland, who came to America prior to the Revolution and settled 
in Pennsylvania where he was killed by Indians while plowing in his 
fields. His family or descendents moved to North Carolina and settled 
in the vicinity of Waxhaw. Alexander Johnston, great-grandfather of 
Col. T. A. Johnston, was a soldier in the American Army of Independence, 
and fought at the Battle of "The Cowpens." After the close of the Revo- 
lution, Alexander removed to Tennessee, and settled in the vicinity of 
McMinnville, where he reared his family. His wife, prior to her mar- 
riage: was Margaret Barnett, a daughter of Robert Barnett, an officer in the 
American Army, who served in the Revolution. Alexander Johnston was 
father of four sons, Gavin, Robert B., James, and Alexander, who migrated 
to Cooper County. Mo., in 1817. He had one daughter, Mary. 

Alexander Johnston, grandfather of Thomas A. Johnston, settled in 
the New Salem neighborhood, just north of New Salem Church, and en- 
tered Government land. He developed a farm and there spent the re- 
mainder of his days. He was born July 16, 1787, and died Feb. 2, 1839. 
He married Rachel Thaxton, who died shortly after the birth of John 
Benoni Johnston, father of Col. T. A Johnston. After her death he mar- 
ried Mary Hammond, born March 7, 1795; died Sept. 22, 1863; married 
Dec. 6, 1813. To this marriage were born: Rachel Dillard, Nancy McFad- 
den, Margaret Barnett, Finis Ewing, Sarah Jenkins, Robert Morrow, 
Harbert Hammonds, Martha Ann, Mary Jane. 



362 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

John Benoni Johnston was born Aug. 30, 1812, and died Feb. 6, 1888. 
He entered land adjoining his father's home place, and spent his life as a 
farmer. He was twice married. His first wife was Elizabeth Ann Rob- 
inson, who was born May 21, 1818, and died Dec. 19, 1844. The date of 
this marriage was Dec. 17, 1835. There were five children born to this 
marriage: Mary Margaret, born Jan. 9, 1837, and died May 22, 1911. 
She became the wife of Shelton Parsons, Aug. 12, 1873, and at her death 
left a daughter, Maggie May. The other children were: Rachel Jane, 
Sarah Ann, Susan Ellen, and Elizabeth Robinson. 

Rachel Jane Johnston was born Dec. 22, 1838. married Robert Willis 
March 26, 1868, and is mother of a son, William Benoni Johnston, of 
Boonville. Sarah Ann Johnston was born June 29, 1840, and died Sept. 
21, 1909. She married Manson B. Simmons Feb. 28, 1866, and bore him 
seven children, four of whom are living: William Henry, Ella, Bettie 
Johnston, and John Kelly Simmons. Susan Ellen Johnston was born Jan. 
4, 1842, and died Jan. 26, 1917. Elizabeth Robinson Johnston, the fifth 
child, died in infancy. The second marriage of John Benoni Johnston 
was on June 1, 1846, with Miss Margaret Harris, who was born Jan. 21, 
1821, and departed this life Aug. 4, 1912. The children born of this 
marriage are: Robert Barnett, Thomas Alexander, William Franklin, 
Elizabeth, George Washington, and James Ewing. Robert Barnett John- 
ston was born March 6, 1847, spent his life as an agriculturist in Cooper 
County, and died March 23, 1908. William Franklin Johnston was born 
Feb. 21, 1857, and resides in Warrensburg, Mo. Elizabeth was born 
April 2, 1853, and is the wife of William A. Hurt, a farmer near Boon- 
ville. George Washington Johnston was born Aug. 22, 1856, and died in 
New Mexico, Feb. 4, 1904. James Ewing Johnston was born Feb. 1, 1859. 
He is an electrical engineer in Denver, Colo. 

The Johnstons were adherents of William the Conqueror, and the 
ancestors of the Johnstons in America received a grant of land on the 
southern border of Scotland for their fealty to the king, the seat of the 
family being known as Johnstown on the River Annan in Annandale, 
Scotland. They took a prominent part in the border warfare between 
the Scottish people and England, and were given the task of guarding 
the border until the pacification of the centuries old warfare which cul- 
minated in the union of Scotland and England under one crown. The 
direct ancestor of Col T. A. Johnston, then, with hundreds of others who 
sought freedom from persecution, moved to the north of Ireland. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 363 

The early education of Thomas Alexander Johnston was obtained in 
the district school and Kemper School. After completing his prepara- 
tory course at the Kemper School he entered the State University at 
Columbia, and was graduated from this institution in 1872 with the 
degree of Bachelor of Arts and later Master of Arts. He at once became 
a member of the faculty of the Kemper School, and upon the death of 
Mr. Kemper, he succeeded him as the principal, receiving a well earned 
promotion from assistant principal to the superintendency, March 9, 1881. 

Fro^n the day on which Col. Johnston took charge of the Kemper 
School there has been steady and consistent progress. Each year has 
seen an increase in the enrollment of the school, which now totals 510 
pupils with a faculty of 28 members. New and more modern buldings 
have been erected to accommodate the increasing enrollment, and the 
military training which is given the students is recognized as official by 
the War Department of the Federal Government. The credit of this 
great growth is due to the enterprise, ambition, and able management of 
Col. Johnston, who like a good executive, has surrounded himself with 
capable assistants, who are also imbued with the desire to enhance and 
maintain the enviable reputation enjoyed by the Kemper Military School 
throughout the United States. 

June 27, 1877, Thomas Alexander Johnston and Miss Carrie Frances 
Rea, of Saline County, Mo., were united in marriage. Mrs. Johnston was 
born near Slater, Mo., and is a daughter of Rev. Peter G. Rea, who was a 
prominent minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church for many 
years. The children born to this marriage are: Bertha, Rea Alexander, 
Harris Cecil, Alice Ewing. Major Rea Alexander Johnston is assistant 
superintendent and tactical military officer of the Missouri Training 
School at Boonville. He' married Grace Mosher, of Oneida, 111., and has 
one son, William Johnston. Bertha is the wife of Major A. M Hitch, 
principal of the Kemper Military School. Major and Mrs. Hitch have 
two children, Charles Johnston and Thomas Kemper Hitch. Harris Cecil 
Johnston is quartermaster of the Kemper Military School, and has charge 
of all supplies used. He married Georgia Wooldridge and has two chil- 
dren, Marjorie and Caroline. Alice Ewing is the wife of Major R. J. 
Foster, of the United States Army, stationed at Washington, D. C. 

Colonel Johnston is a democrat; he is a director of the Commercial 
Bank of Boonville, and is an elder of the Presbyterian Church of his home 
city. 



364 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Hon. John Cosgrove. — For 56 years, John Cosgrove, dean of the 
Cooper County Bar, has successfully practiced law. During his 54 years 
of residence in Boonville, he has not only been an honored and respected 
leader of the legal profression in this section of Missouri, but he has been 
a very useful and progressive citizen, who has always had the vision of 
a greater and richer Boonville. Mr. Cosgrove has filled various official 
and honorary positions with both honor and credit to himself and to 
Cooper County, and his time and talents have been devoted to the upbuild- 
ing of his home city. He has likewise distinguished himself in the halls 
of the National Assembly. Despite his advanced age of four score years, 
Mr. Cosgrove is an erect, upright, commanding figure — a man among 
men — vigorous and alert, both mentally and physically, and a leader of 
men. 

John Cosgrove was born near Alexandria, Jefferson County, N. Y., 
Sept. 12, 1838, and is the son of James and Mary (Farrell) Cosgrove, who 
were parents of nine children. 

James Cosgrove, the father, was born June 18, 1797, and died Nov. 
6, 1879. He was a son of Henry Cosgrove, a native of Ireland, who immi- 
grated to America when a youth, later returned to Ireland, finally dying 
at the home of his son, Dr. Daniel Cosgrove. James Cosgrove married 
Mary Farrell. born Dec. 25, 1806, and died at Redwood, N. Y., May 6, 1892. 
James Cosgrove was a farmer all of his days, and while not a wealthy 
man, was considered as well-to-do. 

Reared on his father's farm, John Cosgrove had few of the advan- 
tages now easily obtained by the youth of the present day. Gifted with 
ambition to excel and to raise himself to a higher position in life, he at- 
tended the Redwood High School and prepared himself for the teaching 
profession. He taught three terms of school after 1859. He became 
imbued with the Western fever. With four companions he set out for 
Pike's Peak in 1859 with a hand-cart containing the baggage and provis- 
ions of the little company from Leavenworth, Kan., the party having come 
up the Missouri River, and made a brief stop at Boonville. Mr. Cosgrove 
was so impressed with the beauty of the location of the then thriving 
town on the Missouri River, and so taken with its possibilities, that he 
ever bore the city in mind until his later permanent location seemed to 
fulfill a dream. The boys started out from Leavenworth, pulling their 
hand-cart, and after 30 days of arduous traveling three of the young 
fellows cried "enough," and started on the return trip. Young Cosgrove 
and Helmer, his other companion, however, were made of different mate- 
rial, and they determined to go the entire distance. Joining another 




JOHN COSGROVK 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 365 

cavalcade they eventually arrived at their destination. Denver, Colo., 
at that time, was but a small cluster of about 150 shacks. The boys 
prospected for gold in the mountains, and, like countless others, sought 
in vain. After the two young adventurers decided that they had had 
enough of Western mining life, they walked back across the plains. Cos- 
grove stopped at Nemaha City, Neb., on the western bank of the Missouri 
River, and bought a skiff with which he intended to journey down the 
river. Not long after embarking on the journey down the river, the 
boat struck a hidden snag, filled with water and sank. The unfortunate 
traveler managed to get on an island in the river, was taken off to safety, 
and made his way to White Cloud, where he boarded the steamboat, 
"Iatan," and arrived at St. Joseph, Mo., June 30, 1859. He again worked 
his way to Quincy, 111., by way of the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad. 
From Quincy he took the Burlington Road to Chicago. Young Cosgrove 
had no money, but the long trip and the outdoor life had so filled him 
with resourcefulness that he persuaded the captain of the "H. E. Mussey," 
a lake steamer, to allow him to work his passage to Oswego, N. Y. Dur- 
ing the second mate's watch some time during the voyage he was called 
out by the first mate to help furl the topsail. He climbed up the main 
mast, but was so weak from privation and semi-starvation that he lost 
his balance as the vessel keeled, and had it not been for his boot catching 
in the "rattle" where the ropes were criss-crossed he would have gone 
into the lake. When the vessel rolled back to an upright position he 
again took hold of the ladder and went down to the deck, dropping a dis- 
tance of 10 feet. The first mate again ordered him to climb the mast. 
He was unable to do so and the mate accused him of mutiny and threat- 
ened him with punishment. The second mate then came on the deck and 
espoused his cause. He eventually arrived at Oswego. Young Cosgrove 
was acquainted with the captain of the steamboat which ran from Oswego 
clown to Alexander and readily received permission to ride home. On the 
trip the engine of the boat broke down and it was 10 o'clock at night 
before the boat arrived at her berth in Alexandria Bay. He started out, 
tired, weary, and hungry, to walk the four miles to his father's home. 
Two and a half miles on the road he stopped at a famous spring, drank 
his fill of water that tasted like nectar, rested, and arrived home like a 
returned prodigal son, at daylight. So ended John Cosgrove's long quest 
for gold. 

Upon his return home, John Cosgrove determined to secure an edu- 
cation. He attended the select school at Redwood and taught school in 
St. Lawrence, Jefferson County, N. Y. At the outbreak of the Civil War 



366 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

he volunteered for service in the Union Army, but was rejected on ac- 
count of physical disability or lack of strength. During the Civil War 
he was first lieutenant of a company of New York National Guards, and 
in 1864, his company was called for service at St. Albans, Vt., to repulse 
a rebel attack from Canada, serving for 100 days. While teaching school 
he read law in the law office of Hubbard & Lansing, Watertown, N. Y. 
He was admitted to the bar in October, 1863, and practiced in New York 
until November, 1865, when he came to Boonville, Mo. Mr. Cosgrove 
arrived in Boonville, Nov. 19, 1865, with a letter of introduction to Col. 
Jos. L. Stephens, then a prominent citizen of Cooper County. 

He was without a single acquaintance in Boonville, but at once en- 
tered upon the practice of his profession. Being young and inexperienced 
the way was hard and his upward climb in his profession in competition 
with some of the leading lawyers of the State, who were then practicing 
in Boonville, was not without its difficulties and discouragements. He 
soon won an eviable position as an attorney, and for the past 54 years has 
enjoyed a lucrative practice. Mr. Cosgrove was elected city attorney of 
Boonville in 1870, and again elected to the office in 1871. He served one 
term as prosecuting attorney of Cooper County, being elected to this office 
in 1872. He was elected Congressional representative from the Sixth 
District in 1882, and served one term in Congress. Mr. Cosgrove was 
elected on the democratic ticket in succession to former Congressman 
John B. Clark. He was a member of the Committee on Post Offices and 
Post Roads, and the Committee on Private Lands. From this committee 
he reported a bill to compensate Mrs. Myra Clark Gaines who claimed 
title to several hundred acres of land which had been granted to General 
Clark, her father, by the Federal Government. 

Nov. 18, 1874, Mr. Cosgrove was married to Georgia Augusta Bliss, 
a native of Vermont, and cousin to Mrs. Frederick T. Kemper, whose hus- 
band founded the famous Kemper Military School of Boonville. Six chil- 
dren have been born to this marriage: John Bliss, James Warden, Ger- 
trude, George Taylor, Frederick Kemper, and Daniel W. 

John Bliss Cosgrove was born in 1875 and died in 1892 at the Uni- 
versity of Notre Dame, South Bend, Ind., of pneumonia. James Warden 
Cosgrove was graduated from Missouri State University and is a prac- 
ticing attorney at Muskogee, Okla. George Taylor Cosgrove died in 
infancy. Frederick Kemper Cosgrove died in infancy. Gertrude Cos- 
grove was formerly engaged in Government work, and is now teaching 
on Long Island, N. Y. She is a graduate of Missouri State University. 
Daniel W. Cosgrove, the soldier of the family, was born in 1882, gradu- 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 367 

ated from Kemper Military School, pursued the regular classical course 
at the State University, received the Bachelor's degree, and studied law in 
his father's office. He was admitted to the bar and served for two years 
as prosecuting attorney of Cooper County, and then became his father's 
partner. In August, 1917, he enlisted as a private at Chicago, 111., be- 
coming a member of the 107th Illinois Infantry. He went into training 
at Camp Logan, Houston, Texas, and was promoted to a quartermaster 
sergeant of the first class and was assigned to service with the 108th 
United States Supply Train for service on the western front in France. 
Sergeant Cosgrove landed at Brest, France, in May, 1918, and his last 
station on the firing line was just northeast of Verdun. He was at Cha- 
teau Thierry, and in the great drive begun by the Americans at that 
point which resulted in the defeat of the Germans. From Sept. 2 to 
Nov. 11, 1918, Sergeant Cosgrove describes this great experience as "one 
continuous roar of heavy guns, bursting shells, and the whirring of air- 
planes, without cessation" — when the turmoil suddenly stopped at 11 
o'clock of Nov. 11 — then everything went "dead." 

Mr. Cosgrove has had various legal partners during his long years of 
practice, the firm having been known as that of Cosgrove & Wear, Cos- 
grove & Johnson, and after his term in Congress he was associated with 
W. T. Piggott, who has since served on the bench as judge of the Supreme 
Court of Montana. Mrs. Cosgrove is a member of the Episcopalian 
Church. For over 40 years Mr. Cosgrove has been an Odd Fellow. For 
the past four years he has been a member of the Boonville Board of 
Education, and was recently elected treasurer of the board. He, with 
others, organized the Boonville Electric Light Company, and he served 
as president of the company; J. F. Gmelich was treasurer and later be- 
came lieutenant governor; C. C. Bell was secretary. When the electric 
light plant was built by these citizens the price of artificial gas was 
dropped from the old arbitrary price of $4.50 per 1,000 cubic feet to $1.50 
per 1,000. This was not a profitable venture for Mi*. Cosgrove, and he 
acted as president and attorney for the company without receiving any 
remuneration for his services. He was also interested in the project of 
locating the Sahm Shoe Company here, and made an effort to get the 
stock subscriptions doubled, but his proposition was voted down by those 
interested. 

The city of Boonville had no water company. John Cosgrove was 
one of the original incorporators of the Boonville Water Company, of 
which Col. John S. Elliot, now deceased, was the first president, with Mr. 
Cosgrove as treasurer and attorney. Mr. Cosgrove had 200 shares in 



368 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

the company. They had a 10-year contract with the city for supplying 
water. The city repudiated this contract, and Mr. Cosgrove lost upwards 
of $12,000 to $16,000 through this effort to provide Boonville with a nec- 
essary modern convenience. The Boonville Water Company is the best 
in Missouri, without exception. At the time these public-spirited men 
built the water plant everybody in Boonville relied upon cisterns for their 
water supply. The stock did not pay on the capital invested, and when 
the city refused to renew the contract Mr. Cosgrove lost $12,000. 

When the city of Boonville voted to build a general sewerage system, 
the City Council hesitated to issue the necessary bonds to finance the 
undertaking. Mr. Cosgrove thereupon agreed to take the tax bills at 
100 cents on the dollar; the sewerage system was established, and today 
Boonville has one of the best and cleanest sewerage systems in the State. 

When the project of paving the main street of Boonville came up 
for discussion, Colonel Elliot and Mr. Cosgrove went on the bond of Thomas 
Hogan, the contractor, for the paving of three blocks on Main Street. 
Colonel Cosgrove then purchased the tax bills so as to pay Hogan for 
putting down the paving. Some property owners refused to pay. Mr. 
Cosgrove sued for payment and won in the Circuit Court. The case was 
carried to the Superior Court and he again was sustained. Since that 
time the city has built miles of splendid paved streets. 

Mr. Cosgrove is a director of the Commercial Bank, and has various 
financial interests of importance. As a lawyer, he is widely and favora- 
bly known, careful and painstaking in his practice, tireless and energetic, 
eloquent in pleading, and more than ordinarily successful in his practice 
before the courts. As a public speaker, he is logical, forceful, and is elo- 
quent. Mr. Cosgrove is a commanding and forceful figure in the affairs 
of Boonville and Cooper County. He is well known throughout Missouri 
and for many years has been a factor in democratic politics in Missouri. 
When most citizens of his age are thinking of retirement and taking life 
easy for their remaining years, he is still attending to business with the 
same vim as of yore, and all indications are that he will continue to do so 

ome years to come. 

Henry E. Sombart. — Time for the earthly sojourn is allotted to each 
man; it behooves him to accomplish his work among mankind while he 
may. The brief half century of time allotted to the late Henry E. Som- 
bart. deaceased prominent citizen of Boonville, was sufficient for him to 
achieve a success and leave a name which will go down in local history. 
Mr. Sombart was one of the best known and successful business men of 
Boonville and central Missouri — a builder of Boonville, a citizen who be- 




HENRY E . SOMBART 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 369 

lieved in making his home city better and more beautiful — a fitting 
example of his love of the beautiful being the handsome residence which 
he built for his family in Boonville. Henry E. Sombart was born in 
Boonville, June 3, 1863, and died June 7, 1916. He was a son of Judge 
Charles William Sombart, and grandson of William Sombart, a native of 
Germany, who immigrated to America and settled in Cooper County in 
1837. His mother was Mrs. Catherine (Thro) Sombart. 

Henry E. Sombart was educated in the public schools and at Chris- 
tian Brothers College, St. Louis. When a young man he became associ- 
ated with his brother, Charles A. Sombart, in the' milling business, under 
the firm name of the Sombart Milling Company. He continued in the 
milling business until 1908, when he disposed of his interest to his brother, 
Charles A. Sombart, and retired from active business to a considerable 
extent. He erected a splendid brick mansion on Fourth Street in Boon- 
ville in 1892. Mr. Sombart was active in local business and financial 
enterprises, was a director and organizer of the Farmei-s Bank of Boon- 
ville, and was one of the founder of the Citizens Trust Company of Boon- 
ville. He was owner of several buildings in the city, and was interested 
in promoting many public enterprises. 

Mr. Sombart was married on Nov. 24, 1887, to Miss Julia Sahm, born 
in Boonville, a daughter of George Sahm, pioneer shoe merchant and 
manufacturer of Boonville. To this marriage were born the following 
children: G. William and Harry Edward. 

G. William Sombart was born Dec. 8, 1891. He was educated in 
the Boonville High School and the University of Notre Dame, Ind. He 
is a partner in the Boonville Ice and Laundry Company of Boonville, and 
has extensive business interests. Mr. Sombart was married June 10, 
1914, to Miss Bernice McCann, of Versailles, a daughter of J. W. McCann. 
William and Bernice Sombart have one child, Martha Anne Sombart, aged 
one and a half years. 

Harry Edward Sombart, the 'soldier of the family, was born Feb. 15, 
1896, and enlisted in the National Army, Jan. 5, 1918, after receiving four 
years' training and study at Kemper Military School, from which he 
was graduated in June, 1916. Private Sombart was in training at Camp 
Funston, and was connected with the quartermaster's department. He 
was honorably discharged from the service on March 22, 1919, and is a 
partner in the Jeff Davis Shoe Co. 

George Sahm, father of Mrs. H. E. Sombart, was born in Bavaria, 
(24) 



370 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Germany, Aug. 1, 1832, and came to America in 1848. After working at 
his trade of boot and shoemaker in Sandusky, Ohio, for three years, he 
came to Boonville. After working at his trade for three years here, he 
started a shop of his own in the spring of 1855. He built up a tremen- 
dous trade and expanded his business to such an extent that in 1877 he 
began the manufacture of his own stocks and for the general markets. 
In 1876, his son, George W. became his partner, and in 1880, Henry, 
another son, joined the firm. He was married to Miss Catherine Dick, 
who bore him the following children: George W., deceased; Mrs. Mollie 
Mittelbach, deceased ; Henry J., Colorado ; Joseph, St. Louis ; Julia Som- 
bart, New York City; and Mrs. Katie L. Davis. Mr. Sahm held various 
official positions in the city such as school director and city councilman. 
He died Nov 17, 1915. Mrs. Catherine (Dick) Sahm was born in 1834 
and departed this life on April 25, 1909. 

Henry E. Sombart was a republican. He took no part in political 
affairs except in such a manner as would benefit his home city. For a 
number of years he served as chairman of the Boonville Water Works 
Board, and was active in promoting the success of this undertaking, 
which has resulted in giving the city of Boonville the finest supply of 
pure water to be found anywhere in the West. He was a member of Sts. 
Peter and Paul's Catholic Church, was liberal in his support of this 
denomination, and in fact was a liberal giver to all charitable and religious 
enterprises. 

Eugene Earle Amick. — The banking career of E. E. Amick, president 
of the Boonville National Bank, Boonville, Mo., began when he was four- 
teen years old at Bunceton, his home city. He rose from janitor and 
messenger boy to the position of cashier in eight years and at that time 
was in all probability, the youngest bank cashier in the State. After 
assisting in the organization of the Boonville National Bank in 1916, Mr. 
Amick was elected president of this concern, which is the largest, most 
important and the strongest financial institution of Central Missouri, and 
the strongest in amount of deposits of any bank in cities of the country in 
population under 5,000. 

Mr. Amick was born on a farm in Cooper County, Dec. 3, 1886. His 
father was Alonzo C. or "Lon" Amick, who was born on a farm in Cooper 
County in 1853 and died in 1903. Mr. Amick's grandfather, Leander 
Amick, whose wife was Melissa Lampton, was a native of North Carolina, 
and was a pioneer settler of this county. Upon attaining manhood, "Lon" 
Amick married Miss Alice Grey Moore, a daughter of Joseph Moore who 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 371 

was a member of one of the oldest of the Missouri pioneer families. 
Joseph Moore was a son of Major William Hampton and Anne (Cathey) 
Moore. Mrs. Alice Amick resides at Bunceton and is aged 64 years. The 
children born to Lon C. and Alice Amick are: Harry Amick, an insur- 
ance man at Raton, N. M. ; Eugene Earle Amick, of this review; and 
Frances Amick, a teacher in the High School of Butler, Mo. 

Since leaving the district school, Mr. Amick has been a constant 
student and by close application has become well informed. It seems 
that he was naturally inclined and destined for the banking business. 
Entering the Bank of Bunceton when but fourteen years of age, he ap- 
plied himself so diligently and painstakingly to the tasks at hand that he 
was advanced to the post of bookkeeper at the age of eighteen years. 
When he was twenty-two years of age he was serving as cashier of this 
bank. The opportunity presented itself and he came to Boonville and 
became associated with leading and progressive business men of this city 
in the organization of the Boonville National Bank, which is capitalized 
at $200,000 and has interest bearing deposits of over $2,000,000. 

May 23, 1917, Mr. Amick was united in marriage with Miss Gertrude 
Jones who was also born and reared in Cooper County, and is a daughter 
of Gilbert F. and Melcina Jones, residents of Bunceton. Mr. Jones has 
been a fanner and merchant in Cooper County. 

Mr. Amick enlisted in the United States navy in July, 1918, and was 
in training at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station until after the 
signing of the armistice, when he was released from active duty in Dec, 
1918. He is a democrat. He is a member of the Baptist church and is 
high in Masonic circles, a member of the Mystic Shrine, Ararat Temple 
of Kansas City and has taken all Masonic degrees excepting the Scottish 
Rite. He is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias. Personally Mr. 
Amick is agreeable, companionable and optimistic. 

La Roy O. Schaumburg, city attorney of Boonville, Mo., was born in 
this city, Jan. 22, 1891. His father, Otto Schaumburg, was bom in Her- 
mann, Mo., in 1854, and is the efficient superintendent of the brick manu- 
factory at Boonville. Upon attaining young manhood, Otto Schaumburg 
was married to Mary Winkelmeyer, who was born in Boonville in 1855, 
and is a daughter of Henry Winkelmeyer, a former citizen of Boonville 
of German birth who followed cabinet making and was a pioneer furni- 
ture dealer and undertaker of Boonville. Four children were born to 
Otto and Mary Schaumburg: Martin B., manager for the Baker-Vawter 
and Wolfe Company at St. Louis; Mamie, at home with her parents; L. 



372 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

O. Schaumburg, of this review; Clarence, deputy Circuit Court of Cooper 
County. 

L. 0. Schaumburg was educated in the public and high school of Boon- 
ville and then entered the Gem Business College of Quincy, 111., where he 
completed the course of study in Dec, 1909. For the ensuing two yeai-s 
he was in the employ of the Johns-Manville Company, St. Louis. He 
then returned to Boonville and entered the employ of Judge W. M. Wil- 
liams as stenographer. This position afforded him the opportunity of 
reading law under the tutelage of Judge Williams and he remained with 
the Judge until the latter's death in the fall of 1916. Mr. Schaumburg 
then passed the bar examination and was admitted to the practice of law 
on Jan. 3, 1917. 

Sept. 2, 1914, Mr. Schaumburg was married to Miss Jennie Barr of 
St. Louis, who is a daughter of Mrs. Anna Barr. One child has been born 
of this union: Mary Frances, born March 5, 1916. 

Mr. Schaumburg is a republican and is at present serving as city 
attorney of Boonville, a position to which he was elected in April, 1918. 
Although one of the younger attorneys of Boonville, he has an excellent 
practice. Mr. Schaumburg is a young man of pleasing personality and 
has decided ability in his profession. He is a member of the Evangelical 
church and is affiliated with the Woodmen of the World. 

Hon. Charles Christian Bell. — To obtain a lasting place in the annals 
of his native city, state, and nation, a citizen must have been not only a 
doer and creator on his own behalf, but he must have accomplished things 
of lasting benefit to his fellow men. He should not be selfish and seeking 
solely to advance his own personal interests, it is necessary that his activ- 
ities be so linked with the work of the whole people in some one depart- 
ment which will result in a common good, that history will record of him 
that "He strove that others might benefit, as well as himself." Many 
instances in the life story of Charles Christian Bell, a leading citizen of 
Cooper County and the State of Missouri, when properly portrayed, will 
indicate that during his entire successful career he has been actuated by 
a desire to assist his fellow men. Fame comes to a man of that type. 
More than local recognition usually falls to his lot. His acquaintance 
among public and influential men who are doers in this world of events, 
becomes wide and important, for the reason that his abilities and accom- 
plishments received just and well merited recognition. Such a citizen is 
Charles C. Bell, of Boonville, Mo., Union veteran, president of the Central 
Missouri Horticultural Association, "The Apple King of Missouri," and 




ft 






HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 373 

public man of affairs, who was born in Altstadt, in the dukedom of 
Nassau, Germany, Aug. 30, 1848. 

John Adam Bell, his father, was born in Germany, on Feb. 3, 1803, 
and was a son of Henry Bell, who was a son of Thomas Bell. Thomas 
Bell was a Scotchman, born near Edjnburg, and emigrated to Germany, 
where he established himself in business, and his descendents were men 
of affairs in their community for generations, until John Adams Bell, 
father of Charles C. Bell, took part in the Revolution of 1848, led by Carl 
Schurz, Fred Sigel and others against monarchy and the tyranny of the 
grandfather of the lately deposed kaiser of Germany. John Adam Bell 
assisted in organizing volunteers to take part in the movement to estab- 
lish a German republic. The revolt was crushed, and those who were 
prominent in the enterprise were compelled to flee the country. Mr. Bell 
had six sons. He resolved that none of them should ever live under a 
kaiser. Accordingly, he disposed of his real estate and manufacturing 
business as best he could, and set sail for America, but met with ship- 
wreck in mid-ocean. Putting back into Southampton, England, to repair 
the ship, they made another start, and reached New York. Finally, Mr. 
Bell, his wife, six sons and two daughters, landed at Boonville, in October, 
1854. He bought a farm two miles south, opposite Mt. Sinai schoolhouse, 
and there spent the remainder of his life in the peaceful pursuit of agri- 
culture, getting the freedom and liberty which his independent spirit had 
craved, and for which he had sacrificed so much in his native land. 

He planted one of the first vineyards and orchards in that neighbor- 
hood, and taught his son, Charles C, the art of fruit-growing, thus teach- 
ing him a business which has been his to follow much of his active life. 
Mr. Bell died Dec. 11, 1865. His wife, Katherine Sophia (Gross) Bell, 
was born Jan. 10, 1810, and departed this life Aug. 1, 1868. The children 
of John Adam and Katherine Bell were as follows: Henry, born Feb. 15, 
1830, died May 11, 1904; Wilhelnvne, born Feb. 13, 1832, married Casper 
Manger, two of her sons are now millionaires in New York, lied Sept. 13, 
1905; Philip, born June 30, 1834, was killed in the Union service during 
the Civil War; Kalherina, born Aug. 27, 1836, died Sept. 18, 1840; John 
August, born July 17, 1838, killed while serving in the Confederate army 
under Stonewall Jackson, Oct. 12, 18^3; VYilhelm Philip, born Sept. 5, 1840, 
died Jan. 5, 1841; William, born Nov. 29, 1841, died Jan. 9, 1855; Cather- 
ina, bom Jan. 10, 1844, married Adam Cook — whose grandson, Lewis C. 
Cook, is now superintendent of the Bell Fruit Farm— died Jan. 20, 1896; 
Herman, born Jan. 22, 1846, died March 8, 1900 ; Charles Christian, of this 



374 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

review; John William, born on his father's farm, Nov. 29, 1856, died Feb. 
15, 1906. 

Aug. 2, 1864, Charles C. Bell enlisted in the Union service "cavalry." 
He was captured by Gen. Joe Shelby's command in October, 1864, was 
held prisoner for two days, and was then paroled, but a few days later 
he again joined his command and served to the end of the war, and was 
discharged July 11, 1865. While living at Austin, Texas, he was from 
1872 to 1876 a member of the "Travis Rifles," then the best drilled com- 
pany in Texas. In 1879 he was commissioned by Governor Phelps, first 
lieutenant of Missouri State Guards, serving three years. 

After the close of his Civil War service and the death of his father, 
Mr. Bell operated the home farm for thi'ee years. Upon the death of his 
mother, in 1868, he turned over the farm and estate to Col. Joseph A. 
Eppstein, the administrator, and determined to secure an education. He 
attended the business college in Boonville, from which he was graduated 
in 1869, $115 in debt. He then went to Colorado, making the long, weari- 
some journey on foot. Upon his arrival in the mountains he and a friend 
staked out a claim in Idaho Gulch and began to mine for gold. Meeting 
an old comrade it was decided upon to open a fruit and confectionery 
store at Central City, Colo. This young firm became the pioneers in 
shipping Missouri apples to the Rock Mountain country, transporting 
them by wagons from Cheyenne, Wyo., then the nearest railroad station, 
and for a time they did a thriving business. In the spring of 1870, Mr. 
Bell disposed of his interest, mostly on time, and returned to Boonville; 
his successor, however, soon failed, causing him to lose his investments. 
Being again without means, Mr. Bell's next venture was driving a team 
for the Rev. W. G. Bell from Boonville to Austin, Texas, there being no 
railroad to Texas at that time. At Austin he secured employment as 
porter in a wholesale grocer house, but was soon promoted to be traveling 
salesman. He traveled mostly with team and buggy, but sometimes 
when the Indians were bad he would go horseback. He became widely 
acquainted in that, then frontier, country. Like all Texas frontiersmen, 
in those days, he carrier a Winchester rifle and his Civil War revolvers 
for his personal protection. 

From 1875 to 1877 he was in bi^iness at Austin for himself, having 
received the backing of a large St. Louis firm. In February, 1877, he 
disposed of his business in Texas, and with a capital of about $6,000 he 
returned to Boonville, and with his brother, J. W. Bell, established th<^ 
firm of C. C. Bell & Bro., wholesale shippers of fruit and farm products. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 375 

At that time this section of Missouri produced large crops of apples. 
The Bell Brothers handled the surplus of apples from Cooper and adjoin- 
ing counties, building at Boonville a packing and fruit drying house and 
fruit jelly factory. These latter features of the business, however, prov- 
ing to be unprofitable. In 1885, he purchased his brother's interest, and 
made a specialty of buying, packing and shipping apples. From that 
time on his business reached very large proportions. He is justly enti- 
tled to the name, "Missouri's Apple King," given him by the Interstate 
Fruit Growers and Shippers convention held at Cairo, 111. Mr. Bell's plan 
has been to pay the highest cash price for apples and to furnish the trade 
with carefully assorted and best packed apples, and his "Bell-brand" is 
well known in America and on some foreign markets. Since 1906 he has 
not been engaged in buying apples, but as a grower he has planted and 
operated several large orchards. His operations are now confined to a 
single orchard of about 80 acres at Bell Station, four miles east of Boon- 
ville. 

In 1886, Mr. Bell organized the Central Missouri Horticultural Asso- 
ciation, serving as its secretary for 29 years, and is now its president. 
At the annual meeting of the State Horticultural Society, Dec. 6, 1887, 
he was presented with a gold medal for the successful management of the 
horticultural exposition. For years he was the awarding judge of the 
fruit and horticultural department of the St. Louis Fair, and in 1904 
awarding judge of the fruit exhibits at the Louisiana Purchase St. Louis 
World's Fair. 

Mr. Bell called the first meeting in Chicago to organize the "Inter- 
national Apple Shippers' Association" in 1894, and was elected its first 
president. This is now the largest organization of its kind in the world. 
The object of this association was to secure the enactment of just and 
uniform laws throughout the country governing grades, weights, meas- 
urements, etc., and in recognition of Mr. Bell's sei-vice he was elected an 
Honorary member for life. 

At the annual meeting of the Missouri State Horticultural Society in 
Dec, 1896, he was appointed to deliver in person to President-elect 
McKinley, a set of resolutions adopted by that body in regard to the 
introduction of growing sugar beets in Missouri, in which work Mr. Bell 
took a great interest, and he distributed the following spring, without 
compensation, planting information and seed throughout the State. 

Governor Dockery appointed Mr. Bell to make the Missouri Fruit 
Exhibit at the Pan-American Exposition held at Buffalo, N. Y., in 1901, 



376 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

and the Charleston S. C, Cotton Exposition, 1902, and there served as 
treasurer of the Missouri Commission. He has been for many years 
orchard appraiser for the Wabash Railway Co. in Missouri, and the M., 
K. & T. Ry. in Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma, and his opinions and 
judgments as to values are accepted as authority upon matters pertain- 
ing to horticulture. He was elected a life honorary member by the 
Luther Burban'k Society of California. 

The political career of Charles C. Bell has been a noteworthy one, 
and he has long been recognized as one of the leaders of the republican 
party in Missouri. From 1882 to 1885 he was a member of the Boonville 
City Council, and president of that body. In 1886, 1887, 1888, he served 
as mayor of Boonville, and while serving in this capacity he introduced 
and carried out a number of reform measures, benefitting the city. From 
1886 to 1897, he was president of the Boonville Board of Trade. In 1888, 
and again in 1890, he was republican candidate for representative in the 
State Legislature. In 1892, he was elected delegate to the republican 
national convention at Minneapolis, and was there chosen to represent 
Missouri on the committee to notify President Harrison and Whitelaw 
Reid of their nominations. He was presidential elector on the republi- 
can McKinley ticket in 1896. He was an intimate friend of the late 
Presidents Roosevelt and McKinley, and as a delegate to the national 
republican convention in 1892 at Minneapolis, made a speech favoring 
McKinley's nomination in 1896. In 1900 he refused the nomination for 
Congressman against Dick Bland on the republican ticket. In 1912 he 
was a delegate to the Chicago progressive national convention, where he 
assisted in organizing the progressive party, and represented Missouri 
on the Roosevelt presidential notification committee In 1916, he was nom- 
inated by the progressive party of Missouri for the office of lieutenant 
governor. 

Mr. Bell was one of the incorporators of the Farmers Bank, the 
Electric Light and Power Company, Walnut Grove Cemetery, and of 
other organizations in Boonville, and was vice-president of the Farmers 
Bank during its entire successful business career. He was appointed a 
delgate to the national monetary convention at Indianapolis in 1897, and 
there introduced his copyrighted Financial Plan, which attracted much 
attention. 

On April 30, 1889, Charles C. Bell and Miss Anna Augusta Luck- 
hardt, of Oregon, Holt County, Mo., were united in marriage. Mrs. Anna 
A. Bell was born Sept. 9, 1869, and is a daughter of George P. Luckhardt, 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 377 

a native of Germany, born Jan. 17, 1826, who came to America in 1850, 
first located at Johnstown, Penn. ; and there married Henrietta Francisca 
Von Lunen, on Nov. 4, 1852. Five children were born to Charles C. and 
Anna A. Bell, as follows: Minnie Henrietta, Clara Louisa, Capt. C. C. 
Bell, Jr., Frances, and John. Minnie Henrietta is the wife of F. Stanley 
Piper, of Bellingham, Wash. Clara Louisa is the wife of Major Roscoe 
W. Stewart, by profession an attorney of Springfield, Mo., and is now 
serving in the judge advocate general's office at Washington, D. C. Capt. 
C. C. Bell, Jr., is with Battery A, 37th Heavy Artillery Regulars, U. S. A., 
now on duty in Honolulu. He was commissioned a captain at the age of 
22 years. He was a student at Princeton University, when he enlisted as 
private, but was soon promoted to second lieutenant. Frances, aged 15 
years, is attending the Boonville High School. John, the youngest son, 
is five years old. 

Mr. Bell is a member of the Evangelical Church. He is a past mem- 
ber in good standing of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Knights 
of Pythias lodges, and is a prominent member of the Grand Army of the 
Republic. He is a member of the World's Court League, in favor of uni- 
versal disarmament and against all militarism ; he would like to see all 
implements of war consigned to the melting furnace, and made into agri- 
cultural machinery or anything that is useful and productive and not 
destructive. Mr. Bell has delivered numerous addresses on Horticulture 
and various subjects, and in a recent talk promulgated the motto, "In 
Time of Peace, Prepare for Peace, and Practice Peace." 

An everlasting monument to the public spirit and philanthropy which 
have been the prime motives guiding the life career of this illustrious 
Cooper County citizen is exemplified in his gift to the city of the beautiful 
Lookout Park, which is built on the bluffs overlooking the Missouri River 
just north of the Bell residence. Mr. Bell built this little park of endur- 
ing stone and concrete as a memorial to his sister, Mrs. Manger. It has 
given pleasure to hundreds and thousands of people who can comfortably 
ail on the benches and gaze at the broad expanse of the Missouri River 
valley stretching below as far as the eye can reach. His creed in life 
has been expressed on a tablet inserted in the paving of the park, which 
reads : 

"Get Busy, Stay Busy, 
Avoid Waster, Vice, Tobacco, Booze, 
and you will have 

Health, Honor and Plenty." 



378 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Louis Sylvester Edwards, photographer, chairman of the Democratic 
Central Committee, and a native of Boonville, is living in the house where 
he was born and reared and which was erected by his father in 1859. His 
father, the late 0. D. Edwards, was a native of England, and settled in 
Boonville in 1859. He became a skilled photographer and did a thriving 
business during the Civil War. Mr.- Edwards made photographs of such 
notable warriors as General Stuart and Gen. J. B. Lyons and was patron- 
ized by both Confederate and Union soldiers during the Civil War. For 
over fifty years he was successfully engaged in the photographic business 
in Boonville. He died in 1911 at the age of 76 years. Mrs. Sophia Ebert 
Edwards, mother of L. S. Edwards, was bora in St. Louis, Nov. 12, 1841, 
and died Feb, 14, 1919. There were three children born to 0. D. and 
Sophia Edwards, as follows: Rev. Ward H. Edwards, a member of the 
faculty of William Jewell College, and also a member of the Missouri State 
Library Board; Louis Sylvester is the eldest of the family; Daisy Ed- 
wards, wife of Roger Morton, Kansas City, shipping clerk for the Witte 
Gas Engine Company. 

After his graduation from the Boonville High School, L. S. Edwards 
attended the Singleton Academy, Boonville. Practically his entire life 
has been spent in photography and his photograph gallery is widely known 
and liberally patronized as a place where popular prices are charged for 
the work done. 

Mr. Edwards was married in 1884 to Miss Belle Lucas of Holden, 
Mo., a daughter of the late J. A. Lucas. Mr. and Mrs. Edwards have two 
children: Edith, wife of Walter D. Glascock, Kansas City, Mo., an em- 
ploye of the Kansas City Bridge Company ; Roger L. Edwards, yeoman in 
the United States Naval Air Service, was born Oct. 8, 1892. Yeoman 
Edwards is a skilled stenographer and upon his first attempt to enlist, 
he was rejected on account of light weight and was later called to the 
service. For some weeks he was stationed at Chicago with the recruiting 
office and was then sent to France and is now located at Pauillac, France. 
He enlisted for four years. 

Mr. Edwards is a member of the Christian church and is affiliated 
with the Woodmen of the World, the Royal Arcanum, the Improved Order 
of Red Men, the Knights and Ladies of Security, and the National Union. 
He is a thorough democrat who has always been a hard worker in the 
ranks of his party. He has served as secretary of the Central Committee 
three different times and is now chairman of the county central commit- 
tee. Mr. Edwards has always taken an active part in democratic politics 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 379 

and is a frequent attendant at the state conventions and has a wide and 
favorable acquaintance among the leaders of democracy throughout Mis- 
souri. 

Charles G. Miller, city clerk of Boonville, Mo., was born May 13, 1857, 
in this city. He is a son of George and Sophia (Fox) Miller, the latter 
of whom is the daughter of the first German to settle in Boonville. She 
is a daughter of Anton Fox, a native of Germany, who arrived in Boon- 
ville, March 8, 1835, with his wife, two sons and three daughters : Charles 
Fox, Frank Fox, Mrs. Amelia Hissrich, Mrs. Rosa Vollrath, Mrs. Fannie 
Eppstein. All of these children are deceased. Mr. Millei's mother, now 
Mrs. Julius Sombart, was bom in Boonville, July 7, 1837. 

Beginning with Anton Fox and ending with the grandchildren of 
Mr. Miller, there have been five genei'ations of the family who have lived 
in Boonville, four of which were born in the city. 

Charles G. Miller was reared and educated in Boonville. He attended 
the Boonville public school and Kemper Military School, of this city. 
After some years of experience in mercantile business in Chicago, 111. and 
Glasgow, Mo., he returned to Boonville in 1885 and was employed with 
the Sauter Mercantile Company for 15 years. He became city clerk of 
Boonville in 1902 and has held the office for 17 years. 

Mr. Miller was married in 1882 to Miss Hattie Briggs, who was born 
in Howard County, a daughter of Reuben P. and Mary J. (Thorpe) Briggs, 
the latter of whom is a daughter of Jackson Thorpe, who was a native 
of Virginia and settled in Howard County, Mo., in 1815. Three children 
were bom to this marriage: Edwin B. Miller, part owner and business 
manager of a newspaper at Plainview, Texas, father of two children, 
Ellen and Jean ; Mrs. Emma Briggs Figge, of N. M., mother of three chil- 
dren: Mary Frances, Charles and Harriet; one child died in infancy. 

Mr. Miller is a republican. He joined the Knights of Pythias in 1880 
and is one of three of the Grand Lodge trustees of this order. 

Frank C. Brosius. — The firm of Nixon and Brosius, engaged in the 
farm loan and real estate business in Boonville, is one of the most im- 
portant and one of the largest concerns of its class in central Missouri. 
The members of the firm are C. W. Nixon and Frank C. Brosius, both of 
whom are natives of this section of Missouri. The business was founded 
in 1909 and its affairs were first conducted in the basement rooms of 
the old National Bank building. In 1917 a handsome suite of offii 
was established in the present location in the northern section of Main 
street. This firm makes farm loans in eight counties of central Missouri 



380 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

and do an aggregate business of over $1,000,000 annually in farm loans 
besides a large business in buying and selling farms in central Missouri. 

Frank C. Brosius, junior member of the firm, was born Nov. 18, 1885, 
in California, Moniteau County, Mo. He is a son of R. B. and Ella Jane 
Brosius, natives of Virginia and Maryland, respectively. Samuel Brosius, 
the father of R. B. Brosius, came to Missouri from Virginia in 1849 and 
settled in the vicinity of Prairie Home, where he lived to the great age 
of 100 years and seven months. For a number of years R. B. Brosius 
operated a hotel at California and came to Boonville in 1899. He engaged 
in the mercantile business but is now living a retired life at the age of 
82 years. Two children were born to R. B. and Ella Jane Brosius: Frank 
C, of this review; and Clarence L., of Wichita, Kan. 

Frank C. Brosius was educated in the public and high schools of 
Boonville and for eight years he was engaged in the Central National 
Bank, working his way upward from the post of errand boy. In 1909 he 
associated himself with Mr. Nixon in the loan business. 

Oct. 30, 1909, Mr. Brosius was united in marriage with Miss Jessie 
Wooldridge, a daughter of Dr. J. H. Wooldridge, a pioneer in Cooper 
County and was well known in banking and financial circles. Mr. and 
Mrs. Brosius have two children: Jane Elizabeth, aged 12 years; and Mary 
Ellen, born Oct. 5, 1918. 

Mr. Brosius is a Democrat. He is a member of the Presbyterian 
Church and is fraternally affiliated with the Masonic Lodge, being a 
Knights Templar, and a member of the Mystic Shriners. 

Judge William Muir Williams. — Boonville and Cooper County has 
long been noted throughout the state for the strong legal talent which 
has been developed in this city. Members of the bar of Cooper County 
have achieved national renown in the legal profession and many have 
held high official position in the courts, and the halls of the Legislature 
and Congress during past decades. One of the best remembered and one 
of the most able of the attorneys who practiced for many years in Boon- 
ville was the late Judge William M. Williams who was a native of this 
city. Judge Williams was born Feb. 4, 1850, the son of Marcus and Mary 
J. (Howard) Williams. 

Marcus Williams, his father, was a native of the state of Virginia, 
born in Rockbridge County, and came to Missouri in 1840. He was a 
steamboat captain, miller and farmer and was a man of varied pursuits 
who took advantage of many opportunities which presented themselves 
to him in the course of the development of the new country with whose 




WILLIAM M. WILLIAMS 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 381 

future he had aligned himself. Marcus Williams also operated a pottery 
and was a contractor and builder in Boonville in the early days. 

W. M. Williams was reared in Boonville and was educated in the 
Kemper School. When 17 years of age he received the appointment of 
deputy collector of Cooper County and so successfully did he discharge 
the duties of his position that he was retained in this capacity for five 
years. While holding this position he began the study of law and after 
resigning from the position of deputy collector he entered the office of J. 
W. Draffen to complete his studies. One year later he was admitted to 
the bar and began the practice of law. A short time after his admission 
to the bar he became a partner of Mr. Draffen and the firm was known 
for years throughout central Missouri as one of the ablest, under the 
name of Draffen & Williams. Mr. Williams became prominent in his pro- 
fession and was known as an able and profound attorney to whom was 
intrusted many cases of state wide importance. He practiced in Mis- 
souri and neighboring states and had charge of the merger of the two 
branches of the Presbyterian Church. He represented the International 
Harvester Company in the conduct of the most important litigation which 
took place in Missouri. During the last ten years of his notable career 
Judge Williams practiced almost exclusively before the Supreme Court. 
In 1898 he was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of Missouri but 
resigned from this high position after one year's service on the bench, 
before his time expired. 

Dec. 16, 1875, Judge Williams was married to Miss Jessie Evans, 
daughter of Dr. E. C. Evans, formerly of Boonville, who survives him. 
Six children were born to this union: Bessie, wife of J. W. Cosgrove, of 
Muskogee, Okla. ; Roy D. Williams, an attorney of Boonville; Mary, wife 
of H. M. Taliaferro, Grand Rapids, Mich.; Edna, wife of T. E. Simrall, 
abstractor, Boonville, Mo. ; Jessie, wife of Dr. Lloyd Thompson, St. Louis, 
Mo. ; Susan, at home with her mother in Boonville. 

Judge Williams died Sept. 19, 1916. He was a pronounced Democrat 
and for many years was one of the leaders of his party in Missouri. He 
was an active and influential figure in the State and national conventions 
of his party for many years. From the very beginning of the establish- 
ment of the Missouri Training School until his death, Judge Williams was 
president of the board of managers for the school. He was an elder of 
the Presbyterian Church and took a great interest in the affairs of this 
denomination. He was a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted 
Masons and served as Grand Master of Missouri. Honors came easily to 



382 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Judge Williams by reason of his great ability which was recognized uni- 
versally by all with whom he came in contact. He was a life-long student 
and reader who had a thorough knowledge of the law and had the gift of 
being able to expound and analyze its intricacies. He was a good citizen 
and his death was an occasion for sorrow and regret among the many who 
knew him. 

Roy D. Williams, attorney-at-law, Boonville, Mo., was born in this 
city, Jan. 1, 1881, and although one of the younger lawyers of Cooper 
County is already giving evidence that the ability and genius of his 
father, Judge W. M. Williams has been transmitted in some measure to 
the son. 

Mr. Williams was educated in Kemper Military School and Missouri 
University at Columbia where he pursued the academic course. After 
serving as stenographer for one year in the office of Judge Shackelford, he 
entered his father's law office and studied law for three years and also 
filled the position of stenographer to his father. He was admitted to the 
bar in 1904 and practiced with Judge Williams under the firm name of 
Williams & Williams until the latter's death in 1917. Mr. Williams has 
an excellent legal practice in Cooper and adjoining counties of an impor- 
tant character and is attorney for most of the banking concerns in Cooper 
County. He is serving as trial lawyer for the Missouri Pacific Railroad 
Company in 10 counties of Missouri and handles the cases in which the 
railroad company is interested, or is defendant. He was appointed to the 
important post of chairman of the State Tax Commission by Gov. Gard- 
ner on May 27, 1919. This appointment came to him entirely unsolicited. 

Mr. Williams was married in 1911 to Miss Anna S. Williams, a daugh- 
ter of Dr. P. E. Williams, formerly of Bunceton, Cooper County but now 
in charge of the State Hospital at St. Joseph, Mo. 

Mr. Williams' well appointed offices are located in the Trust Company 
Building on North Main Street and he has what is probably the most com- 
plete law library in central or western Missouri, consisting of 3,000 well 
selected volumes. 

Mr. Williams is a director of the Boonville National Bank and Citizens 
Trust Company. He is a Democrat and takes considerable interest in 
the affairs of his party. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church and 
the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, being a Past Master of the local 
lodge, a Knights Templar, and holds membership with the Knights of 
Pythias. 




HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 383 

Crockett Hickman. — The Hickman family, of which Crockett Hick- 
man, public administrator of Cooper County, is worthy member, is one 
of the oldest of the pioneer families in Cooper County. The advent of 
the Hickmans in this county begins with the settlement of Thomas Hick- 
man, great grandfather of Crockett Hickman, who came from Kentucky 
in the year 1821 and settled at Old Franklin, across the Missouri River 
in Howard County. The great grandfather of the subject of this review 
was Capt. Thomas Hickman, a soldier of the War of 1812, who settled 
upon and developed a large tract of land in Howard County. His son, 
John L. Hickman, married Eliza Hutchinson, a daughter of John Hutchin- 
son, another pioneer who settled at Old Franklin. 

Thomas Hickman, father of Crockett Hickman, developed a large 
farm south of Boonville, in Cooper County, and owned 640 acres. He 
was a very successful farmer and stockman who was well and favorably 
known throughout this section of Missouri. He was born in 1832 and 
died in 1911. His wife was Martha Crockett, and was born in Boone 
County in 1832. She was a daughter of Samuel Crockett, a relative of 
the famous Davy Crockett of St. Alamo fame. Samuel Crockett was a 
native of Kentucky and was a Boone County pioneer. Thomas and 
Martha Hickman were parents of two children: Mrs. George K. Craw- 
ford of Bunceton, Mo., and Crockett Hickman, of this review. Mrs. Hick- 
man resides in Bunceton. 

Crockett Hickman was educated in the district school and attended 
the Kemper Military School. After fanning for some years he became 
connected with the Central National Bank of Boonville and at the end 
of 14 years he was serving as head bookkeeper of the bank. In 1911, 
Mr. Hickman engaged in the real estate and insurance business with 
offices in Boonville. Mr. Hickman does considerable business in real 
estate and handles farm loans in addition to his duties as public admin- 
istrator. 

Mr. Hickman was married in 1906 to Miss Gertrude Gibson, who was 
born in Boonville, a daughter of John J. and Medora Gibson, the former 
bom in Cooper County and died in 1898. Mr. and Mrs. Hickman have 
an adopted child, Martha Frances, aged three years. 

It is worthy of mention that Thomas Hickman, father of Crockett 
Hickman, crossed the Great Plains in 1862 and spent about four years 
in the West engaged in freighting and mining. 

Mr. Hickman is a Democrat of the stanch variety. He was elected 



384 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

to the office of public administrator in 1912 and was re-elected to the 
office in 1918. He is a member of the Baptist Church and is a Knight 
Templar Mason. 

George A. Weyland. — An interesting and sturdy character who car- 
ries his years lightly and is as vigorous mentally and physically as most 
men who are years younger — is the average summing up of a friendly 
disquisition on the characteristics of George A. Weyland, the aggressive 
and capable member of the widely known and extensive firm of Roeder & 
Weyland, dealers in agricultural implements, wagons, carriages, farm 
machinery of every description. This firm is the most extensive in cen- 
tral Missouri and is one of the oldest established concerns of this section 
of the State. Its extension and the prestige which it enjoys of late years 
has been due principally to the salesmanship, and vigorous personality of 
Mr. Weyland, who is one of the most successful men in his line in Mis- 
souri. He has worked his way upward to a position in the business world 
of Cooper County and central Missouri through his own efforts, and has 
won his position through the exercise of a tireless energy, prompted by 
ambition, and aided by a strong physique and an active and well de- 
veloped mind. 

Louis Weyland, father of George A. Weyland was born in Germany, 
and left his native land because of participation in the Revolution of 1846 
and was exiled. He came to this country and located in Boonville in 1848. 
He had learned the trade of carriage builder. This he followed in Boon- 
ville. 

Mr. Weyland established a shop south of the old court house on 
Court Street where he plied his trade until 1871. He then located at the 
northeast corner of High and Main Streets and built up an extensive busi- 
ness. He made carriages and wagons and in later days operated a re- 
pair shop until 1908, remaining in business in Boonville for 60 years. Not 
long after his arrival in Boonville, he was married in 1848, to Catherine 
Weiland, who was born in Nassau, Germany. Louis and Catherine Wey- 
land were parents of the following children: Mrs. Elizabeth Hill, Los 
Angeles, Calif. ; Katie, died at the age of six months ; Mrs. Mollie Delano, 
Los Angeles, Calif.; Matilda, died at the age of 19 years; William, living 
at DeSota, Mo.; E. C. Weyland, resides in Piedmont, Wayne County, Mo.; 
H. P. Weyland, lives at Muskogee, Okla. ; Chas. C. Weyland, owns and 
operates the Weyland carriage shops in Boonville.; George A. Weyland, 
of this review. 

Reared and educated in Boonville, it was only natural that George A. 




GEORGE A. WKVI.AM I 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 885 

Weyland should adopt the trade of his father. He finished learning his 
trade of carriage maker in the shops of E. M. Miller, the most famous 
carriage and bus maker m the woi'ld in his day. This was at Quincy, 111., 
and the Miller establishment manufactured none but the highest grade 
carriages and buses for use in the large cities of the country. Mr. Wey- 
land returned to Boonville in 1880 and made a contract with George Roe- 
der, the elder, to take employment with the Roeder concern and he was 
thus employed for 21 years. The firm later became George Roeder & 
Son. For five years Mr. Weyland was a traveling salesman and then 
became a member of the firm of Roeder & Weyland prior to the elder 
Roeder's death. Jan. 1, 1906, the firm became known as Roeder & Wey- 
land. 

In 1880, George A. Weyland and Miss Sophia Heckerman of Prairie 
Home, Mo., were united in marriage. Mrs. Sophia Weyland is a daugh- 
ter of Christian Heckerman. Six children are living out of seven born to 
this marriage: Cozy, Gertrude, Stella, Viola, Grover C, Lon H. Cozy 
Weyland is operating nurse in the hospital at Clinton, Mo. Gertrude is 
the wife of Claude L. Driskill, manager of the Antrum Lumber Company 
of Binger, Okla. Stella is the wife of Lieut. Phillip A. Dickey, who served 
with the A. E. F. in France and is now located in Denver, Colo. Viola is at 
home with her parents. Grover C. Weyland is manager of the J. I. Case 
Plow Works, Kansas City, Mo. Lon H. Weyland, aged 24 years, is a ser- 
geant in the 35th Division and has seen much active service on the battle 
front in France. He enlisted in the Regular Army in November, 1917, 
was trained for service at Fort Sill, Okla., and went to France with his 
command in February, 1918. Sergeant Weyland participated in the battle 
of Chateau Thierry, and fought in the great battle of the Argonne Forest. 

While Mr. Weyland is a Democrat he is proud of the fact that his 
father was a Union man and a Jeffersonian Democrat as well. He has 
generally taken an active and influential part in Democratic politics and 
served as a member of the City Council, having been the only citizen ever 
elected on the Democratic ticket from his home ward. During his term 
as city councilman from April, 1913, to April, 1915, many public improve- 
ments of benefit to the city were made. 

He is a member of the Boonville Board of Public Works. During his 
entire active life Mr. Weyland has been a doer, and is always found in 
(25) 



386 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY _ 

the forefront of all good movements for the benefit of Boonville and 
Cooper County. 

William Mittelbach, druggist and secretary of the Boonville Board of 
Education, is one of the most useful and highly respected business men 
of Cooper County. Mr. Mittelbach was born in Boonville, April 2, 1856, 
and is a son of Frederick Mittelbach, a native of Germany who emigrated 
from his native land in 1849, first resided in Cincinnati, Ohio, for a short 
time and came to Boonville in 1852. 

Frederick Mittelbach was bom Jan. 10, 1826, at Seeheim-Hessen, 
Germany, and died at Boonville, Mo., Aug. 12, 1902. He opened a shoe 
shop in this city and made boots and shoes until the factories began turn- 
ing them out by the aid of machinery when he embarked in the retail 
shoe business until his death. He married Elisabeth Hoflander on Jan. 
7, 1865. Elisabetha Hoflander Mittelbach was born in Germany, Aug. 9, 
1830, and was a daughter of John Ernst Hoflander, one of the pioneers of 
the Billingsville neighborhood in Cooper County. She died Jan. 23, 1911. 
To Frederick and Elisabetha Mittelbach were born eight children: Wil- 
liam, subject of this review; Fannie, born Oct. 22, 1857, died Sept. 2, 1903; 
John George, born July 13, 1859, deceased; Amelia Laura, born Jan. 18, 
1862, resides in Boonville; John George, born Nov. 4, 1864, is a shoe mer- 
chant in Iola, Kan.; Henry Mittelbach, born Oct. 23, 1867, died Oct. 20, 
1915, at St. Joseph, Mo.; Friedrich, born June 12, 1870, died March 12, 
1871 ; Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Lamora, born July 25, 1874, resides in Chicago, 
111. 

William Mittelbach, of this review, was reared in Boonville and re- 
ceived his early education in the public and high school here. After 
graduation from the Boonville high school, he studied for two years in 
the State University at Columbia. He then entered the drug business 
and was for four years under the tutelage of the late Dr. Ernest Roeschel, 
th epioneer druggist of Boonville and a splendid citizen. In 1877 he 
entered the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and was graduated in 1879. 
Later, in 1915 he received the Masters Degree from his alma mater. 
After spending one year in St. Louis he went west to Santa Fe, N. M., in 
1880. This was before the advent of the railroads into the southwest and 
the railroad reached Santa Fe that same year and its arrival as witnessed 
at Albuquerqe by Mr. Mittelbach. Soon afterwards he returned to Mis- 
souri with the intention of beginning his business career in St. Louis. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 387 

He was persuaded, however, by his father to open a drug store in Boon- 
ville. This he did in Oct. 1880 and for 38 years, Dr. Mittelbaeh has been 
engaged in business in this city and is the oldest druggist in Boonville 
at this day. The Mittelbaeh Drug Store is one of the landmarks of Boon- 
ville and is a modern, well stocked establishment which enjoys a splendid 
trade. 

Dr. Mittelbaeh was married to Mollie Sahm in 1882. She was a 
daughter of George Sahm, a pioneer shoe merchant of Boonville, a sketch 
whom appears in this history. She died in 1892, leaving two children: 
Leola, a teacher in the primary department of the Kansas City Public 
Schools ; Leonore, wife of D. C. Durland of New York City. Doctor Mit- 
tlebach's second marriage in January, 1899, was with Miss Sophia Rein- 
hart, of Boonville, a daughter of Charles Reinhart, Sr., a former con- 
fectioner and baker of this city. 

Doctor Mittelbaeh is a Republican and is a member and active worker 
in the Evangelical Church of this city. No man in the history of Boon- 
ville has held more positions both honorary and active than this esteemed 
citizen. For the past 20 years he has been connected with the Walnut 
Grove Cemetery Association in the capacity of superintendent and secre- 
tary, a position which he has held for the past six years. The success 
of this association has been due in a great extent to his tireless interest 
and management of the affairs of the cemetery. For the past 26 years 
he has been a member of the Board of Education and has filled the post 
of secretary of the board for the entire time. Doctor Mittelbaeh is a 
member of the Knights of Pythias and stands high in Pythian circles. 
He was the first chancellor commander of the local lodge when it was 
organized in 1883. He served as a member of the Grand Lodge of Knights 
of Pythias several terms, representing the local lodge. Since the organi- 
zation of the Boonville Commercial Club in 1909 he has served as treas- 
urer of the organization. For 24 years he served as treasurer of the 
Missouri State Pharmaceutical Association and also filled the office of 
president of this association. He was formerly active in the affairs of 
the National Pharmaceutical Association and served as president of the 
National Association of State Boards of Pharmacy. Doctor Mittelbaeh 
has served as president of the State Board of Pharmacists and has filled 
all offices of the American Pharmaceutical Association, serving as first, 
second and third vice-president and for five years was a member of the 



388 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

committee on membership. He has been mindful of his civic responsi- 
bilities and has served two terms as a member of the City Council. Doc- 
tor Mittelbach enjoys the respect and esteem of all citizens of Boonville 
and Cooper County. 

Col. Charles Edward Andrews, a leading citizen of Cooper County of 
the past decade and a scion of an old pioneer family of Boonville, was 
one of the best known of the citizens of this section of Missouri. He was 
a man of intellect and presence, who conducted his business on a large 
scale and had various interests in different sections of the country. Col. 
Andrews was for years engaged in business in Boonville, first in partner- 
ship with his father, the late David Andrews, and then on his own account. 
He became interested in farm development and did considerable business 
in lands ; his financial interests were large and extensive. He was vice- 
president of the Kasigan Oil and Gas Company of Independence, Kans; 
vice-president of the Independence (Kas.) Plate Glass Company; a stock- 
holder in the Boatman's Bank of St. Louis; formerly owned the Sicher 
Hotel, now the Antlers Hotel, of Sedalia, and had other extensive property 
interests in Sedalia. Among his business associates in that city was John 
H. Bothwell, prominent attorney and banker. 

Col. Charles E. Andi'ews was born in Boonville, Feb. 8, 1849, and de- 
parted this life Nov. 24, 1917. He was reared and educated in Boonville, 
attending the Kemper School, and Westminster College, Fulton, Mo., grad- 
uating therefrom in 1867, and entered his father's hardware store as a 
partner in the business when he attained his majority. 

He was engaged in business until 1889 when he retired from business 
and dealt in farm lands and real estate for a number of years. Mr. An- 
drews made a business of buying farms, building them up as regards soil 
and improvements and then selling at a profit. 

Charles Edward Andrews was united in marriage Nov. 9, 1880, with 
Miss Jennie Dobyns of Memphis, Tenn. Four children were bom to this 
union : Florie, Hardage Lane, Charles Edward Jr., and David Adair. Florie 
is the wife of Todd M. George, treasurer of Jackson County, Mo. Mr. 
and Mrs. George reside in Lees Summit, Mo., and have three children: 
Todd M., Hardage Virginia, and Florie Ann. Hardage Lane Andrews 
was born in 1889. He is an official of the General Electric Company of 
Schenectady, N. Y. His profession is that of a railway and traction en- 
gineer in which he is a recognized expert. He married Mittie Huff. Dur- 
ing the World War he was connected with the building of submarine de- 
stroyers in the service of the United States Government. Charles Edward 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 389 

Andrews Jr. was born in 1886. He is in the employ of the General Elec- 
tric Company of Schenectady, N. Y. During the World War he was in 
the Government service. David Adair Andrews was born in 1893. He 
volunteered for service in the World War and was a second class petit 
officer in the dirigible balloon section of the air service, National Army. 
Mrs. Jennie (Dobyns) Andrews is a member of an old Southern Amer- 
ican family. She is a daughter of Col. Thomas Jefferson Dobyns who 
served as colonel of the Second Polish Brigade of Louisiana in the Civil 
War. He organized three companies of Confederate soldiers in Louisiana 
and commanded the Second Louisiana Regiment during the war. His 
command was known as the "Tiger Rifles" on account of the fierceness in 
which they waged battle. This was a strong fighting organization which 
fought with General Lee at Gettysburg. He was born in 1801 and died 
in 1865 as a result of chills and fever contracted during his arduous serv- 
ice. He was a loyal southern man, so loyal that when he had gone to a 
health resort called the "Springs," a man called out to him "Lee has sur- 
rendered," he replied as he was getting a drink from the spring, "I hope 
I may never live to see Lee surrender." A few weeks later he was again 
at the spring taking a drink. A friend called to him, "General Lee has 
surrendered." Col. Dobyns rolled over, paralyzed and never moved again. 
He had married Martha Caroline Sharpe Feb. 12, 1837, who was the first 
white child born in Moulton, Ala., Sept. 29, 1819, and died in Memphis, 
Tenn., in February, 1887. Eight children were born to Col. Thomas J. 
and Martha Caroline Dobyns, seven of whom were reared, as follows: 
Mollie Thomas, born in Randolph, Tenn., died in Boonville, Mo., in 1912, 
was the wife of Capt. D. DeHaven, a citizen of Boonville, who during the 
Civil War had charge of all the Confederate gunboats and was stationed 
at Selma, Ala.; Flora Roselle, born in Randolph, Tenn., deceased wife of 
James Clare McDavitt, of Kentucky, former Lieutenant of Cavalry in the 
Civil War; Eloise Lee, born in Randolph, Tenn., widow of Edward L. Col- 
burn, a Civil War veteran, formerly resident of Pine Bluff, Ark., and 
now living in Denver, Colo.; Eliza Senora, born in Randolph, Tenn., wife of 
S. W. E. Pegues, of Oxford, Miss., now a government official in the pen- 
sion department at Washington, D. C. ; Emily Coons, .died in May, 1918, 
was wife of Joseph Philip Angell, of Pine Bluff, Ark. ; Thomas .Jeffer- 
son, Jr., born in June, 1851, former railroad man, unmarried, died in St. 
Louis, Mo., in 1881; Mrs. Jennie Andrews of this review; Deslond Beau- 
regard, called "Carrie," bora at Amite City, La., wife of Cyrus Garnsey of 
New York, has a winter residence in Memphis, Tenn. Mr. Garnsey gave 



390 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

his services without price to the government as assistant fuel inspector 
during the World War, and Mr. and Mrs. Garnsey lost their only son, 
Lieut. Cyrus Garnsey (III), in the battle of the Argonne Forest. Lieu- 
tenant Garnsey was in the artillery and had been twice cited for bravery 
in action with the A. E. F. 

Col. Thomas Dobyns was a son of Thomas Dobyns who was a soldier 
in the War of 1812. Mrs. Martha Caroline Dobyns was a second cousin of 
Gen. Robert E. Lee. 

Members of the Dobyns and Sharpe families have figured prominently 
in the affairs of the nation for over 200 years and by virtue of this an- 
cestry, Mrs. Jennie (Dobyns) Andrews is a member of the Colonial 
Dames, and the Daughters of the American Revolution. She organized 
the local Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and this 
chapter is named in honor of her great-great-grandmother, Jemima Alex- 
ander Sharpe, who was a heroine of the Revolutionary War, working on 
the battlefields caring for the wounded and the dying. Her husband was 
lost while fighting in the Indian Wars and who had five sons who fought 
for American Independence in the American Revolution. Mrs. Andrews 
is also a member of the United States Daughters of 1812, Americans of 
Armorial Ancestors, the Colonial Daughters of America, and the Daugh- 
ters of the Confederacy. She has good and just right to be proud of the 
interesting fact that she has had ancestors and descendants who served 
their country in every war in which Americans have been engaged since 
the early settlement and colonial days. 

Alexander's History of Mecklenburg County has this to say of Jemima 
Alexander Sharp, "On one occasion, Jemima, in company with Mrs. Jack- 
son, the mother of a subsequent Vice-President, and others volunteered 
as nurses to go from Charlotte, N. C, to Charleston to the prison ships 
as nurses. They set out on foot, traveling through a thinly settled cun- 
try, struggling bravely on — these brave, tender, noble women of the 
Revolutionary day — Bible loving, church going women who were willing 
to endure all things in the path of duty." 

Mrs. C. E. Andrews is a member of the Virginia Historical Society, 
Washington Headquarters Association, Maryland Historical Society, and 
the "Ark and the Dove" of Maryland, the latter being the name of the 
vessel bringing over her first ancestors to settle in Maryland and which 
arrived a few years previous to the arrival of the Mayflower at Plymouth. 

Col. Charles Edward Andrews while a student in Westminster Col- 
lege, embraced the Presbyterian faith. He was a Democrat and promi- 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 391 

nent in the affairs of his party, served as a delegate to the national con- 
vention which nominated W. J. Bryan for President. He was a man dis- 
tinguished and commanding in appearance, handsome and possessed of a 
fine physique, and because of his fine military bearing he was called "Col- 
onel" by his friends and acquaintances until the title became appropriate. 
Practically his entire life was spent in Boonville and he loved his native 
city. He was kind and had kind deeds to his credit, kindly in thought 
and action. He gave liberally to all worthy enterprises to assist his home 
city, was owner of extensive properties in Cooper and Saline counties, 
and was connected with various large enterprises elsewhere. Other con- 
cerns in which he was interested was the Western States Portland Ce- 
ment Company of Independence. Kas., of which he was the largest stock- 
holder and vice-president. He was a large stockholder and vice-president 
of the West St. Louis Water and Light Company. At one time he was 
the largest taxpayer in Cooper County. 

Colonel Andrews easily made and retained friendships, on account of a 
pleasant and winning disposition and was respected and loved by those 
who knew him best. He was a devoted husband, a loving and indulgent 
father and loved his home and fireside. His greatest pleasure was to 
spend his leisure time in his own home surrounded by his children, enter- 
ing into their spoi-ts and teaching them truth, honor, and rectitude by his 
living example — principles which have been followed by his sons, who are 
successful and talented men. 

James Wellington Draffen. — One of the best known and most dis- 
tinguished members of the Cooper County bar was the late James W. 
Draffen of Boonville. Mr. Draffen was born in Albemarle County, Va., 
March 24, 1824, and died April 21, 1896. He was a son of Thomas and 
Mary (Douglas) Draffen, both natives of Virginia, and migrated to Cooper 
County, Mo., in 1836. They settled on a farm in this county whereon 
James W. Draffen was reared. After attending the district school, he 
studied for two years at the Kemper school. He then studied law in the 
office of his uncle, John Draffen, a prominent attorney of Lawrenceburg, 
Ky. He was admitted to the bar in 1852 and entered the office of Judge 
Washington Adams in Boonville. Two years later he began the practice 
of his profession alone. Later he formed a partnership with George 
Vest, who became United States Senator from Missouri, and also prac- 
ticed in partnership with Col. J. L. Stephens, William D. Muir and H. 
A. Hutchinson. He then formed a partnership with the late Judge W, M. 
Williams, which continued until his death. This firm was one of the 



392 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

ablest in Missouri and handled many notable cases and much important 
litigation, their practice extending over the entire State and even beyond 
its borders. 

In July, 1859, Mr. Daffen was married to Miss Louise Tichenor, of 
Newark, N. J., a daughter of David S. and Jane S. Tichenor. Mrs. Draff en 
was born Dec. 20, 1835, and died April 22, 1911. Eight children were 
born to James W. and Louise Draff en as follows: David T., deceased; 
Edwin L., member of New York Appraisal Company, New York City; 
William M., deceased; James Wellington, Los Angeles, Calif.; Whilton 
Vest ; Frank D., Boonville; Martin T., an officer at Missouri Training School, 
Boonville, Mo. ; Mary H., wife of F. T. Pigott, Boonville. 

Mr. Draff en was a stanch Democrat. Although always greatly inter- 
ested in matters of public concern, he never sought nor desired official 
position, notwithstanding the fact that he was frequently solicited by 
the leaders of his party to become a candidate for high office. He was an 
able lawyer and a good citizen who had the sincere respect and regard of 
his fellow citizens and the members of the bar throughout the State. 

Judge Philips delivered the following touching tribute to the life of 
his long time friend: "For a quarter of a century I met him, term after 
term, at the Circuit Courts of central Missouri. We were generally ar- 
rayed on opposing sides. He was a foeman worthy of any .man's steel 
and an adversary in the arena of • the forum never to be despised. I 
bear testimony, here in the presence of his casket, that a more honorable 
practitioner, a more chivalrous opponent, free from all petty meanness 
and trickery, I never encountered. Do you ask for a record of his achieve- 
ments? Look into the volumes of your Supreme Court, extending from 
the 25th through 100 volumes, and from the 17th to the 50th volumes of 
the Court of Appeals, and you will find his name connected with much 
of the important litigation of the central part of the State. His briefs 
are his monuments. In their sententious vigor, lucidity of statement and 
conciseness of argument, with appropriate citation of authorities, they 
stand as models, worthy the study and imitation of every young lawyer. 

"His client's cause was his own, and to him his client was always 
in the right. There was not money enough in Christendom to induce 
him to betray the cause, however small, of the humblest man committed 
to his keeping. If it be true that 'an honest man is the noblest work of 
God' Draffen was God's nobleman. There was not an element of dishon- 
esty in his composition." 

At the meeting of the members of the bar held at the court house 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 393 

in his memory, the following resolutions were passed: "Whenever he 
accepted a retainer, he seemed to abandon everything, save honor, in his 
client's interests. He was untiring in his efforts, often forgetting, or 
appearing not to care for, that remuneration which was due for his val- 
uable services. His record as a bold, adroit and able lawyer and advocate 
commanded the admiration of his associates, and is worthy of the emula- 
tion of the younger members of the bar. His integrity was of the highest 
order. His strong characteristics won him a host of friends, in and 
outside of his profession, and gave him great influence with courts and 
juries of the country. His integrity and dauntless courage, coupled with 
his open advocacy of every cause in which he believed, made a valuable 
and worthy citizen, whose death will be seriously felt by all classes. He 
left behind him the record of an honorable man, an able lawyer, an affec- 
tionate husband and father, and a good citizen." 

Whitlow Vest Draffen, successful attorney of Boonville, and a worthy 
son of a distinguished father, was born in Boonville, May 4, 1870. and is 
a son of James Wellington and Louise J. Draffen. He was educated in 
Westminster College at Fulton, Mo., and the State University at Columbia. 
Mr. Draffen studied law in his father's office and was admitted to the 
bar in 1896. He is an excellent attorney, well versed in the lore of the 
legal profession and is an able pleader in the courts of central Missouri. 

Mr. Draffen is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, 
the Knights of Pythias, the Royal Arcanum, and the Woodmen of the 
World. 

Walter B. Windsor, owner of "Fairfield" farm of 337 acres in Clarks 
Fork township, six and a half miles southeast of Boonville, is of the pro- 
gressive type of agriculturists and stockmen who have made good in 
Cooper County. He and his sons # are owners of a total of 557 acres of 
rich land. They are cultivating in addition to this land, another very 
fertile tract of bottom land comprising a total of 150 acres. The Windsor 
farm is well improved with a modern residence of eight rooms, silos, 
metal grain bins, barns and buildings all in good condition. The farm 
is devoted to stock raising, all of the grain and forage raised on the place 
being fed to live stock which is sold on the hoof. Mr. Windsor maintains 
a herd of pure bred Angus cattle because of the uniformity and beef 
producing qualities of the breed. His Poland China hogs are pure bred 
as are his Oxford and Shropshire sheep. There are sold from the farm 
and shipped to the markets one load each of cattle, hogs and sheep each 
year. Mr. Windsor is an ardent soil conservationist who believes in get- 



394 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

ting the maximum yield from the land and keeping it in first class con- 
dition through fertilization and crop rotation. He has raised as high as 
85 bushels of corn to the acre, 40 bushels of wheat, 50 bushels of rye and 
55 bushels of oats. This is a record which can not be excelled anywhere 
in Missouri or the West. The Windsor farm, "Fairfield," is the old home 
place of his father, the late John H. Windsor, who was one of the most 
successful stockmen of his day in Cooper County. John H. Windsor was 
a son of Horace Simeon Windsor, who settled in Cooper County over four 
score years ago. The family is of English descent and the history of the 
Windsors in America begins with Thomas Windsor, of Fairfax County, 
Va. Further details of the Windsor family history will be found in con- 
nection with the biography of Eugene A. Windsor, of Boonville, brother 
of the subject of this review. 

Walter B. Windsor was born April 23, 1862. He was educated in the 
district school and the academy at Boonville. With the exception of eight 
years spent as a traveling salesman he has always been engaged in farm- 
ing. Mr. Windsor is a natural salesman and made a success on the road; 
for a number of years he traveled for the McCormick and Deering har- 
vester companies and has sold farming machinery, live stock, blooded 
stock for breeding purposes, and made good. He began farming on a 200 
acre tract when he was 20 years of age and. has steadily increased the 
acreage owned by himself and his sons. Some idea of the magnitude of 
the farming operations carried on by Mr. Windsor and his sons can be 
gleaned from the fact that this season (1919) they will harvest 300 acres 
of wheat, 200 acres of com, 50 acres of oats, and 20 acres of alfalfa. 

May 30, 1888, Walter B. Windsor and Miss Elizabeth Ann Jewett 
were united in marriage. This marriage has been blessed with children 
as follows: Elmer and Jewett, twins, educated in the Boonville High 
School and Business College, born April 29, 1891; Dorsey W., born Feb. 
24, 1897, educated in the Boonville High School and Business College, 
and like his two older brothers, is a farmer; Alma May, born July 25, 
1893, educated in Boonville High School, and the Warrensburg Normal 
School and Boulder University, Colorado, six years a teacher and for the 
past two years has been in charge of the home district school ; Annie 
Laura, bora April 17, 1895, educated in Boonville High School. The 
mother of these children was born April 3. 1863, in Cooper County, and 
is a daughter of Samuel L. and Martha Jewett, both deceased. The Jewetts 
are an old pioneer family of Cooper County. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 395 

Walter B. Windsor is a Democrat of the true and tried variety which 
knows ho deviation from Democratic principles. During the administra- 
tion of Gov. William J. Stone he was appointed by the Governor to the 
office of county assessor for Cooper County and filled this office credit- 
ably for four years. His family worships at the Baptist Church. Mr. 
Windsor is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Woodmen of the 
World, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Ancient Free and Ac- 
cepted Masons of Boonville, having attained to a membership in the Com- 
mandery at Boonville. Mr. Windsors' recreation is in hunting and fish- 
ing, organizing and carrying out "fish fries," picnics, and barbecues, in 
which he is a past master. In fact no "barbecue" or fish fry is held in 
his neighborhood without he is one of the mainstays and leading promo- 
ters. At the great barbecue held in his neighborhood some years ago 
and which was financed by the merchants of Boonville and to which the 
entire county was invited, he had charge of the roasting and basting of 
the meats over long pits of hot coals and the job was done in an expert 
manner to satisfy the finest epicurean tastes. Over 5,000 people attended 
this barbecue and it was the greatest event of that year. It is probable 
that no Cooper County citizen has more warm friends in this section of 
.Missouri than "Walt" Windsor, who is a welcome addition to any and all 
gatherings because of his unfailing good nature, his desire to please and 
'his many likable qualities. 

John Thomas Pigott, one of the best known of the successful merch- 
ants of the Boonville of a decade or so ago, was a native Missourian. Mr. 
Pigott was born in St. Louis June 14, 1823, and died Nov. 29, 1907. He 
was a son of John T. Pigott, who was bom in Dublin, Ireland, and died 
in Missouri when his son, John Thomas was but a boy in years. Mr. 
Pigott was reared in St. Louis and when a young man he opened a book 
store at Lexington, Mo. He came to Boonville in 1867 and he and Wil- 
liam E. Walton made the first set of abstract books in Cooper County. 
He engaged in the mercantile business in partnership with William H. 
Trigg and Company and was successfully engaged in business until 1899. 
Prior to this he was engaged in banking until 1880. In 1899 Mr. Pigott 
retired from active business and went to his farm southeast of Boon- 
ville where he remained until his death in 1907. 

On March 17, 1859 Mr. Pigott was married to Josephine Trigg, a 
daughter of William H. Trigg of Boonville. Five children were born to 
this marriage: Frank, Los Angeles, Calif.; John C, member of the dry 



396 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

goods firm of Pigott and McKinley, Boonville, Mo. ; Harry H., living at 
Helena, Mont. ; Fred, a farmer living near Boonville. 

John Thomas Pigott was for 60 years a Mason and at the time of 
his death he was the oldest Mason in Cooper County. 

David Andrews. — The Andrews family is one of the oldest pioneer 
families of Boonville, and the name has been an honored one for many 
years. Ninety years ago, David Andrews, father of the late Charles 
Andrews of Boonville, settled at Old Franklin where he remained until 
the fickle Missouri washed away the business section of the old pioneer 
town. He then came to Boonville where he identified himself with the 
business interests of the city and was one of the builders of Boonville. 
David Andrews came to this section of Missouri, a poor youth, aged 19 
years — so poor that he had but one shirt to his back, and this one he took 
off and washed in the Missouri River as the boat he was traveling on came 
near to the frontier town of Franklin. This boat, upon which he trav- 
eled, was drawn by horses hitched to long ropes and drawn through the 
water in this manner, the horses walking along the banks of the river. 

David Andrews was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., May 2, 1809, and died 
in Boonville, April 30, 1893. He came West in 1820 and lived with a 
brother, Thomas Andrews, in St. Louis until 1828 when he came to Old 
Franklin and thence to Boonville. Thomas Andrews, his brother, was one 
of the first stockholders in the Boatsman Bank of St. Louis, as was his 
brother, David Andrews, at a later date. David Andrews learned the 
trade of tinner in his brother's shop in St. Louis. Upon his arrival at 
Franklin, he established a tin shop and then returned to St. Louis for 
his bride whom he married that same year. She was Margaret Baird, 
who was also born in Pittsburgh, Pa., Jan. 17, 1818, and died in March, 
1901. On two occasions after establishing himself in Boonville, after the 
decadence of Old Franklin, Mr. Andrews had the misfortune to have his 
shop destroyed by fire. Each time he rebuilt and succeeded in amassing 
a competence despite adversity. 

During the Civil War he made canteens for the Southern soldiers. 
This brought him into conflict with the Union forces and he was taken 
prisoner by General Lyon's command. Previous to his being taken pris- 
oner, some soldiers had waylaid him, knocked him down and left him 
lying for dead. His faithful wife found him, succored him, and he was 
then placed under arrest and taken to the prison in Jefferson City. His 
wife also went to the State Capital and so determined and energetic was 
she that she succeeded in getting him freed, in spite of the fact that Gen- 




DAVID ANDREWS 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 397 

eral Lyons insisted that Mr. Andrews be shot for a rebel sympathizer and 
adherent. 

David Andrews was of Irish descent and was an energetic man of 
business who had the gift of finance and able management of his business 
affairs. He amassed a fortune of over $300,000 and was one of the wealth- 
iest citizens of Boonville in his time. He opened a hardware store in 
Boonville, one of the first to be conducted in the city, and the business 
prospered. By fair and honest dealings and by the exercise of energy 
and the strictest of integrity, Mr. Andrews carved an honored and re- 
.-petted place in the business world of Boonville, and his name will always 
be known as that of one of the real pioneers of the city. He took an 
active and influential part in civic affairs during his long residence here, 
served as a member of the City Council and was mayor of the city for 
some years. He was father of 11 children, ten sons and one daughter, 
five of who were reared to maturity: Hardage Lane, David, Florence, 
Charles Edward, Lonnie or Alonzo. 

Hardage Lane Andrews learned the trade of jeweler, but never fol- 
lowed it. He went West in 1850 and eventually located in San Jose, 
Calif., as one of the pioneer pork packers on the Pacific Coast. He 
amassed a comfortable fortune and died at the age of 50 years, worth 
$60,000. ^ David Andrews also went West to the Pacific Coast and was 
associated with his brother, Hardage L., in the pork packing business. 
He died in San Jose, Calif. Florence Andrews married ex-Congressman 
John T. Heard, of Sedalia. She was born Sept. 7, 1846, and died Sept. 14, 
1886. "Lonnie" or Alonzo Andrews was born in 1854, and died in 1875. 
A sketch of Charles E. Andrews appears in this volume. All of the de- 
ceased children of David Andrews lie sleeping in the beautiful Walnut 
Grove Cemetery in Boonville. Although some of them had wandered far 
from the city of their birth, it was the wish of each that his final resting 
place be in the home town which they loved so well, ahd where their hap- 
piest days had been spent. 

David Andrews was a man eminently fitted for the period in which 
he lived. He was a member of the Methodist Church and was a devout 
man who feared God and loved his fellow men, his wife and his children. 
He was a democrat and a stanch believer and upholder of democratic 
principles of government. 

Charles W. Nixon, senior member of the firm of Nixon and Brosius. 
engaged in the farm loan and real estate business, Boonville, is a native 
of Cooper County and was born in Pilot Grove, Feb. 28, 1870. He is a 



398 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

son of David F. and Christina (Schlotzhauer) Nixon, well known resi- 
dents of Pilot Grove. 

David F. Nixon was born in Ross County, Ohio, Feb. 19, 1842. His 
father, William H. Nixon, was born in Loudoun County, Va. in 1816 and 
died in 1901. His parents were David and Rachel (Carr) Nixon, both 
natives of Virginia, and settled in Ross County, Ohio, where they reared 
a family of eight children, of whom William H. Nixon was the eldest. 
Mrs. Elizabeth E. (Edmiston) Nixon, mother of David H. Nixon, was 
born in Ross County, Ohio, in 1815. She resided at Old Chillicothe when 
Indians were plentiful in the forests of the neighborhood, and she died 
in 1887. She was a daughter of John and Miss (Teeter) Edmiston, 
natives of Tennessee. The Nixons are of Scotch descent. Three children 
were born to William H. and Elizabeth Nixon: John W., was a veteran 
of the Civil War and ranked as sergeant ; David F. Nixon, of this review ; 
and Emily, deceased wife of James Benner. 

In October of 1861, David F. Nixon enlisted in Company C, 73rd 
Ohio Regiment of Volunteers and served until his honorable discharge 
in 1864. He was hit by a shell in the right leg at the second battle of 
Bull Rnn and was also hit by a minnie ball in the left thigh. He partici- 
pated in the battles of Cross-Kris, Fort Republic, McDowell, Morefield 
and Romney, besides many minor battles and skirmishes. He was trans- 
ferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps in 1863 and was a member of Com- 
pany A 21st Regular Regiment. He was a corporal and was on duty at 
Trenton, N. J., saw a lot of hard work in the ensuing year and was 
mustered out of service in 1864. 

In 1866, David H. Nixon came to Pettis County, Mo., and located on 
a farm. Not long afterward he came to Cooper County and purchased a 
farm located two and a half miles south of Pilot Grove, where he farmed 
extensively for a number of years and was a successful breeder of Short- 
horn cattle. Mr. Nixon has disposed of all his land excepting a tract of 
94 acres. In 1916 he left the farm and moved to a home in Pilot Grove. 

Jan. 30, 1868, David H. Nixon and Christine Schlotzhauer were united 
in marriage. The children bom of this marriage are: Alexander Nixon, 
cashier of the Bank of Wooldridge; Rudy, died in 1905; Katie, is at home 
with her parents ; Charles W. Nixon, of this review, is the eldest of the 
family. 

David H. Nixon is a Republican and served a term judge of the 
County Court for the western district of Cooper County. He is a stock- 
holder in the Wooldridge Bank and assisted in the organization of the 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 309 

Pilot Grove Bank serving as president of this bank for two years. He 
is affiliated with the Grand Army of the Republic and the Ancient Free 
and Accepted Masons. 

Charles W. Nixon received his education in Pilot Grove College, 
founded and conducted by the Johnson family and which was in charge 
of William F. Johnson for some years. Mr. Nixon fanned in the vicinity 
of Pilot Grove for three years and continued in farming near Bunceton^ 
Mo., until 1902, when his election to the office of county clerk on the 
Republican ticket required his residing in Boonville. He served for four 
years in this office and in June, 1905, became associated with Mr. Brosius 
in the loan and land business. 

In August of 1894, Charles W. Nixon was united in marriage with 
Miss Margaret Rodgers, a daughter of E. H. Rodgers, who now makes his 
home in Boonville with Mr. Nixon. Mr. Rodgers was bom at West Lib- 
erty, W. Va., in 1842 and was a soldier in the Union army during the 
Civil War. After the close of the war he came to Cooper County and 
became a large land owner in this county. Prior to his advent in Cooper 
County he had married Mary Elliot who was born in West Virginia in 
1843 and died in 1915. 

The children born to Charles W. and Margaret Nixon are : Mary Jane, 
a graduate of Sweet Brier College, West Virginia, class of 1919 ; Mar- 
garet, a graduate of Boonville High School, class of 1919 ; David, a grad- 
uate of the Boonville Public Schools, class of 1919 ; Helen, aged six years. 

Mr. Nixon is a member of the Presbyterian Church and is frater- 
nally affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and the Ancient Free and 
Accepted Masons, having attained a membership in Ararat Temple Mystic 
Shrine. He is also a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. 

Rev. Fr. Theodore Kussman. — For nearly 34 years Father Kussman 
has been in charge of Sts. Peter and Paul's Catholic Church in Boonville, 
Mo. Two years after taking charge of this church, on Aug. 17, 1885, he 
was made irremovable rector and will remain in Boonville during the rest 
of his natural life as rector of this large and prosperous church which is 
one of the oldest in central Missouri and which celebrated Father Russ- 
man's golden jubilee on May 27, 1916. 

Theodore Kussman was born in Germany, Jan. 19, 1843. He is a son 
of Christopher and Clara Gertrude (Sperlbaum) Kussman, who immi- 
grated to America in 1847 and settled in St. Louis, where the father plied 
his trade of carpenter and cabinet maker. 

Theodore Kussman attended the parochial school and Christian 



400 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Brothers College in St. Louis. He then spent two years as student in 
St. Francis Seminary near Milwaukee. He next studied for three years 
at the Theological College in Cape Girardeau, Mo., and was ordained in 
the priesthood May 27, 1866. 

Father Kussman's first charge was as substitute priest at Kirkwood 
for six months. He was then pastor of the Richwood, Mo., church for 
one year. He was pastor of French Village Church for two years and 
also had charge of the De Sota, Mo., church at the same time. For the 
next four years he filled the post of pastor of the Palmyra Church and 
also cared for two other churches in the vicinity of Palmyra. For the 
next 12 years he was pastor of the Springfield, Mo., Catholic Church and 
has spent 34 years in Boonville. 

During his long years of service in Boonville he has built the large 
church which is still standing and doubled the size of the rectory. The 
celebration of his golden jubilee on May 27, 1916, was a great occasion 
in the history of the church. 

Dr. Charles Doerrie, the veterinarian, Boonville, Mo., besides being 
a successful practitioner, is a manufacturer. His manufacturing busi- 
ness was first established in 1893 at 404 East Vine Street. The Doerrie 
office, residence and factory is now located at 722 Main Street, Dr.LDoerrie 
having recently purchased the Col. John S. Elliot propei-ty. Dr. Doerrie 
came into possession of an excellent recipe for a facial cream which he 
has named "Hattie's Complexion Beautifier." This is a splendid face 
and skin preparation for the use of both women and men, and each 
year it is becoming more and more popular with the trade. Over 70 
gross were manufactured and sold in 1918, and this business was accom- 
plished without advertising, the goods being sold only through agents 
and the drug trade in all parts of the United States. The quality of the 
product speaks for itself, and the user of a first jar of the beautifier is 
generally a continuous customer who tells of its qualities to others of her 
acquaintance. Dr. Doerrie has been manufacturing and selling the prep- 
aration under the name of the Beautifier Company, Boonville, Mo. 

Charles Doerrie was born in Illinois, June 23, 1862, and was yet an 
infant when his parents located in St. Charles, Mo. Henry Doerrie, his 
father, died when Charles was but a child. Hia mother, Mrs. Louisa 
(Kemper) Doerrie, reared the two children to maturity. Dr. Doerrie has 
a sister. Mrs. Minnie Shubert, residing southeast of Boonville. The 
Doerrie family came to Boonville in 1881 and the mother makes her home 
in Boonville. After the death of Mr. Doerrie she married Peter Young, 
who is deceased. 




DR. CHARLES I" h:ki;i i: 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 401 

Dr. Charles Doerrie came to Boonville in the fall of 1882, and fol- 
lowed farming and coal mining for the first 10 years of his residence in 
Cooper County. He studied veterinary surgery at the New York Veter- 
inary College and began the practice of his profession in 1893. During 
the past 26 years his practice has ranged over Cooper, Howard, Saline, 
Moniteau, Morgan and Chariton Counties. 

April 22, 1886, Dr. Doerrie was married to Miss Alice G. Bull, of 
Cooper County. She is a daughter of Thomas Bull, of this county. 
Three children have been born to Charles and Alice G. Doerrie. Van 
Lee, resides at home, student in the State University, is the only 
child living. Van Lee Doerrie tried on seven different occasions to enlist 
in the National Army and was finally accepted. Seven days after he 
received notice to report for duty at Austin, Tex., the armistice was 
signed and the war ended. He is a student of architecture at the State 
University. By a former marriage, Dr. Doerrie has a daughter, Mrs. 
Wash Robertson, of Moulton, Iowa. 

Dr. Doerrie is a republican who has served as a member of the Boon- 
ville City Council. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
and is affiliated with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Wood- 
men of the World and Travelers' Protective Association. 

Fred G. Lohse. — The general store of M. Lohse & Son, managed by 
Fred G. Lohse, is one of the old established and most successful business 
concerns in Boonville. A large room on Main street is stocked with high 
class groceries, dry goods, and feed, and the Lohse store unquestionably 
carries the largest stock of goods of its kind in the city. Some special- 
ties which have made this store famous throughout the country are its 
home roasted coffees, fresh made peanut products or butter, and the 
Heinz products. The Lohse store sells more kraut than all other stores 
in Boonville combined and the store always presents a busy, hustling 
scene, the force of five employees being kept busily employed in caring 
for the large trade. Lohse & Son caters to the highest class of trade in 
Cooper County and makes a distinction in favor of quality of the goods 
sold rather than in the quantity. 

H. Lohse, father of Fred G. Lohse, was born in Hamburg, Germany, 
in 1845, and immigrated to America in 1863 to escape military service in 
the Prussian army. He came to Boonville and engaged in the manufac- 
ture of lime, operating a lime kiln successfully until 1916. He married 
Carrie Stubbins, who departed this life when Fred G. Lohse was but a 
child. The children bom to M. and Carrie Lohse are as follows: Fred G., 
(26) 



402 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

of this review; William, engaged in the automobile business at St Louis, 
Mo.; Mrs. Flora Hale, died in 1916; Leslie, is connected with the largest 
wholesale grocery corporation west of the Mississippi River with head- 
quarters at Tucson, Ariz. ; Edgar, the youngest of the family, is a soldier 
in the National Army. He enlisted in the army at the age of 16 years 
and saw service on the Mexican border, later going to France when 
America entered the World War. He is a sergeant in Company B, 140th 
Regiment of the famous 35th Division, which so covered itself with glory 
in the severe fighting at St. Mihiel and the Argonne Forest on the west- 
ern front in France. 

Fred G. Lohse was born in Boonville, Mo., March 3, 1881, and was 
reared and educated in this city. He embarked in business in 1898 and 
has risen to become one of the leading and influential merchants of 
Boonville during the past 21 years. The success of M. Lohse & Son 
has been due to his energy, ability, and natural aptitude for business. 
Mr. Lohse was married in 1901 to Miss Mayme Gibbons, a daughter of 
the late Frank Gibbons, who was prominent in the affairs of Boonville 
for several years, was a member of the Commercial Club and was active 
in boosting the commercial advantages of Boonville. 

Mr. Lohse is a Republican, an active and influential booster for Boon- 
ville, liberal in his contributions to worthy causes intended for the ad- 
vancement of the best interests and growth of his native city. For the 
past 15 years he has been superintendent of the Methodist Sunday school 
and takes a just pride in conducting its affairs. He is a member of the 
Knights of Pythias. 

James William Jones, city collector of Boonville, Mo., is a native of 
this county. Mr. Jones was born in Boonville, June 10, 1863, and is a 
son of Thomas P. Jones, who was born in Ireland in 1834 and died 
June 5, 1900. 

Thomas P. Jones was a son of James I. Jones, who immigrated to 
• America in 1840, first resided in New York, and then came to Boone 
County, Mo., and in 1854 located in Boonville. When he attained ma- 
turity he became engaged in the transfer and freighting industry and 
hauled goods from the river front of Boonville to Tipton and points in 
the southwest for a number of years. When the overland freighting 
industry waned and the steam railroads took up the work formerly done 
by oxen and mules, Mr. Jones followed the trade of carpenter. He mar- 
ried Anna Cochran, born in 1842 at Turley, County Mayo, Ireland, a 
(laughter of John Cochran, who came to America in 1850 and settled at 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 403 

Bconville and engaged in farming in Cooper County. To Thomas P. 
! Anna Jones were born eight children, of whom five are living: J. W. 
Jones is the oldest of the family; Samuel F. is yardmaster in the rail- 
road yards, St. Louis, Mo.; Rosa, at home in Boonville; Alice Jones is 
a trained nurse at the Kemper Military School, Boonville, Mo. ; Margaret 
Jones is a saleslady in Chasnoff's store, Boonville, Mo. 

Desirous of obtaining more education than was afforded by the 
public schools of his day, James W. Jones entered the employ of Pro- 
lessor Kemper and worked his way through the Kemper School, doing 
most of his studying at night after his days work was done. He served 
an apprenticeship in the carpenter trade and went to California in 1885, 
where he followed his trade for the next seven years. He was then 
employed in the rolling stock department of the Southern Pacific railroad 
until he was seriously injured in 1896 by a fall from a moving train. 
Returning to Boonville he engaged in contracting. Mr. Jones built the 
Faimers Bank building, the Gmelich residence, the Schnack home on 
High street, the Colored Public School, and many other fine buildings 
and residences in Cooper County. He retired from business in the spring 
of 1918 and has served as city collector since April, 1918. His old injury 
had manifested itself in spinal trouble and after he had completed the 
erection of the I. O. 0. F. building, Mr. Jones suffered a severe spell of 
sickness which left him incapacitated for further active work. 

Mr. Jones is a Republican, and a member of the Knights of Pythias. 

Thomas P. Jones, when 17 years of age, crossed the Great Plains in 
1851 with a cattle outfit owned and operated by Berry & Potter. After 
he had assisted in driving a large, drove of cattle across the plains to the 
Pacific Coast he remained in California for about four years, engaged in 
mining and farming. 

During the Civil War he was enrolled as a member of the Missouri 
State Guards and took part in some minor battles with his command. He 
owned a few teams of horses and kept his horses at the tanyard. George 
Sahm was then engaged in the shoe business in Boonville and Mr. Sham, 
at the time of Shelbys raid and the capture of Boonville, hid his stock of 
shoes and boots in an empty cistern owned by Mr. .Jones. Shelby's men 
captured Mr. Jones and Mr. Sahm, forced Jones to go for his teams, and 
made Sahm recover his stock of shoes and boots from the cistern. The 
footwear was loaded on Jones' wagon and they were driven out to Caleb 
Jones' place southwest of town, both men being taken along as prisoners. 
'• an opportune time, Mr. Jones eluded his guards who were irttenl on 



404 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

getting a pair of boots and the team went on. A squad of cavalry met 
him on the road and asked "Where in h — 1 are you going?" Jones an- 
swered, "I am going for another load of boots." The other told him, "Go 
ahead." With Mr. Sahm lying in the bottom of the wagon, Jones drove 
the wagon to Boonville, put up the team and then hid in the brush for 
some time. 

The most important and the largest contract ever undertaken by 
Mr. Jones was the erection of the Phoenix American Pipe Works in 
Boonville. 

Oscar Spieler, proprietor of "The Riverview Stock Farm" in Saline 
township, the "Home of Big Bone Spotted Poland Chinas," is one of 
Cooper County's most progressive and successful stockmen. Mr. Spieler 
was born Aug. 21, 1870, near California, Moniteau County, Mo., a son of 
F. E. and Elizabeth (Young) Spieler, natives of Germany and New York, 
respectively. 

Frederick Ernest and Elizabeth Spieler were the parents of the fol- 
lowing children : Emma ; Maggie ; Mrs. Sophia Schilb, of Pilot Grove, Mo. ; 
Mrs. F. E. Eberhardt, of California, Mo. ; Mrs. Ida T. Farris, of Boonville ; 
Theodore, Richard, and Nora, at home. F. E. Spieler was a Union vet- 
eran. He served in the Civil War for four years, from 1861 to 1865, en- 
listing in Moniteau County, Mo., where he had located prior to the war. 
Mr. Spieler was wounded in a skirmish near Gooch's Mill in Cooper 
County, when he was shot in the right arm. He came with his family to 
Cooper County in 1873 and settled on the farm now owned by Oscar 
Spieler. The father is now deceased and his remains rest in Schmidt 
Cemetery and the widowed mother resides with her son Oscar. Mrs. 
Elizabeth (Young) Spieler was born Oct. 22, i844, in New York City, a 
daughter of Henry and Margaret Young, who settled in Missouri in 1854. 

"The Riverview Stock Farm" is located seven miles east of Boon- 
ville and comprises 240 acres of valuable land on the south bank of the 
Missouri River. This is the home of the Big Bone Spotted Poland China 
hogs. Mr. Spieler purchased his most valuable brood sow in March, 1917. 
In the spring of 1918 he had 15 sows to farrow and from 15 litters raised 
108 pigs, selling 105 from this same herd in 1918, 87 of them being 
shipped out by express. The heads of the herds are "Riverview Mon- 
arch' 'and "Real Giant." "Riverview Monarch" was sired by "Spotted 
Mammoth," which won second honors in the Omaha Swine Show in 1917 
and first honors at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia, in the age class in 
1918. "Spotted Mammoth" sold for $400 to an Iowa breeder. "River- 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 405 

view Monarch" now weighs move than 600 pounds and is not yet two 
years of age. "Real Giant" is 11 months old and weighs 350 pounds. Mr. 
Spieler has 20 brood sows and his stock is said to be the best in the 
County. He has stock purchased from H. L. Faulkner, of Jamesport, Mo. ; 
J. O. Riley, of Cainesville, Mo. ; R. G. Sartin, of Fayette, Mo. ; B. B. Me- 
gown, of New London, Mo., and J. D. Gates & Sons, of Ravenwood, Mo. 
There is no better stock to be had than that on the Spieler place. 

Oscar Spieler is numbered among the leading stockmen of this sec- 
tion of Missouri and he ranks highly among the enterprising citizens of 
his township and county. 

E. J. Huber, proprietor and founder of the Huber Jewelry Company 
of Boonville has a handsome and well stocked store in which only de- 
pendable goods of the best quality are sold. Mr. Huber was born in 
Boonville, June 29, 1858, and is a son of Karl F. and Anna (Walz) Huber, 
natives of Germany. 

Karl F. Huber was born in 1829 and died March 10, 1873. He ran 
away from home in the early forties and made his way to America, 
where he first worked in the woolen mills of Massachusetts. He soon 
came west and was employed on the construction of the C. B. & Q. rail- 
road while this line was being built to Galesburg, 111. He opened a board- 
ing house at Mendota, 111., after a period of employment at Peru, 111., and 
in 1857 he came from Mendota to Boonville. He conducted a saloon busi- 
ness in this city until his death. While a resident of Illinois, Mr. Huber 
was married to Anna Walz, who was born in Germany in 1834 and died 
at her home in Boonville in 1892. E. J. Huber of this review, was the 
only child of his parents reared to manhood out of six born. 

In 1873 E. J. Huber was apprenticed to Jacob Gmelich the pioneer 
jeweler and watchmaker of Boonville, after receiving a good common 
school education. After spending a four years' apprenticeship with Mr. 
Gmelich he was then employed by Gmelich for another three years. 
From 1882 to 1893 he was a partner in the business, which was con- 
ducted under the firm name of Gmelich and Huber Jewelry Company. In 
1893 Mr. Schmidt came in as a junior partner. In 1906 Mr. Huber sold 
his interest to Mr. Schmidt and after a period of resting for a few years. 
he spent seven years in business at Blackwater, Mo. He returned to 
Boonville in 1915 and established his present successful business. 

Mr. Huber was first married in 1880 to Miss Laura Hayne, who died 
in 1892, leaving one child, Karl A. Huber. This son was born in 1883 
and has served his country in France. He enlisted in August of 1917, 



406 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

in the Twentieth Engineer Corps, and was promoted to the post of ser- 
geant. Sergeant Huber's regiment was engaged from the rirst of its 
advent in France in the building of saw mills and railroads on the west- 
ern front in France. Sergeant received his honorable discharge May 27, 
1919, at Camp Dodge, Iowa. Upon his return home he resumed his posi- 
tion in the Huber jewelry store. His grandfather, John A. Hayne, was 
a soldier in the Civil War. He fought in the Battle of Boonville as a 
sergeant. After the battle was won, he jumped to a mound, waved the 
I ..ion flag, shouted "Hurrah for the Union," and was shot twice and 
killed. The local Grand Army post is named in honor of John A. Hayne. 

Mr. Huber's second marriage was with Miss Laura Roerder, 
who departed this life in 1903. Three children blessed this union, as 
follows: George, his fathers' assistant in the -business; Ernest, and Min- 
nie. Einest Huber was for four years a student at the Missouri S'. 
University and graduated in the class of 1916. He enlisted in the Medical 
Reserve Corps of the National Army in 1917 and upon receiving his dis- 
charge from the service he resumed his medical studies at Ann Arbor, 
Mich. In 1915 Mr. Huber was married to Miss Katie Back. 

Politically, Mr. Huber is a Republican. He is a member of the Evan- 
gelical Church and is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. 

Augustus H, Sauter. — Sincere regret was expressed by hundreds of 
people in Cooper County and the surrounding country when the Sauter 
Mercantile Company passed out of existence in April, 1919. For nearly 
50 .. is concern had been doing business in Boonville and the Sauter 

store had become a widely known landmark. The Sauter Mercantile 
Company was established in 1870 as Sauter & Company, the firm being 
composed of Fred Sauter, A. H. Sauter, and John Weber. The busin 
was conducted under the name of Sauter & Company until 1905, when 
it was incorporated under the name of Sauter Mercantile Company, a 
corporation having five members: Fred Sauter, president; J. Memmel, 
vice-president; A. H. Sauter, secretary and treasurer; F. S. Sauter and 
J. L. Sauter. When Fred Sauter died on Sept. 21, 1918, it was decided to 
close out the business. A sale of the stock of goods was carried on for 
several weeks until the remaining stock and good will of the concern was 
disposed of to the Bassett-Gregory Company on March 21, 1919. The 
Sauter Mercantile Company occupied a large building of three floors 
140x180 feet in extent and the stock of goods usually carried for sale 
would exceed $40,000 in value. The volume of business transacted in the 
Sauter store annually exceeded $100,000. This immense trade was car- 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 407 

ried on each year and the patrons of the establishment were the sub- 
stantial people of Cooper and Howard Counties who had the utmost con- 
fidence in the integrity and honesty of the management and regularly 
made their purchases at this store. 

Augustus H. Sauter, former secretary and treasurer of the Sauter 
Mercantile Company and now engaged in conducting a music store in 
Boonville was born in South Germany, Nov. 17. 1847. He is a son of 
Matthew and Rosa (Knapp) Sauter. Matthew Sauter was horn in 1811 
an 1 died in 1896. With his family he immigi-ated to America in L859 
and ! in Boonville. Oct. 5 of that year. Mr. Sauter was a skilled 

cabinet maker in his native land but when he came to Missouri he i 
ir. farming. He located on a farm 22 miles south of Boonville in Moniteau 
County. Later he came to a farm one and a half miles south of Boonville. 
where he resided until 1882. He then, even in his old age. went to South 
Dakota, homesteaded another farm in that new country and died there 
in 1896. He remained hale and hearty to the end of his days. His wife, 
Rosa (Knapp) Sauter, was born in 1819 and died in 1884. The children 
born to Matthew and Rosa Sauter are as follows : Mrs. John Weber, living 
in South Dakota; Mrs. Fannie Memmel, Fayette, Mo.; Mrs. Bertha Dief- 
endorf, Sioux Falls, S. D. ; Frank S. Sauter, vice-president of the Boonville 
National Bank; J. L. Sauter, with the Boonville Mercantile Company, 
Boonville, and A. H. Sauter of this review. 

A. H. Sauter was 13 years of age when he accompanied his parents 
to Boonville. He had received a good public school training in his native 
land and this was supplemented by further training in Boonville. From 
childhood, Mr. Sauter has had the remarkable gift of the bom musician. 
Hi .; first work in Boonville was as a teacher of music, a profession which 
he followed for 25 years. Professor Sauter taught both piano and organ 
to many Cooper County people when devoting his time and talents to his 
favorite profession. During all the time in which he has been engaged 
in the mercantile business he has carried pianos and organs as a side 
line. Since retiring from the mercantile business Professor Sauter has 
returned to his first love and is following his personal inclinations. He 
has opened a piano and music store vhere his time is mainly spent and 
his natural ability as a musician has full sway. 

Ho embarked in the mercantile business in 1870 and has achieved 
a reputation as a good business man as well as musician, a rare combina- 
tion. He was formerly connected with the Farmers Bank and the Citi- 
zens Trust Company of Boonville and took part in the erection of the 



408 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

old Trust Company building at the corner of Main and Court streets. He 
was the main promoter in the organization of the Citizens Trust Company 
which purchased the Bankers Bank, and both were subsequently merged 
with the Boonville National Bank, the largest and strongest bank in 
Missouri in cities of 5,000 to 10,000. In a single day Mr. Sauter suc- 
ceeded in securing subscriptions to the stock of the Citizens Trust Com- 
pany to the extent of $100,000. 

Mr. Sauter was married in 1914 to Miss Mary Wenig of Boonville. 
He is a Republican. While not a member of any religious denomination 
Mr. Sauter has been and is a liberal supporter of all churches. He is a 
member of the Knights of Pythias. No group of men stand higher in 
the esteem of the people than the sons of Matthew Sauter, and Augustus 
H. Sauter is one of the best liked and substantial citizens of Boonville 
and Cooper County. 

Henry Carl Friedrich. — The life story of Henry Carl Friedrich, of 
the Billingsville neighborhood, Palestine township, is a record of indus- 
try, energy, good business management, and of an interest taken in good 
works beyond that of the ordinary citizen. Since the purchase of his 
first modest farm of 121 acres in Aug., 1909, Mr. Friedrich has been pros- 
perous and enterprising. His present home place of 214.70 acres is a 
fine farm, good land, which raises good crops each year. This farm, which 
is fairly well improved, was purchased by Mr. Friedrich in 1909 at a cost 
of $74 an acre, or a total cost of $16,000. Mr. Friedrich has done con- 
siderable improving of the property since he purchased it. He has built 
over seven miles of woven wire fencing. He handles pure bred Hereford 
cattle and Duroc Jersey hogs. 

Henry Carl Friedrich was born in Germany, Feb. 11, 1866. He is a 
son of Herman and Martha Elizabeth (Sunshine) Friedrich. His father 
was a public school teacher in Hesse-Cassel, and died in 1868, leaving 
seven children: Mary died in Germany; William came to America, set- 
tled in Cooper County, Mo., and died here in 1897 ; August died in the land 
of his birth ; Ferdinand lives in Pennsylvania ; Charles lives on a farm 
eight miles east of Boonville; Henry Carl, subject of this review; Adam 
resides on a farm south of Bunceton, Mo. The mother of these children 
was born May 3, 1835, and is living at the home of Mr. Friedrich. 

Henry Carl Friedrich received a good education in his native land, 
which he left in 1885, accompanied by his mother and his brother, Adam 
Friedrich. When he arrived in Cooper County, he was possessed of $200 
in cash. He first worked out by the month until he became familiar with 







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HENRY ('. FRIEDRICH AND FAMILY 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 409 

conditions and then began renting land. He has made a success of his 
vocation as an intelligent tiller of the soil. His first farm was bought on 
time payments and the first crop season, that of the famous dry year of 
1901, was a period of discouragement to him. However, everybody suf- 
fered the same hardships and like his neighbors, he managed to pull 
through and has had enough good crops in past years to enable him to 
trade his first homestead for his present place. This trade placed him 
$8000 in debt, but this is all paid and the Friedrich farm is clear of all 
indebtedness. 

Jan. 7, 1892, Henry Carl Friedrich and Miss Lena Grauer were mar- 
ried. Mrs. Lena Friedrich was born March 5, 1872, near Boonville, Mo., 
and is a daughter of Jacob and Catherine Grauer, natives of Germany 
dncl Texas, respectively, the latter of whom died in 1881. 

The children born to Henry Carl and Lena Friedrich are: Ferdi- 
nand, Edward Carl, Arthur Henry, Oscar Harmon, Henry Rudolph, 
Adolph Eugene, Adolph Elmer. Ferdinand William Friedrich was born 
Nov. 19, 1892. He is a farmer and owns 85 acres of land. He married 
Lydia Delius. Edward Carl Friedrich was born Jan. 23, 1895, is a farmer 
and land owner. He was called to the colors to serve in the National 
Army July 26, 1918. He was in training at Camp Funston, received his 
honorable discharge in Jan., 1919, and returned to his home Jan. 14, 1919. 
Arthur Henry Friedrich was born Feb. 7, 1897, and is a land owner and 
farmer. Oscar Herman Friedrich was born Jan. 30, 1899. Henry Ru- 
dolph Friedrich was born Nov. 3, 1902. Adolph Eugene Friedrich was 
born March 27, 1908. Adolph Elmer Friedrich was born July 8, 1916. 

Mr. Friedrich is a republican. For a number of years he has been a 
member of the local school board and is serving as president of the board. 
For the past 13 years he has been trustee of the Billingsville Evangelical 
Church. He is active in educational work, is a teacher of the Bible Class 
in the Sunday School and has been superintendent of the Sunday school 
for a number of years. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of 
America and is active in lodge circles. He holds membership in the Wood- 
men of the World and he and his brother Charles inaugurated and were 
the principal organizers of the Speed Camp of Woodmen in 1900. He 
is a member of the Ladies' Circle and Auxiliary of the Woodmen. 

Charles Durr, presiding judge of the County Court of Cooper County, 
and senior member of the Durr-Warnhoff Hardware Company and junior 
member of the Durr Brothers Saddlery Company, is a member of one of 
the oldest business families in Boonville. The Durr saddlery concern 



410 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

was established in 1859 and the hardware business was inaugurated in 
1915. It is one of the best equipped hardware stores in central Missouri 
and a complete and modern stock of hardware, stoves, etc., is carried for 
discerning buyers. The harness manufactory is a fioui'ishing concern 
maintained to supply local trade. Judge Charles Durr was born in Boon- 
ville, Aug. 16, 1872, and is a son of the late John Durr. 

John Durr was born in Germany, Nov. 4, 1837 and died March 4, 
1918. He came to America in 1851 and first located in New Jersey. He 
eventually made his way to Louisville, Ky., where he learned the trad* 
of saddler and harness maker. He was next employed by the J. P. 
Sickles & Company harness and saddle manufacturers in St. Louis until 
1859, when he located in Boonville, where he established the business 
which he carried on successfully until his death. During the Civil War 
he was enrolled as a member of the Missouri State Guards, serving in a 
defensive capacity. He served for a few years as city treasurer of Boon- 
ville and was active in civic affairs during his lifetime. The wife of 
John Dun- was Mary Augusta Sombart, born 1839, died March 7, 1900. 
Mrs. Mary Augusta (Sombart) Durr was a sister of Judge C. W. Som- 
bart. John and Mary Augusta Durr were parents of the following chil- 
dren: John W., of the Durr Brothers Harness and Saddlery Company, 
Boonville; Mary, died at the age of nine years; Charles Frederick, of 
this review. 

Charles Frederick Durr attended the public schools of his native city 
and at an early age he entered his father's shop, where he learned the 
trade of saddler and harness maker. He followed his trade until he en- 
gaged in the hardware business in 1915. Judge Durr was married on 
Nov. 26, 1896. to Julia M. Stammerjohn, a native of Cooper County, and 
a daughter of Claus Stammerjohn. To this union have been born two 
children: Mary, aged 21 years, bookkeeper for the firm; Mildred, aged 
seven years. 

Judge Durr is a Republican and is one of the leaders of his party in 
Cooper County. He was elected to the office of county treasurer in 1906 
and served two terms in this office. In November, 1918, he was elected 
presiding judge of the County Court. Judge Durr is affiliated with the 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Fraternal Order of Eagles and 
the Knights of Pythias. He is popular, genial, well informed, a splen- 
did county official as well as successful business man. 

William E. Crutchfield, manager of the Harris Lumber Company, 
Boonville, Mo., has been a resident of this city in charge of the Boonville 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 411 

yards of the Harris Lumber Company for the past 10 years. He was 
bom in Randolph County, Mo., Feb. 22, 1878. 

L. A. Crutchfield. his father, was also bom in Randolph County and 
is a ^on of William Crutchfield, of Virginia, who was a pioneer settler 
in Missouri. The Crutchfields are originally from Virginia and the Caro- 
linas and are an old American family. L. A. Crutchfield was born in 
.:), followed farming until late years and is now living in Huntsville, 
Mo. His wife, who was Margaret Richardson, was horn May 1, 1856. 
Eleven children were born to L. A. Crutchfield and wife, as follows: Two 
died in infancy; Annie, died at the age of five years; .Mrs. Josephine 
Graves, lives in Randolph County. Mo.: William E., of this review; Leon- 
ard, lives in Randolph County, Mo.; Mrs. Fannie Robinson, lives at Ya1 
Mo.; Mrs. Edith Owens, and Mrs. Ella Stark live in Randolph county: 
Mrs. Zouri Burton, lives on a farm near Armstrong, Mo.; Margaret, lives 
in California. 

W. E. Crutchfield attended the Huntsville Public Schools and the 
Salisbury Academy. When 19 years old he went to California and lived 
with his aunt, who was conducting a hotel. He remained in California 
for three years and in 1900 he came back to Missouri. In 1901 he be- 
came connected with the Jumber business at Huntsville, Mo., in the em- 
ploy of his uncle. After the purchase of his uncle's yard by the Harris 
Lumber Company, he entered their employ and was stationed at Louisi- 
ana, Mo., and Vandalia, 111., for a year. For the past 13 years he has been 
connected with the Harris Lumber Company, has a financial interest in 
the company and is treasurer of the concern. Mr. Crutchfield located in 
Boonville in 1908. 

He was married Feb. 17, 1904, to Miss Mattie Lee Wallace of Ran- 
dolph County, Mo.; who has borne him two children: Gladys Elzarine, 
born Oct. 4, 1908; and William Elzie, Jr., bom Feb. 17, 1915. The mother 
of these children is a daughter of William Harry and Leora E. (Matlock) 
Wallace, the former of whom was a native of Indiana and the latter of 
Randolph County, Mo. 

W. H. Wallace was born April 16, 1850, in Gibson County. Ind.. and 
died June 21, 1902. He was a son of Robert Wallace, of Scotch-Irish 
descent. He came to Missouri in 1871 and first settled at Moberly. Tie 
was married at Huntsville, Nov. 22, 1877, to Leora E. Matlock, bom Feb. 
8, 1856, a daughter of James A (bom May 4, 1824, died Oct. 30. 1895) ; 
Susan (Gunn) Matlock (born Oct. 19, 1828, died July 3. 1912). Mrs. 
Wallace's parents were natives of North Carolina and accompanied their 



412 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

respective parents to Missouri in childhood, the trip being made overland 
in wagons, the Gunns making the long trip by wagon in 1829. Michael 
Gunn, a brother of Susan (Gunn) Matlock, made three trips back and 
forth between North Carolina and Missouri and bought a great deal of 
land. Susan (Gunn) Matlock was a daughter of Thomas Gunn, who was 
a son of Thomas Gunn, who married Martha Hooper, and was a native 
of Ireland and founder of the Gunn family in this country. Thomas 
Gunn (II) married Anna Montgomery, a daughter of Michael and Jeanette 
Montgomery, both of whom were natives of Ireland. 

James E. Matlock was a son of James Matlock, who was a son of 
Nicholas Matlock. Mrs. Leora E. (Matlock) Wallace now makes her home 
in Boonville with her daughter, Mrs. Crutchfield. She has one other 
child, Mrs. Lessie Ball, of Macon, Mo. 

Mr. Crutchfield is a Democrat. He is affiliated with the Ancient Free 
and Accepted Masons, the Knights of Pythias and the Travelers' Protec- 
tive Association. He and his family worship at the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. 

Ernest Louis Moehle. — The Moehle family have been resident in 
Cooper County since 1867, when Louis Moehle, father of E. L. Moehle, 
of Boonville, township, came to this county from Prairie City, Iowa, and 
purchased the William Howard farm of 185 acres on the Lamine River 
and also operated a saw mill. 

Louis Moehle, the elder, was born in Germany, married Elizabeth 
Brunscheid, and after coming to this country, settled in Iowa, where he 
built a mill, which he operated until his removal to Cooper County in 
1867. He built a saw mill on the Lamine River and he and his son Gustav 
engaged in the building of steamboats. Some of the boats which the 
Moehles built are still running on the Missouri River. Capt. "Nick" 
Smith bought an interest in the first boat which they built. Gustav 
Moehle later built gasoline boats at Arrow Rock. The father died in 
May, 1892. Mrs. Moehle died in 1891. They were parents of the follow- 
ing children: Mrs. Emma Deit Maring, Covington, Ky. ; Gustav, engi- 
neer on the Boonville Ferry Boat; Mrs. Bertha Hines, Carrollton, Mo.; 
Mrs. Dena Friess, Boonville; Ernest Louis, of this review; Hugo, died in 
Los Angeles, Calif. 

Ernest Louis Moehle was reared in Cooper County and worked in his 
father's saw mill and assisted in the boat building when a boy. In 1885 
he traded for the Friess mill property and operated it as a flour and saw 
mill until 1899. Returning to the family homestead, he rented the tract 




THE MOEHLE RISTKRS 





B. I.. MOEHLE 



MRS. i: I. MOEHLE 




Till; MOEHLE BROTHERS 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 413 

until 1900. He then bought his present homestead of 129 acres in Boon- 
ville township, west of the city, and moved to the place March 4, 1901. 
Mr. Moehle has rebuilt the residence, built barns, and all fences, and has 
a concrete cellar in rear of the house. The Moehle place is one of the 
most attractive along the highway. 

Ernest Louis Moehle was born in Perry County, Ind. His father, 
Louis Moehle, was concerned in the uprising of the German people against 
the Kaiser in the '40s, met with defeat with his fellow patriots in 1848 
and fled to America to escape the vengeance of the military masters in 
1849. He first located in Indiana and thence to Iowa, thence to Missouri. 

E. L. Moehle was married on Njov. 4, 1879, to Miss Amelia Neff, who 
has borne him the following children: Arthur, Paul, Nora, Harry, 
George, Matilda, Bertha, Ernest L., Martha. Arthur is owner of 145 
acres in Boonville township, purchased for him by his father, married 
Elizabeth Frederick, and has three children: Herbert, Pauline and Irene. 
Paul is in the employ of an oil company in Oklahoma, and has a home 
near Boonville. He married Elgie Lahman, and has three children: Ed- 
win, Melvin, and Vivian. Nora is the wife of Ernest Jaeger, of Boonville 
township, mother of two children: Clara and Martha. Harry is em- 
ployed in the Boonville postoffice, married Mena Bamman, and has two 
children, Martha Jane and Marie. George Ernest, the soldier of the fam- 
ily, was inducted into the National Army, July 26, 1918, spent six months 
in training as a private in the first class, Battery A, 29th Field Artillery, 
at Camp Funston, and was honorably discharged from the service, Jan. 
29, 1919. Matilda is at home with her parents. Bertha is the wife of 
Charles Jaeger, Boonville township, and is mother of a son, Charles. 
Ernest Louis, Jr., and Martha are at home. The mother of these chil- 
dren was born April 24, 1855, a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Neff, 
natives of Germany, who immigrated to America in June, 1848, arriving 
here June 15. They left Germany in March, 1848. 

Mr. Moehle is a republican and is a member of the Evangelical 
Church. 

Frank George. — The George and Goodman furniture and undertak- 
ing establishment on south Main street, Boonville, Mo., is the largest and 
finest concern of its kind in Central Missouri. Mr. George, the senior 
member of the firm, has been engaged in business since 1899, but the 
present firm of George and Goodman was organized in 1911. In 1915 
the stock and fixtures were moved to the present location. A large build- 
ing, 50x120 feet, is occupied by the two floors filled with the immense stock 



414 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

of furniture of the latest and best makes. The undertaking department 
is in charge of Mr. Goodman, the junior member of this enterprising and 
successful business house. 

Frank George is a member of one of the oldest and best known of the 
Missouri pioneer families. He was born in Cooper county, on a farm 
twelve miles south of Boonville, Jan. 27, 1857. 

Thomas L. George, his father, was born in 1824 and died in 1898. 
His mother, Lucy (McCullough) George, was born in 1826 and died in 
1893. She was a sister of Col. Robert McCullough, of Confederate army 
and Civil War fame. Thomas L. George was a native of Cooper County 
and was a son of Reuben George, bom in Tennessee, reared there, and 
rode to Cooper County on horseback from his Tennessee home, made a 
location on the Petit Saline creek and married Sallie McFarland. daugh- 
ter of another pioneer family. Lucy (McCullough) George was a daugh- 
ter of Robert McCullough, of Virginia, who settled in Cooper County in 
1835. During the Civil War, Thomas L. George commanded a company 
of Home Guards and bore the title of captain. He developed a splendid 
farm south of Boonville and reared a family of six children: Charles L. 
George, Boonville; Mrs. Ada Rudolph, deceased; Frank George, of this 
review; Elmer George, judge of the County Court, resides on a farm 
near Bunceton ; Albert, living at Rock Island, Texas ; Margaret, a teacher 
in the public schools of Cooper County. 

Robert McCulloch, grandfather of this subject, was born in Albemarle 
County, Va., Dec. 2, 1781, and died in Cooper County, Mo., June 12, 1853. 
He served his country as captain in the War of 1812, and moved to this 
county in the year of 1835 and settled in Clarks Fork township on the 
Lone Elm prairie and built the first house erected on praiiie land in the 
county. 

Robert McCoIloch, great grandfather of subject, was born in Antrim, 
Ireland, Sept. 4, 1743 ; died in Albemarle County, Va., March 20, 1820. He 
emigrated to America; he first went to Pennsylvania and afterwards to 
Virginia. He had a brother killed in battle at Kings Mountain. He was 
married in Ireland to Miss Sarah Wherry, who died in Albemarle County, 
Va., Jan. 27, 1826, aged 80 years, six months and IS days. 

John McCulloch, great great grandfather of our subject, lived and 
died in Ireland. 

Patsy Mills McCulloch, grandmother of subject on the maternal side, 
was married to Robert McCulloch, subject's grandfather, in Albemarle 
County, Va., Sept. 18, 1806, and died in Cooper County, Mo.. May 25, 1878. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 415 

Joseph Mills, the maternal great grandfather of our subject, was a 
native of England and emigrated to America. He married Miss Mary 
Blaekwell, of Virginia. Joseph Mills died in Aug., 1843, at an advanced 
age. His wife died aged 81 years, three months and 28 days. 

Reuben George, father of T. L. George, born Feb. 23, 1792, came to 
the state from Tennessee in the year 1816 and settled on a farm 4 miles 
south of Boonville, on the Petit Saline creek. He married Sarah McFar- 
land, April 1, 1821. Thomas L. George was born on the said farm, Janu- 
ary 5, 1824, had two sisters and one brother, viz: Mrs. Nancy (George) 
Aseltyne, Ellen George and Jacob L. George, all now dead. 

Thomas L. George was married to Lucy McCulloch, June 11, 1850. 
Of this union the following children were born: C. L. George, residing in 
Boonville, Mo.; Ada (George) Rudolph, wife of Judge Adam Rudolph, now 
deceased ; Albert, now residing in Rock Island, Texas ; Elmer, present 
judge of the County Court from the eastern district of this county, and 
Maggie, teaching in the rural schools of the county. 

Jacob McFarland, great grandfather, was born Feb. 21, 1772. Nancy 
(Cathy) McFarland, his wife, was born Jan. 18, 1780, and came to this 
state from North Carolina in the year 1816, and settled on a farm four 
miles south of Boonville, Mo., near the Petit Saline creek. They were 
the parents of Sallie George, wife of Reuben George; Sarah (McFarland) 
George was born in the state of North Carolina in 1802, Jan. 13th. 

Reuben George died in this county, Jan. 13, 1862, and Sarah, his wife, 
Nov. 6, 1873. 

Thomas L. George died in this county, Oct., 1898. Lucy McCulloch 
George, his wife, died May 27, 1893, and was buried in the McCulloch 
cemetery in this county. 

Frank George was reared on his father's farm and engaged in farm- 
ing for himself when he attained maturity. He developed a fine farm 
near Clarks Fork, Mo., and in 1899 moved to Boonville, where he has been 
successfully engaged in business for the past 20 years. He first ventured 
into the implement and grocery business but sold out and has ever since 
been engaged in the furniture business. 

Mr. George was married in 1883 to Virginia, the daughter of George 
and Cornelia (Bear) Shirley, early settlers in Cooper County. Mr. and 
.Mrs. George have three children: Edna George, a teacher in the public 
schools at Durant, Okla.; Ila, wife of George R. Johnson, Webster Groves, 
Mo.; Mrs. Alma Drury, living at home with her parents. 

A few words regarding the McCulIough family would be timely here. 



416 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Robert McCullough was born Dec. 2, 1781, in Albemarle County, Va., and 
died in Cooper County, Mo., June 12, 1853. He served as captain of a 
company of volunteers during the War of 1812. In 1835 he came to 
Cooper County and settled in Clarks Fork township. He erected the first 
house built upon the Upland prairie in Cooper County. He was a son of 
Robert McCullough, a native of County Antrim, Ireland, born Sept. 4, 
1743, and died in Albemarle County, Va., March 30, 1820. He became 
very wealthy. A brother of Robert McCullough was killed at the battle 
of King's Mountain during the Revolutionary War. Robert McCullough 
was a son of John McCullough. The wife of Robert McCullough (I) was 
Sarah Wherry, who died Jan. 27, 1826, at the age of 80 years. Patsey 
(Mills) McCullough, wife of Capt. Robert McCullough (II) died May 25, 
1878. She was a daughter of Joseph Mills, a native of England, who was 
a famous Greek and Latin scholar. Joseph Mills died in August, 1843. 
He had married Mary Blackwell. 

Frank George has been a life long republican. He has served two 
terms as sheriff of Cooper County, being first elected in 1902 and was 
re-elected in 1904. Mr. George was elected mayor of Boonville in 1914 
and held the office for one term. He is a member of the Baptist church 
and is an excellent citizen as well as successful business man. 

Joseph Lieber, farmer and Union veteran, owner of a fine tract of 
land in Boonville township, embracing 177 acres, was born in Switzerland, 
July 31, 1843. His parents, Peter and Mary Anna (Fuerer) Lieber, left 
their country in Dec, 1850, and came to America, landing from a sailing 
vessel at New Orleans, La., after a voyage of 33 days. Six days more 
were consumed in making the river trip by boat from New Orleans to 
Jefferson City, arriving there in Feb., 1851. In 1854 the family came to 
Boonville. Peter Lieber had been a charcoal burner in his native country, 
but his skill in this respect not being in demand in Boonville, he worked 
as a laborer. 

The Civil War having broken out, Joseph Lieber, May 10, 1861, ac- 
companied by John Hirth and another young man, named Diringer, 
boai'ded a row boat and made their way to St. Louis, down the Missouri 
River, a distance of 220 miles. He there joined the First Missouri 
Light Artillery, Union Army, went to Rolla with his company and thence 
to Springfield, soon afterward taking part in the battle of Wilson's Creek. 
He was there taken prisoner and held for five days, released on parole, 
promised not to again take up arms against the Confederacy and then 
settled down in St. Louis, where he worked at his trade of tinner. He 




JOSEPH LIEBER 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 417 

returned to Boonville in 1866 and in 1867 he established a tin shop in the 
city, which he operated until 1883. He then went to Franklin county, 
Ark., and farmed in that county until 1893. Returning to Boonville, he 
again engaged in business, working at his trade until 1916, when he re- 
moved to his farm just south of Boonville. In 1905, Mr. Lieber had pur- 
chased the old Greenlease place of 53.5 acres and has added to this tract 
until he owns 177 acres. 

Mr. Lieber was married in Jan., 1868, to Margaret Fessler, who was 
born in Baden, Germany, in 1843, and came to America, with her parents 
in 1855. Her parents were Franz and Geneva Fessler, who settled in 
Boonville. Mrs. Lieber died in Oct., 1890. She was mother of nine chil- 
dren: Frank, Joseph, John, James, William, Cecilia, George, Roman, and 
Charles. Frank Lieber lives in Dallas, Texas. Joseph Lieber is buried at 
Fort Smith, Ark, his death occurring in 1895. John Lieber lives at Mus- 
cogee, Okla. James Lieber resides in Tennessee. William Lieber lives 
in Boonville. Cecelia Lieber is deceased. George Lieber lives at Parsons, 
Kan. Roman Lieber lives at Muscogee, Okla. Lieut. Charles Lieber, of 
the National Army, A. E. F., in France, was born in 1889. He is one of the 
brightest and most ambitious of Cooper County's young men. While a 
student at Washington University, St. Louis, Mo., he enlisted in the Na- 
tional Army, with the 12th Engineers Battalion, Company C, in May, 
1917. He first went to England with his command in June, 1917, thence 
to France, where he participated in the memorable campaigns with the 
A. E. F. He was connected with the motor department of the American 
Army in France. He was honorably discharged from the army June 1, 
1919, and is now at home. 

The father of Joseph Lieber was well to do in Baden, Germany, and 
came of a family of charcoal burners, whose business it was to supply the 
big iron works near the Black Forest. Wishing to be free and indepen- 
dent and settle in a country where his children would have fuller and 
better opportunities to make careers of their own, he came to America. 
His children received every advantage that he could give them in the way 
of training and education, Joseph Lieber, of this review, having been edu- 
cated in Prof. Alkison's private school in Boonville. 

Although nominally republican, Joseph Lieber is an independent 
voter who does his own thinking along political lines. He is a member of 
the Grand Army of the Republic, John A. Hayne Post, No. 240, and has 
been the Colonel Commanding this Post for the past eight years. 
(27) 



418 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Maximilian E. Schmidt.— The jewelry establishment of Gmelich & 
Schmidt, owned and operated by M. E. Schmidt, of this review, is the 
oldest and best known jewelry store of central Missouri. It is one of 
the most complete and best stocked and compares most favorably and 
equals in its appointments and arrangements any concern of the same 
character in the larger cities of Missouri. For nearly 60 years this store 
has been conducted in Boonville and was founded in 1860 by the late Hon. 
Jacob F. Gmelich, who was joined by Maximilian E. Schmidt, his son-in- 
law, in 1893. For some years it was known as the Gmelich and Huber 
Jewelry Company until Mr. E. G. Huber retired from the business in 
1905. The firm then became Gmelich & Schmidt and is at present oper- 
ated under that name with Mr. Schmidt as manager. Since Mr. Gmelich's 
death in February, 1914, Mr. Schmidt has been sole proprietor. 

M. E. Schmidt was born in Peru, 111., April 19, 1865. He is a son of 
Albin and Caroline (Conrad) Schmidt, both natives of Germany. Albin 
Schmidt was a revolutionist in his native land and in 1848 took part in 
the ill fated revolt against the grandfather of the present deposed Kaiser 
of Germany. He was placed under arrest and, eventually exiled from 
his native country. He fled to America with hundreds and thousands of 
his compatriots who sought free homes in this country. He first located 
at Louisville, Ky., where he followed his trade of baker. In 1850 he 
removed to Peru, 111., there spending the remainder of his days, dying in 
1895 at the age of 74 years. His wife, Caroline, was born in 1825 and 
died in 1885. There were six children born to Albin and Caroline Schmidt, 
as follow: Mrs. Josephine Gmelich, widow of Gottlab Gmelich, Peru, 111., 
who was a brother of the late J. F. Gmelich ; Fredrick Schmidt, died in 
Detroit, Mich.; Mrs. Bertha Weberling, lives at Peru, 111.; Mrs. Eliza- 
beth Wagenknecht, Peru, 111. ; Hermine, lives at Peru, 111. ; and Maxi- 
milian E. Schmidt, of this review. 

M. E. Schmidt was reared and educated in Peru, 111. At the age of 
14 years, he went to La Salle, 111., and there learned the trade of jeweler 
and watchmaker. After a two years' apprenticeship in La Salle, he went 
to St. Paul, Minn., and thence to Stillwater, where he completed his 
studentship and began working at the trade of watchmaker. He spent 
one year at Fond du Lac, Wis., after which he followed his trade for 
three years at Chillicothe, Mo. In 1893 he came to Boonville and asso- 
ciated himself with Mr. J. F. Gmelich. 

Mr. Schmidt was married in 1889 to Miss Louise Gmelich, a daughter 
of Jacob F. Gmelich. Three children have blessed this marriage: Albin 
Jacob, Doris Eugenie and Maximilian. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 419 

Albin Jacob Schmidt is his father's assistant in the tidiness, mar- 
ried Beulah Randolph, and has one child, Randolph Schmidt, born Feb. 
27, 1918. 

Doris Eugenie is the wife of Alexander H. Stephens, Jr., a grandson 
of Col. Joseph L. Stephens, and resides in Boonville. 

Maximilian Gmelich Schmidt was born March 20, 1909, and is at- 
tending school. 

Mr. Schmidt is a Reupblican and has long been prominent in the 
affairs of his party. He has been a member of the Boonville School Board 
for the past six years and he has served four years as treasurer of the 
Missouri Training School. He is a member of the Episcopalian Church 
and is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. Mr. Schmidt 
is a Knights Templar, and is a member of Ararat Temple of Mystic 
Shriners of Kansas City. He is a member of the Woodmen of the World 
and is one of the leading, progressive and influential citizens of Boonville. 

Harry T. Manion. — The clothing and mens' furnishing store owned 
and operated by Manion and Muntzel is a gem of its kind and is one of 
the most attractive and handsomest stores in Central Missouri. Equipped 
and furnished with up-to-the-minute fixtures of the latest design it pre- 
sents an attractive appearance both from the front and the interior. This 
store was established in Sept. 21, 1918, and has enjoyed an ever increas- 
ing patronage from the more discerning and particular class of purchas- 
ers since its inception. The arrangements of the store are the result of 
planning and study on the part of Mr. Manion who spent several weeks 
in traveling and making a thorough study of the methods followed by 
stores in other modern cities in the country before opening his own con- 
cern. The Manion and Muntzel store carries a stock valued at $60,000 
and a room 80x25 feet is filled with the Hirsch-Wickwire goods and lines 
of the very best men's furnishing goods. 

Harry T. Manion was born April 4, 1889, across the Missouri River 
in Howard County. He is a son of John W. Manion, a native of Howard 
County, whose father was Amos Manion, one of the early pioneers of 
this section of Missouri. John W. Manion was bora in 1855 and died in 
1893. His wife was Mattie Fielding and she was a daughter of J. W. 
Fielding of Howard County. Mrs. Manion was born in 1867 and now 
resides in Boonville. John W. and Mattie Manion were parents of three 
children: Walter Manion, a merchant of Sedalia, Mo.; Mrs. Lorena 
Capito. living in Howard Countv; Harry Manion, of this review. 

Harry T. Manion resided on the home farm until 1900. He was edu- 
cated in the Sedalia public schools of Sedalia and Central Business Col- 



420 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

lege of that city. He then returned to the home farm in Howard County 
and remained there operating the farm until 1906. He was then employed 
in Victor's store in Boonville until June, 1918. Until the opening of the 
Manion and Muntzel store he spent several months in visiting eastern 
cities, laying in his stock of goods and getting ideas for the store altera- 
tions and furnishing — a study which has resulted in the creation of the 
handsomest store in central Missouri. 

Mr. Manion was married in 1911 to Miss Elsa Schnack, a daughter of 
Heimnn and Minnie Schnack of this city. Mr. and Mrs. Manion have 
one child, a daughter, Wilhelmina Marie, aged six years. 

Mr. Manion is a republican. He is a member of the Evangelical 
Lutheran church and is a fine type of young, successful merchant who 
has taken his place among the nustling business men of Boonville. 

John W. Rudolph, pioneer farmer and Union veteran, has one of the 
finest prairie farms, consisting of 170 acres, in Cooper County. The 
Rudolph acreage is located in Palestine township and is well improved. 
Mr. Rudolph was born in Hampshire County, Va., Jan. 19, 1844, and is a 
son of Jacob and Rachel (Cooper) Rudolph, who made the trip by steam- 
boat from Virginia to Boonville in 1854. They arrived at Boonville in 
the fall of 1854 and in the spring of 1855 the family located on the Squire 
Bear farm. Jacob Rudolph died the next year, 1856, and the widow was 
left to rear her family of three children, as follows: Adam Rudolph is 
deceased; John W. Rudolph, subject of this review; and George Rudolph, 
living in Clarks Fork township. Mrs. Rachel Rudolph died in 1888, at the 
age of 86 years. 

In the spring of 1863, John W. Rudolph enlisted in Company I. Ninth 
Missouri Cavalry, and served under the Union flag in northern Missouri, 
and other parts of the Southwest, in fighting raiding bands of Confed- 
erates, bushwhackers and guerillas. He took part in the chase aftei 
General Price's army of invasion and assisted in driving the rebel army 
to Red River. Mr. Rudolph was a captain of artillery. His company 
fought a battle in Cooper County, near Boonville. He participated in the 
battle of Independence, Mo., and they had another engagement with Price 
at Pilot Knob. At the battle of the Blue, near Independence, the fighting 
was fierce during the day, but at five o'clock in the evening. Price started 
his memorable retreat with Gen. Joe Shelby guarding his rear. Mr. Ru- 
dolph also took part in the battle at Houstonia, Mo., and the battle of the 
Meries De Cygne, both of which actions took place during Price's retreat 
to the south. 




JOHN W. KI'lMH.I'H 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 421 

In 1875, Mr. Rudolph settled on his pretty country place in Palestine 
township and has lived there contentedly and prosperously for the past 
44 years. Of late years he is taking life easy, as befits a man of his age, 
and has turned over the cultivation of his land to younger and stronger 
arms. 

Mr. Rudolph was married in March, 1869, to Mary Susan Duncan, 
who was born in 1849, near Rocheport, Cooper County, Mo., a daughter 
of Granville Duncan. The children born to this marriage are: Mrs. Ida 
Wells, Fort Gibson, Okla. ; Patrick Henry Rudolph, an employe of the 
ico Railroad, Kansas City, Mo. ; Mrs. Jessie Hagelberger living on 
the home place. Mr. Rudolph has five grandchildren. Mrs. Ida Wells has 
one child, Rudolph Wells; Patrick Henry has one child, Lottie Rudolph. 
Mr. Rudolph has four great-grandchildren: Rudolph Wells married 
Sallie E. Effort, of Fort Gibson, Okla., and has four daughters, Mary 
Elizabeth, Doris, Pattie Nadine, and Ida Mary. 

The first vote cast by Mr. Rudolph was for Abraham Lincoln while 
on the march after General Price, and he has continued to vote the repub- 
lican ticket for the past 55 years. He is a member of Col. John A. Hayne 
Post, No. 244, Grand Army of the Republic, Boonville, Mo. 

William M. Johnson. — The greater number of the sturdy citizens 
who were pioneers in the business, industrial and professional life of 
Cooper County have passed away. They have gone to their eternal re- 
wards ; memory remains, and their children and descendants are keeping 
it green. One of the best known, successful and highly regarded merch- 
ants of the city was the late William M. Johnson of Boonville. His life 
was so lived that the story of his success will prove an insipration to the 
rising generation. 

William M. Johnson was born in Harrisonburg, Va., July 12. 1828. 
He departed this life in Boonville, Mo., June 29, 1918. His parents were 
Isaac and Mary Johnson. His father was a native of England, came to 
America when young and located in Richmond, Va. He there married 
Mary ('notes and was engaged, in connection with Jacob Cootes, in the 
manufacture of tobacco for a number of years. He later went to Harri- 
sonburg, where he taught school until his death in 18:>6. Jacob Cootes, 
grandfather of W. M. Johnson on the maternal side, was of Holland de- 
nt. After the death of his parents, W. M. Johnson was reared in the 
home of his uncle, Samuel Cootes, of "Oakland'" plantation, situated about 
14 miles from Harrisonburg. 

In 1855 he left Virginia and came to Missouri. St. Joseph, Mo., was 



422 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

his destination. When the steamboat on which he was traveling stopped 
at Boonville for a few hours, he made his way uptown. Not expecting 
to see anybody that he knew, he was very much surprised when an 
acquaintance, John Keiser, called out, "Hello, Billy Johnson, where are 
you. going? I'll get you a job." He at once changed his mind about 
going on to St. Joseph, got a job and remained in Boonville. Mr. John- 
son's first employment was with the firm of B. and W. W. Jones, whole- 
salers, with whom he remained for three years. He was a trusted em- 
ploye of this firm and was sent on collection trips throughout the south- 
west. On many occasions he would return with large amounts of money, 
as high as $10,000 in his saddle bags. He was afterward employed in 
the dry goods house of George T. Hardcastle until 1860, when he became 
a member of the firm of William H. Trigg Mercantile Company. He re- 
mained with this firm until 1886, when with his two sons he established 
the shoe business which was continued under the firm name of W. M. 
Johnson and Sons until 1907 when the business was closed out by the 
Johnsons and Mr. Johnson retiring from active business. Prior to en- 
gaging in the shoe business he was connected with the banking business 
established by William H. Trigg, who had the first bank in Boonville. 
For a number of years he was connected with the William H. Trigg Dry 
Goods Company, previous to embarking in the shoe business. 

Mr. Johnson was married in 1860 to Miss Juliet A. Trigg, who was 
born in Boonville, Aug. 5, 1838, and is a daughter of the late Dr. William 
H. Trigg, an extended review of whose life appears in this history. The 
children born to William M. and Juliet Johnson were as follows: Sallie, 
died in infancy; Mary L., William Morris, and Wilbur T. 

Mary L. is the wife of Lawson Price, an extensive farmer and land 
owner of Jefferson City, who is also engaged in the real estate and loan 
business. Mr. and Mrs. Price have one child, Juliet Price. 

W. Morris Johnson resides in Boonville and is traveling salesman for 
a wholesale shoe company of St. Louis. He married Miss Byrd Fiery of 
Martinsburg, W. Va. 

Wilbur T. Johnson and his brother, W. Morris Johnson, were en- 
gaged with their father in the shoe business in Boonville until the busi- 
ness was disposed of in 1907. For the past eight years, Wilbur T. John- 
son has been a traveling salesman for the Johannes Brothers Shoe Com- 
pany of St. Louis. On Oct. 26, 1892, he married Miss Rhoda E. Stephens, 
who was born and reared in Boonville, and is a daughter of the late Col. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 423 

Joseph L. Stephens, a member of the old Stephens family of Cooper 
County, and who was a widely known attorney. To Wilbur T. and Rhoda 
E. Johnson have been born the following children: Wilbur T.. Jr., and 
Martha S. Johnson. 

Wilbur T. Johnson, Jr., is aged 25 years. He is a lieutenant in the 
National Army, stationed at Camp Dix, N. J. Lieutenant Johnson en- 
listed in February, 1918, studied military science at the Officers' Train- 
ing School, and is now with the 13th Battalion, 153d Depot Brigade. 

Martha S. Johnson is a student in Lindenwood College, St. Charles, Mo. 

William M. Johnson was a lifelong Democrat, but never sought 
political preferment. He was devoted to his business, his family, his 
home city and his church. He was a stanch Presbyterian who took a 
great interest in religious matters and was a liberal supporter of the 
church. From 1862 until his death he was an elder of the Boonville 
Presbyterian Church. While of a retiring, modest nature he was pos- 
sessed of a lovable disposition which endeared him to a large circle of 
friends who still revere his memory as that of an upright, God-fearing 
gentleman who was ever ready and willing to extend a helping hand to 
the needy and deserving. 

William R. Miller, druggist and proprietor of the oldest drug store in 
Boonville, is one of the youngest of the successful business men of Boon- 
ville. The Roeschel Drug Store, which Mr. Miller owns and operates, was 
established by Dr. Ernest Roeschel in 1858 and was later conducted and 
owned by his son, the late William Roeschel. After Mr. Roeschel's re- 
tirement from business, the store was purchased by Mr. Miller on March 
1, 1915. 

Mr. Miller was born in Boonville, Sept. 11, 1887. His father, Joseph 
W. Miller, was also born in Boonville, April 23, 1853, and was a son of 
Joseph W. Miller, a native of Germany, who fled from his native land on 
account of being concerned in the revolution against the Kaiser in 1848 
and he located in Boonville. The grandfather was enrolled as a mem- 
ber of the Missouri State Guards during the Civil War and saw active 
service in Cooper County and vicinity. Joseph W. Miller, the father, fol- 
lowed the trade of wagon maker in Boonville until his retirement in 1915. 
He married Catherine Berster, who was born in 1862 and departed this 
life in 1900, leaving three sons and two daughters, as follows: Robert, 
in the employ of the Railway Express Company, St. Louis, Mo. ; William 
R., of this review ; Florence Miller, a public school teacher in Oklahoma ; 
Clarence, assisting his brother in the drug store, and Mary, bookkeeper 



424 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

in the Millei- Drug Store. Joseph W. Miller was again married to Eliza- 
beth Kline, who bore him one son: Joseph W. 

After receiving his schooling in the public, parochial and high schools 
of Boonville, William R. Miller studied for two years in the St. Louis 
College of Pharmacy and was graduated in 1910. He had pi-eviously been 
employed in the Roeschel Drug Store in 1904 and until taking up his 
college studies. In 1915 he purchased the business and is making a splen- 
did success of the business. Oct. 3, 1907, he was married to Miss Marie 
Oswald, a daughter of Frank Oswald, a well known farmer and stockman 
residing in Boonville. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have one child, Margaret Cath- 
erine, born Oct. 18, 1918. 

Mr. Miller is a member of St. Peter and Paul's Catholic church and is 
affiliated with the Knights of Columbus, holding the position of Chancellor 
of the local lodge. He is a fine type of business man, courteous, obliging 
and progressive. 

Richard Loftin Windsor, a prominent farmer and stockman of Clarks 
Fork township, has been identified with the development of Cooper County 
for over 50 years. He was born in this county at Boonville, Nov. 23, 
1848, and is a son of Loftin and Louisa (Smith) Windsor, both natives 
of Alexandria, Fairfax County, Va. The Windsor family came to Boon- 
ville in 1848, and for a number of years Loftin Windsor, the father of 
the subject of this sketch, conducted what was known as a "boat store", 
furnishing supplies to boats which were navigating on the river at that 
time. In 1850 Loftin Windsor made the trip across the plains and over 
the mountains to California. He took with him a drove of cows from 
Missouri to California, which he sold after reaching there, receiving from 
$80.00 to $100.00 per head. He had paid from $8.00 to $10.00 per head. 
After remaining in California about two years he returned to Cooper 
County, and located on the farm where the subject of this sketch now 
lives. Here he was engaged in farming and stock raising until the time 
of his death in 1889. His wife departed this life in 1855 and their re- 
mains are interred in Walnut Grove cemetery, Boonville, Mo. She was 
born in Alexandria, Va. To Loftin and Louisa Windsor were bom 
four sons and a daughter: Mrs. Cora Runkle, deceased; R. L. of this re- 
view; Walter, who died in Monterey County, Calif.; Lill, deceased in 1885; 
Eugene, died in infancy. 

Richard Loftin .Windsor was reared in Cooper County, and received 
his education in the public schools. He has made farming and stock rais- 
ing his life's occupation, and is the owner of one of the fine farms of 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 425 

this county. The place is well improved, with good farm buildings in- 
cluding an eight room residence which was built in 1885. An Old log 
cabin stands on the Windsor farm, which is suggestive of Macauley's epi- 
gram : "To make the past present ; to bring the present near". This old 
relic of bygone days was built in 1855. 

R. L. Windsor was united in marriage March 26, 1879, with Miss 
Cornelia Moore, a daughter of Charles and Martha Mooi-e, pioneer settlers 
of Cooper County, of English descent. They are both now deceased. 
.Mrs. Windsor is one of the following children born to her parents: G. 
Hutch, a farmer at Speed, Mo. ; R. L., Boonville, Mo. ; Gilliss, Kansas City, 
Mo. ; Cornelia ,the wife of R. L. Windsor the subject of this sketch ; Mrs. 
Florence Eller, Fayette, Mo., and Mrs. Gertrude Curtin, Porto, Okla. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Windsor have been born the following children: Martha, 
married William Vieth, Lone Elm, Mo. ; Charles, a railroad man, St. Louis, 
Mo.; Holman, died at the age of one year and 11 months; Gilliss, 
an electrician, Boonville ; Edward, now serving in United States army ; 
Henry resides on the home place ; Corinne, resides at home and Richard, 
who served as sergeant of Company B, 140th Infantry, 35th Division, 
United States army. He volunteered in March, 1917, and went to France 
with his command in May, 1918. He participated in the principal battles 
(iuring the closing months of the World War, and won to his everlasting 
credit a brilliant military record. 

R. L. Windsor has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows for 45 years. He is a Democrat, and has taken a keen interest 
in political affairs and at one time was a candidate for county judge. The 
Windsor family are members of the Baptist Church, and for many years 
have been prominent in Cooper County. 

Richard Norman Windsor, a veteran of the World War, and one of 
Cooper County's progressive young men, is a native son of this county. 
He was born May 19, 1898 and is a son of Richard Loftin Windsor, a 
sketch of whom appears in this volume. Richard Norman Windsor was 
reared on his father's farm in Clarks Fork township, and educated in the 
public schools of Cooper County. He graduated from the Boonville High 
School in the class of 1916. When the United States entered the World 
War he was in the employ of Brownfield & Hurt at Boonville. 

March 26, 1917, he enlisted in Company B, 3rd Missouri Infantry. 
His first service was guarding the railroad bridge at Boonville. Aug. 15, 
1917, he was transferred from Boonville to Kansas City, Mo., where he 
was on duty until Oct. 9, 1917. He was then sent to Ft. Sill, Okla., where 



426 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

he was trained for over-sea service. Here the 6th and 3rd Missouri 
Infantry were consolidated into the 140th Infantry, and Mr. Windsor 
became a member of that organization. In April, 1918, he was trans- 
ferred with his command to Camp Mill, Long Island, and from there em- 
barked for over-sea, April 25, 1918, landing at Liverpool, England, May 
7, 1918. Here he spent three weeks at a hospital, and on June 1, 1918, 
landed at Havre, France, where he joined his regiment in a three day 
hike near Moncho. From there he was sent with the 140th Infantry as a 
a member of the 3rd battallion to Alsace, and went into the trenches at 
Thann, after which his command rested for a few days at Saluxurex. 
Later, on July 15th, he was sent to the Balmain sector and was relieved 
from that sector Sept. 1, 1918. His command was then sent on to the 
St. Mihiel drive, and acted as reserve from Sept. 12th to Sept. 18th. They 
were sent on the Argonne Forest drive, and went over the top in this great 
battle on Sept. 26th and continued in action there until Oct. 2d. They 
then were sent back to Petit Maritz, about eight kilometers from Barleduc 
and shortly afterwards was returned to the line of action about three 
kilometers from the city of Verdun. Shortly after this Mr. Windsor was 
sent to the officers training school at LaValboreen, about 18 miles from 
Lyons, France. He remained there until Dec. 20th, when he was sent 
to LeMans, France, where he remained until Feb. 2, 1919, when he was 
sent to Brest. On Feb. 11, 1919, he left Brest for the United States, 
arriving at Newport News, Va.. Feb. 28th and on March 7th, left there 
for Camp Taylor near Louisville, Ky. Here he received his honorable 
discharge March 17, 1919 and returned to his home in Cooper County. 

Mr. Windsor served on four different battle fronts while in the 
service, and saw much severe fighting. His company entered the engage- 
ment at Argonne Forest with 194 men and came out of the battle six days 
later with only 17. 

Francis Marion Smith, clerk of the Circuit Court of Cooper County, 
is one of the most popular officials who ever held official position in Cooper 
County and is a very capable court officer. Mr. Smith was bom in Char- 
itan County, Mo., March 25, 1863. He is a son of Jacob and Barbara 
(Smith) Smith. 

Jacob Smith was born in Germany, June 10, 1818, and died on March 
30, 1901. When he was 21 years old he fled from his native land to escape 
military service in the Prussian army and came to America. He located 
in Glasgow, Mo., and followed his trade of miller for a few years. He 
then located in Chariton County, where he developed a fine farm and lived 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 427 

there for 55 years. During the Mexican War he enlisted and served in 
the famous regiment raised and commanded by Colonel Doniphan. Mr. 
Smith was married in Glasgow to Barbara Smith, who was born in 1832 
and died in 1908. She resided for 57 years upon the farm which she and 
her husband improved in Chariton County. Jacob and Barbara Smith were 
parents of eleven children: Mrs. Barbara Ann Kelly, Boonville, Mo.; 
Jacob Benjamin and John Otto, deceased; Peter Theodore, a real estate 
man at Burns, Wyo. ; Joseph Anthony, employed in the Commercial Bank 
of Boonville ; Francis M., of this review ; Catherine Rosella, deceased ; Marie 
Regina Dempsey, wife of a Kansas City attorney; Mrs. Otilla Ewald, 
Great Bend, Kan.; Mrs. Isabella Magdalena Grantges, Sumner, Mo.; Vic- 
tor W., a successful ranchman of Wyoming. 

After attending the district school in his home neighborhood in 
Charitan County, F. M. Smith attended the State Normal School at War- 
rensburg, Mo. While a student there he taught penmanship and in this 
manner assisted in -paying his expenses while pursuing his course. For 
a number of years he was a salseman and was also engaged in the mer- 
cantile business. He followed the real estate business at Des Moines, 
Iowa, and has always been a hustler. Mr. Smith located in Boonville for 
the first time in 1879 but since that time he spent some years away from 
Cooper County. His first official position was that of deputy county col- 
lector in 1885. His next position was that of deputy clerk of the Circuit 
Court and he was elected to this position in the fall of 1918. 

On November 21, 1906, Francis M. Smith and Miss Anna Jegglin 
were united in marriage. Mrs. Anna Smith was born and reared in Boon- 
ville and is a daughter of John M. Jegglin of this city. 

The republican party has always had the allegiance of Mr. Smith and 
he stands high in its councils. He is a member of Sts. Peter and Paul's 
Catholic church and is a painstaking, conscientious public official to whom 
the art of making and retaining friends is second nature. He has a wide 
and favorable acquaintance throughout Cooper County and Central Mis- 
souri and is a genial, whole souled gentleman. 

Jacob Deck. — The meat market conducted by Jacob Deck is one of 
the best established and well conducted business concerns of Boonville 
and has been in continuous operation by its proprietor since 1892. Jacob 
Deck was born in Alsace-Lorraine, July 24, 1860, and came to America 
with his father in the spring of 1869. John and Anna Marie Deck, his 
parents, were of French origin. The mother died in her native land and 
John Deck located in Kansas City after coming to this country and for 



428 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

awhile worked as a laborer in the city. He later engaged in farming in 
Douglas County, Kansas, and died in Eudora, within eight miles of the city 
of Lawrence, Kansas. 

Jacob Deck was reared in Kansas City and on the farm in Douglas 
County, Kan. Forty-three years of his life have been spent in the meat 
market business and prior to locating in Boonville he followed his trade 
in Kansas City and in Atchison, Kan. He has prospered since coming to 
Boonville and is regarded as one of the city's substantial citizens. M r. 
Deck was married in 1882 to Miss Anna Fessler, who was born and reared 
in Boonville and is a daughter of John Fessler, who located in this city 
prior to the Civil War. Eight children have been born to Jacob and Anna 
Deck, six of whom were reared to maturity as follows : Mrs. Joseph 
Keithley, Kansas City ; William H., druggist, Pilot Grove, Mo. ; Mrs. Mar- 
garet Gilman, of Sedalia, Mo. ; Jacob, employed in Swift & Co's oifice, 
Kansas City; Raymond is his father's assistant; Herman is attending 
school. 

Mr. Deck and the members of his family worship at the Evangelical 
church. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and 
the Modern Woodmen of America. Independence in politics and voting 
has been his rule for many years, but he has not neglected the duties of 
citizenship and has served as city alderman for six years. 

Albert Jaeger, a prosperous retired farmer, whose fine farm of 186.5 
acres is located on the Old Trails Road about three and a half miles west 
of Boonville, has lived upon his present place since 1909. The Jaeger 
farm is well improved with a large brick house and other farm buildings 
in good repair. Mr. Jaeger's two sons are now operating the farm. 
Albert Jaeger was born in Germany. Nov. 23, 1860. He is a son of August 
and Matilda (Heider) Jaeger, both of whom were born and reared in Ger- 
many. Mrs. Jaeger died in 1882, and the father still resides in his native 
country having attained the great age of 81 years. 

Albert Jaeger was not content to lead a mediocre existence in his 
native country. May 30, 1882 he landed at Boonville with but a few dol- 
lars in his purse. For one and a half years he was employed as gardener. 
He then rented land for four years ; he met with reverses and had no 
money; he then went to Bloomington, III., and for two years he was 
employed as laborer there, three months of which were spent in the Illi- 
nois coal mines. It was only to be expected that his first venture in till- 
ing the soil would not prove successful inasmuch as he had no knowledge 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 429 

Oi farming, his father having been a merchant in Germany. From Bloom- 
ington, Mr. Jaeger went to Chicago and was employed there for five years, 
three years in the packing house of Armour & Company. He returned 
to Boonville in 1894, worked out for a few months, carefully studied 
methods of farming and made another try at his desired vocation. He 
1 1 nted a farm again. He saved $375 and made a first payment on 80 
acre miles southwest of Boonville. This time he was successful 

and he sold this farm at a profit in 1905 and bought 200 acres in the 
northwest part of Boonville township. About six months ago he sold 
this farm to his youngest son, and bought his present place in 1910. 

Mr. Jaeger was married in 1882 to Miss Ida Schroeder who was born 
in Germany. June 5, 1858, and is a daughter of Ernest and Lisetta 
Schroeder, who died when Airs. Jaeger was an infant. She came to 
America on the same ship which carried Mr. Jaegers. Six children have 
been born to this marriage, four of whom survive: Ernest, a farmer three 
miles west of his father, was married in 1909, to Miss Nora Moehle and has 
two children, Clara and Margaret; William, born in 1885, resides on a 
farm, married in 1910, to Bettie, a daughter of Hemy Schierholz, and is 
father of two children, Florence Virginia, and Mildred Martha ; Albert 
was born in 1890 and is assisting his father; Charles was born in 1892, 
and was married in 1915 to Bertha Moehle, and has one child, Charles; 
Otto, the youngest, was born in 1894 and died of appendicitis in 1901 ; and 
one died in infancy. 

Mr. Jaeger is an independent voter. He is a member of the Evangel- 
ical Church and the Woodmen of the World. It is to Mr. Jaeger's credit 
that in the space of about 30 years, he should come to a strange land, with 
no knowledge of fanning, suffer reverses because of his lack of knowl- 
edge and in the end achieve success which places him in the front rank of 
Cooper County's successful agriculturists. 

Harry Ruskin. — The career of Harry Ruskin, successful merchant of 
Boonville, offers a striking example of what can be accomplished by an 
immigrant from the old world who comes to this country inspired by a 
vision of the freedom and the opportunities awaiting a young man 
endowed with ambition and energy. Mr. Ruskin fled to America from his 
native Russia to escape military service and to get away from the perse- 
cution which the Russians were wont to inflict upon people of his race. 
Since coming here, a poor boy, in 1903, he has accumulated a comfortable 
competence and is owner of one of the most thriving business enterprises 
in Boonville, besides owning considerable property in Sedalia. He is a 



430 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

natural business man and a born merchant whose store on the corner of 
Fifth and Morgan streets is well stocked with groceries, meats, drygoods 
and has an ever-increasing patronage which taxes the capacity of the 
many clerks to wait upon. 

Mr. Ruskin was born in Russia in Dec. 26, 1884, and emigrated to 
America when 19 years of age. He landed at Boston, Mass., without 
money and without friends and no knowledge of American customs and 
language. For the first six months he worked at any odd job which came 
his way in order to get some money. He then came west to St. Joseph, 
Mo., and obtained employment with Swift & Companys' packing plant. 
Two years later he located at Sedalia, Mo., and established a grocery and 
notion business at the corner of Seventh and Engineer streets. Mr. 
Ruskin built up a splendid trade, accumulated real estate in Sedalia, sold 
out on account of his wife's health and came to Boonville where he estab- 
lished his present store in 1915. 

Mr. Ruskin was married in March, 1906, to Miss Yetta Chasnoff, a 
niece of M. Chasnoff, owner of the Chasnoff stores. Five children have 
been bom of this marriage: Roy, Dorothy, Leah, Florence and Samuel. 

Harry Ruskin was born and reared in the old Jewish faith. He is 
affiliated fraternally with the Knights of Pythias, the Independent Order 
of Odd Fellows, the Woodmen of the World and the Knights and Ladies 
of Security. He is a progressive and enterprising citizen who has become 
heart and soul with the plan of a greater Boonville and in advancing the 
best interests of his adopted city. 

Jeff L. Davis. — The Jeff Davis Shoe Co. store, managed by Jeff L. 
Davis, and established in March, 1906, is a well stocked and conveniently 
arranged establishment where the best makes of ladies and men's shoes 
are retailed. This store is the successor to the George Sahm Shoe Store, 
one of the oldest established business concerns in Boonville. The Jeff L. 
Davis Company, was incorporated on March 1, 1917, and the store was 
moved to its present location on the east side of Main street. Jeff L. Davis 
manager of the shoe business, is a native of Cooper County. He was 
born on the Davis farm adjoining the city of Boonville on the south. 

Daniel Grosvenor Davis, his father, was born in 1842 and died on 
July 11, 1884. He was born in Randolph County, Mo., a son of Daniel G. 
Davis, a native of Virginia and a pioneer merchant of Missouri, who be- 
came very wealthy, dying in 1859. His wife was a Miss Rutherford of 
Huntsville, Mo. Daniel G. Davis, father of Jeff L. Davis, came to Boon- 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 431 

ville when a boy and settled on the Davis farm, where he was reared by 
an uncle, Henry Davis, a pioneer of Cooper county. He was educated in 
the Kemper Academy and married Ruth Brereton, of English descent, who 
was born in 1843 and resides on the home farm. She is a daughter of 
Benjamin D. Brereton, who came from Ireland in 1846 and made a settle- 
ment in Cooper County. There were eight children in the Davis family: 
William G., deceased; Charles Daniel, deceased; Jeff L., subject of this 
leview; Ruth, wife of E. B. Windsor, Pleasant Green, Mo.; Mary Drew, 
deceased wife of Thomas Reed, left one child, Mary Frances Reid, who 
makes her home with Mr. Davis; Leslie B., deceased; Mrs. Emma 0. 
Gault, deceased; Daniel G., a dairyman living on the Davis home place. 

Jeff L. Davis attended the Boonville Academy and engaged in farm- 
ing on the home place and in Pettis County, near Clifton City, until 1904. 
He engaged in business in Boonville in 1906, purchased the stock and 
good will of the Sahm shoe store and continued the business under the 
name of Jeff Davis & Co. with the assistance of his wife until March 1, 
1917, when he established his present thriving business, incorporating 
under the name of Jeff Davis Shoe Co. Stockholders, Jeff Davis, Harry 
Sombart and Kathryn Sahm Davis. 

In November of 1905, Mr. Davis was married to Kathryn Sahm, 
daughter of the late George Sahm, a pioneer shoe man of Boonville. 

George Sahm was born in Bavaria. Germany, Aug. 1, 1832, and emi- 
grated from his native country in 1848 or 1849 when 16 years old. He 
was employed for three years in the boot and shoemaking business in 
Sandusky County, Ohio, and there mastered his trade. He then came 
to Boonville and worked at his trade for three years and then set up a 
shop for himself in the spring of 1865. He later added a trade stock of 
boots and shoes and his business grew steadily so that by 1877 he began 
the manufacture of his own stocks and for the general market on a large 
scale. In 1876 his son, George W. Sahm became his partner, and in 1880, 
Henry, his other son, was admitted to the firm. At one time the Sahm 
store employed over 30 hands and was a flourishing and prosperous con- 
cern. 

Mr. Sahm was married July 8, 1854, to Miss Catherine Dick, a native 
of Germany. This marriage was blessed with the following children: 
George W., Mollie, Henry J., Joseph, Julia, Louis and Catherine. Mr. 
Sahm held various official positions in the city, among them being those 
of school director and city councilman. He died in' 1915. 



432 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Mr. Davis is a Democrat. For the past seven years he has been 
a member of the City Water Works Board of which he is president. He 
is a member or rather was reared in the Episcopalian faith. Mr. Davis 
is a Free Mason and a member of the Knights of Pythias. 

Edward Derendinger, a late prominent agriculturist and stockman 
of Saline township, was born in Germany in 1868. Mr. Derendinger immi- 
grated to America in 1885 and located in Moniteau County, Mo., where 
he was employed in farm work, laboring by the month for three or four 
years, when he, with his parents, Rudolph and Louise Derendinger, moved 
to Cooper County and settled on the farm where his parents died. The 
remains of both father and mother were laid to rest in the cemetery at 
Pleasant Grove. 

In 1901, Edward Derendinger purchased the country place now 
owned by his widow, a farm comprising 207 acres of land, located seven 
miles east of Boonville. Mr. Derendinger improved the farm, and it is 
now considered one of the best in the county. He was successfully en- 
gaged in general farming until the time of his death, June 9, 1912, and 
he had made a name for himself in the county as an honest, industrious, 
hard-working citizen. 

In 1906, Edward Derendinger and Magdalena Stauffer were united 
in marriage. Mrs. Derendinger is a daughter of John and Anna Stauffer, 
of Jimtown, both of whom were natives of Germany, and both are now 
deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Stauffer were the parents of the following chil- 
dren: Henry of Lupus, Mo.; Annie Elizabeth, the wife of Ulrich Biere, 
residing near Moniteau Church; Rosada, the wife of Got fried Zurcher, 
of Jimtown, Mo.; John, of Sandy Hook, Mo.; Magdalena. the widow of 
Edward Derendinger. the subject of this review; Frederick, who resides 
in Wisconsin; Annie, the wife of Rudolph Derendinger, of Sandy Hook, 
Mo.; and Emil, of Lupus, Mo. To Mr. and Mrs. Edward Derendinger 
were born six children, four of whom are now living: Emma, Johnnie, 
Edwin, Louis, all at home with their widowed mother. Frank and I.ydia 
died in infancy. 

Edward Derendinger was one of the following children bom to his 
parents: Emil, of Pleasant Grove Mo.; Louis, of Elgin, 111.; Louisa, de- 
ceased; Edward, the subject of this sketch; Alica, the wife of Louis Hei- 
sick, residing in Germany; Rudolph, of Sandy Hook, Mo.; and Fritz, of 
Big Lick, Mo. 

At the time of their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Derendinger began life 
under discouraging financial conditions. They had little money and were 



v. 




HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 433 

in debt for their farm, but by practicing economy and thrift they soon 
began to prosper, and since the death of her husband, Mrs. Derendinger 
has continued the farm work with success. She deserves much credit for 
the admirable manner in which she has managed the business affairs 
and is rearing her fatherless children. 

Mr. Derendinger was a valued member of the Woodmen of the World 
and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He was a member of the 
Evangelical Church at Pleasant Grove, as is Mrs. Derendinger. He was 
laid to rest in the cemetery at Pleasant Grove, and the loss to the good 
citizenship of Cooper County has long been lamented by those who knew 
him. 

Sonneck Christiansen Rossen. — The splendid new county home for 
the poor, destitute and unfortunates of Cooper County, is under excellent 
and capable management. Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Rossen, who have charge 
of the home and the inmates, seem to have found their niche in life and 
are filling it to the satisfaction of the county authorities, and the people 
of Cooper County. Mr. S. C. Rossen, superintendent of the Cooper 
County Home, is a native of Denmark, born April 3, 1849. His parents, 
Christian and Bridgetta (Hansen) Rossen spent their lives in Denmark. 

When 19 years of age, S. C. Rossen left his home in Denmark and 
came to America, arriving here in September, 1868. His first work was 
on railroad construction at Effingham, 111., where he remained for three 
months. Going from Illinois to Vicksburg, Miss., he worked in the swamp 
region of the Mississippi River Valley, during the winter season of 1869 
and 1870. He contracted malaria in the South and returned to Illinois. 
From 1870 to 1871 he was employed at farm labor and in the spring of 
the year worked in the lime kilns of the neighborhood. He saved some 
money, then went to Kansas, farmed for 12 months, sold out and came 
to Boonville, Cooper County in 1873. Mr. Rossen was located east ,of 
Boonville on farms for 18 years and finally bought a farm of 50 acres, 
west of Boonville. He later bought another tract of 73 acres, upon which 
he lived for 20 years, reared his family to be grown, then sold out and 
came to Boonville. For five years, Mr. Rossen was road overseer of the 
special road district. In February, 1917, he took up his duties as super- 
intendent of the county home, with Mrs. Rossen as matron of the home. 
They have the care of from 20 to 25 indigent poor of the counfcy and no 
group of unfortunates could receive better care than that given them by 
Mr. and Mrs. Rossen. 
(28) 



434 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

In the spring of 1873, S. C. Rossen and Martha Evans were mar- 
ried. Mrs. Martha Rossen died in 1881. Three children were born to 
this marriage, all of whom are deceased. In the fall of 1882, Mr. Rossen 
was married to Elizabeth Frances Robertson, born in Arkansas, June 5, 
1861, She is a daughter of Shelton Eliphus and Rebecca Serena (Hill) 
Robertson, natives, respectively, of Illinois and Arkansas. Shelton E. Rob- 
ertson died in the Union service during the Civil War. He and a brother- 
in-law, named Evans, went to the Nlorth from Arkansas to enlist in the 
Union Army. Mr. Robertson never returned. His widow and children 
went to Illinois and from there to Washington County, Mo. The widow 
married Charles Baker and the family moved to Cooper County in 1880. 
Mrs. Baker now lives at Crane, Stone County, Mo. She was born March 
17, 1837. 

Three sons and a daughter were born to S. C. and Elizabeth F. Ros- 
sen, as follows: Josephine Christina, Shelton, Carl Frederick, William 
Edward. Josephine Christina is the wife of John H. Schnuck, a pros- 
perous farmer living east of Boonville. Shelton is an expert automobile 
mechanic and is employed in St. Louis. He married Grace Seals, Pacific, 
Mo. Carl Frederick Rossen is manager of an automobile garage in St. 
Louis, Mo. William Edward, the soldier of the family, was born Sept. 
8, 1892, and enlisted for service in the National Army in June, 1917. He 
was first stationed at Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis, then Nevada, Mo., 
and thence to Fort Sill, Okla., where he was trained for duty across the 
seas. He left for France as a member of the 110th Auto Supply Train 
on May 2, 1918, and saw much active service with the American Army in 
France. He returned to America, and received his honorable discharge 
from the service May 7, 1919. Mr. Rossen is a republican. He is a mem- 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church. For 15 years he served as road 
overseer in his district while living on the farm and has always been 
interested in good road building. Mrs. Rossen is a member of the 
Women's Circle and the Degree of Pocahontas. They are kind hearted, 
yet firm in their management of the County Home and are loved and 
respected by the inmates. 

John Henry Goodman, member of the prosperous and important 
uuniture and undertaking firm of George and Goodman, Boonville, Mo., 
is a native of Cooper County. He was born Feb. 28, 1884, and is a son 
of Thomas W. Goodman, a member of one of the oldest of the Missouri 
pioneer families. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 435 

Johnson Goodman great grandfather of J. H. Goodman of this review, 
was born Aug. 7, 1797, in Kentucky, and in 1817 he settled on Clarks 
Fork, twelve miles south of Boonville. He was descended from English 
forebears. His wife, Lucy Goodman, was born July 6, 1795. Benjamin 
Goodman, grandfather of J. H. Goodman, was bom in Cooper County in 
1836 and died Jan. 7, 1917. He married Eliza Dunavant of Cooper County, 
who was born March 2, 1839, and died Feb. 3, 1883. This marriage took 
place Oct. 8, 1856. Benjamin Goodman served in the Union army during 
the Civil War, and after his war service he settled down to the peaceful 
pursuits of agriculture. 

Thomas W. Goodman, son of Benjamin Goodman, was born in Cooper 
County, July 24, 1857. He was married on July 24, 1878, to Amelia 
Thoma who was born Nov. 28, 1859, in Cooper County, and was a daugh- 
ter of Lawrence and Margaret (Walther) Thoma. Lawrence Thoma was 
born in Germany, reared and married there and immigrated to America. 
He made a home in Cooper county where he died Jan. 11, 1881. Margaret 
(Walther) Thoma, his wife, was born Feb. 21, 1824, and died Sept. 23, 
1916. 

Thomas W. Goodman was engaged in the pottery business prior to 
taking the position of sexton of Walnut Grove cemetery, the duties of 
which place he performed for a period of 21 years. Mr. Goodman is now 
working at the trade of cabinet maker and is connected with the firm 
of George & Goodman in this capacity. 

The children born to Thomas W. and Amelia Goodman are as follows: 
Mrs. A. C. Duncan, Cleveland Heights, Ohio; Thomas W. Goodman. Jr., 
an undertaker at Holden, Mo.; John Henry Goodman, of this review; 
Clara, wife of Gus F. Bohler, Boonville, Mo. 

John Henry Goodman received his early education in the public 
schools of Boonville. His first employment was with a hardware and 
furniture store in Boonville and he has followed the furniture and under- 
taking business since his boyhood days. Besides having had considerable 
practical experience as an undertaker, Mr. Goodman pursued a course of 
study to further fit himself for his profession in St. Louis for six months. 
The George and Goodman furniture and undertaking establishment, be- 
sides conducting the leading furniture business in this section of Missouri, 
are the leading undertakers in a considerable extent of territory, this 
department of the business being in charge of Mr. Goodman. 

Feb. 2, 1909, Mr. Goodman was united in marriage with Miss 



\ 

436 • HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Bertha Vollrath, of Boonville. She was born May 31, 1884, and is a 
daughter of Charles L. Vollrath, a well known citizen of Boonville. 

Mr. Goodman is independent in his political views. He is a member 
of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Knights of Pythias the 
Woodmen of the World and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Mr. 
and Mrs. Goodman are popular among Boonville people and have many 
warm and steadfast friends who wish them well. Both are hard working 
and are interested in the success of the business and co-operate to that end 
in view. Mr. Goodman is a good and loyal citizen who has the best inter- 
ests of Boonville at heart and responds readily to calls made upon him 
for the building of a greater and better Boonville. 

W. L. Cordry, manager of "Chasnoff's", has been in charge of this 
widely known Boonville store since Feb. 15, 1916. The Chasnoff Store in 
Boonville was established by M. Chasnoff in March, 1915, and is one of a 
number of stores owned and operated by Mr. Chasnoff. The store is situ- 
ated at the corner of Main and Morgan streets and occupies a floor space 
of 50x125 feet. A general stock of dry goods and ladies wearing apparel 
of the latest models and designs is carried. From 12 to 15 people are 
employed to care for the extensive trade which the store enjoys under 
Mr. Cordry's efficient and capable management. 

W. L. Cordry is a native of Cooper County, born on a farm near Arrow 
Rock. Dec. 16, 1878. James W. Cordry, his father, was born in 1844 
and followed farming until 1897 when he settled in Nelson, Mo. He was 
born in Cooper County, on a farm north of Syracuse, Mo., and was a son 
of John B. Cordry, a native of Kentucky who was a Cooper County pioneer. 
James W. Cordry was a soldier in the Civil War, fighting with the Union 
forces, entering the service at the age of 18 years. He married Miss 
Lucy Windsor, who was born near Otterville, Mo., in 1847. Of six chil 
dren born to James W. and Lucy Cordry, two are living, three died in 
infancy: Arthur died at the age of 17 years; Mrs. Myrtle Dodson lives 
at Nelson, Mo., and W. L. Cordry, of this review. 

W. L. Cordry was reared on the home farm and received his educa- 
tion in the Nelson public schools. His first store experience was at Nel- 
son, where he was employed for three years. He then traveled for Swift 
& Company for one and a half years. Following this he was again em- 
ployed in stores for five years. In 1909 he went to western Oklahoma 
and was there for a short time. Returning to Missouri he had charge 
of a shoe store at Monett for two and a half years. He had charge of a 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 437 

department in a large store at Nowata, Okla., the next five years and then 
came to Boonville to take charge of the Chasnoff Store. 

Mr. Cordry has been twice married. His first marriage occurred on 
Nov. 12, 1902, with Miss Lillian McAllister of Nelson, who died Feb. 14, 
1915, leaving four children: Eugene, James Thomas or "J. T.," Helen and 
Arthur. His second marriage took place June 5, 1917, with Miss Leona 
Hyde of Warren, Ind. One child has blessed this union: Mary Cath- 
erine, born Jan. 10, 1919. 

While adhering to the principles of the republican party, Mr. Cordry 
is inclined to independence in voting and believes that the cause of good 
government can best be advanced by individual thinking and decision 
along the lines of qualifications of candidates and the principles involved. 
He is a member of the Christian church, is affiliated with the Modern 
Woodmen of America and is a progressive citizen. 

John N. Gott. — For over half a century the late John N. Gott was a 
resident of Boonville, and became in the course of his long sojourn in 
Cooper County, one of the leading, influential and successful figures in 
the business and manufacturing world of this city. His successful career 
placed him in the front rank of a galaxy of noted Boonville men who 
were the outstanding figures of the past decade in Boonville. John N. 
Gott was born in Portland, Mich., Dec. 25, 1833, and died in Boonville, 
Mo., Nov. 2, 1912. 

He was a member of one of the oldest of the American Colonial fam- 
ilies of French and English descent. Mr. Gott was of the eighth genera- 
tion in direct line from Charles Gott, the founder of the family in America. 
Charles Gott (I) was born in France in 1598. He married Thankful 
Palmer and they with their two daughters, Thankful and Bertha, sailed 
from Weymouth, England, June 20, 1628, on the ship, Abigail, and landed 
at Salem, Mass. Three children were born to them in Salem: Deborah, 
born in 1636; Charles in 1639, and Daniel in 1646, all of whom were bap- 
tized in the first church erected in America. 

Charles Gott (II) was married Dec. 5, 1660, to Lydia Clarke, daugh- 
ter of William Clarke, of Lynn, Mass. Their children were Charles, Sarah, 
Lydia, John, Deborah, Mary, Bethah, Samuel and Nathaniel . 

Lieut. John Gott (III) of the Colonial Army, was born Nov. 8, 1668, 
and died Jan. 25, 1722. He married Rebecca Tarbox, who bore him three 
children: John, bom Jan. 6, 1694, and Samuel and Benjamin. 

John Gott (IV) married Elizabeth Badger, Dec. 15, 1751. Their 
children were John, born July 20, 1752; Martha, born Sept. 19, 1753; and 
Nathaniel born March 12, 1755 ,and who died Sept. 14, 1828. 



438 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Nathaniel (V) Gott was a surgeon in the American Revolution, serv- 
ing on the staff of General LaFayette. He married Sarah Bugham, who 
was born Jan. 22, 1755, and died Dec. 20, 1797. Their children were: 
Benjamin, bom Dec. 6, 1783; John, born Jan. 2, 1785; and Nathaniel, born 
Feb. 6, 1786, dying in 1858. 

Nathaniel Gott (VI) married Elizabeth Butterfield, at Hartnedjc, 
Otsego County, N. Y. She was bora Oct. 20. 1787, and died May 19, 1866. 
Their children were : Charles, born Jan. 29, 1809, and died Aug. 15, 1863, 
and John Nathaniel, born Feb. 4, 1811, and died Sept. 10, 1882; James 
Butterfield, born Aug. 31, 1818, died Dec. 17, 1882 ; and Sarah, born Nov. 
18, 1812, died in April, 1883. 

Charles Gott (VII), father of John N. Gott, of this review, was born 
and reared in New York, and migrated to Michigan. He married Maria 
Moe, at Ann Arbor, Mich., Jan. 11, 1832. Marie Moe Gott was born Jan. 
31, 1811, and died Nov. 12, 1892. The children bora to this marriage 
were: John Nathaniel Gott of this review; Sarah Maria, born Aug. 17, 
1845, died Sept. 3, 1875, and Martha, who died in infancy. 

John N. Gott was reared and educated in Michigan. He studied in 
Ann Arbor, Mich., and spent two years at Wesleyan Seminary, afterwards 
taking a partial course at the University of Michigan. He began his 
business experience in a mercantile store at East Saginaw, Mich., and was 
located in that city until 1856, when he went to St. Louis, Mo. He was 
employed as clerk in a hardware store in St. Louis until the outbreak of 
the Civil War in 1861. 

When the president tailed for volunteers with which to quell the re- 
bellion of the Southern states he responded to the call and enlisted in the 
first year of the war in the 33rd Missouri Regiment. In 1862 he was 
promoted to the post of quartermaster sei-geant of his regiment. After 
the battle of Helena. Ark., he was again promoted for conspicuous bravery 
in the face of enemy fire and was advanced to the post of sergeant major. 
He was a brave soldier and while the battle of Helena was raging among 
the hills, he performed a feat which brought him well merited recognition 
and promotion. Under his charge a wagon load of water and whiskey 
was being transported to the Federal soldiers. He rolled up the barrels 
to the men engaged in battle and thus saved the day. 

In December, 1863, he was appointed by President Lincoln to the post 
of first lieutenant, regimental quartermaster, and he filled this important 
p03t satisfactorily and well. When peace was concluded he was breveted 
a captain. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 439 

In May, 1866, Mr. Gott removed with his family to Boonville. He 
engaged in the manufacture of brick in partnership with Constantine 
Heim until 1868. Mr. Gott was then appointed deputy county clerk, and 
was afterward appointed receiver in the United States Land Office in 
Boonville, holding this position from 1868 to 1876. He next served as 
bookkeeper of the old Central National Bank and remained in this posi- 
tion until 1878. He then became associated with Brewster and Hilliard. 
tobacco manufacturers, and was bookkeeper for this concern until 1883, 
when he nurchased the business. He operated the tobacco manufacturing 
business successfully for a number of years, being joined by his sons and 
the business being conducted until 1910 under the name of John N. Gott 
and Son. 

John N. Gott was married in St. Louis, Nov. 13, 1859, to Miss Angeline 
Lawton, a daughter of the late Dr. Edward Lawton. Mrs. Angeline Gott 
was born Sept. 16, 1836, and died Oct. 15, 1910. The children born to this 
marriage who are of the ninth generation of the Gott family in America 
are: Charles P. and Henry H. Gott. Henry H. Gott married Kittie 
Genslinger, now deceased, of Piqua, Ohio, June 18, 1896, and is practicing 
dentistry in St. Louis. 

Charles P. Gott was educated in Cooper Institute, of Boonville. For 
a period of four years he was connected with the mercantile firm of 
Sauter Brothers and was a partner in this concern for one year. He then 
joined his father in the tobacco manufacturing business and was engaged 
in this enterprise until 1900, beginning in 1883. The business was then 
disposed of and Mr. Gott removed to his farm of 370 acres south of Bunce- 
ton in this county where he remained engaged in farming and stock rais- 
ing for five years. He is a large land owner and owns 700 acres of land 
in Howard County, 500 acres of which is very rich Missouri River bottom 
land. Mr. Gott conducts a farm loan business in Boonville. Charles P. 
Gott was married on Nov. 5, 1885, to Miss Tillie Wertheimer, of Boonville, 
born and reared in this city, a daughter of Morris J. Wertheimer. a pioneer 
clothing merchant of this city. Two children blessed this union: John 
Morris and William Wertheimer Gott of the tenth generation of the Gott 
family. 

John Morris Gott is an emplove of the J. E. Hutt Construction Com- 
pany of Kansas City, Mo. 

William Wertheimer Gott in the employ of the General Motors Corp- 
oration, married Mildred Buchanan of New Franklin. Mrs. Mildred Gott 



440 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

is deceased, and left one child, Mildred Dorothy Gott of the eleventh 
generation. 

C. P. Gott is an independent republican. He has served his home 
city as a member of the school board and as city councilman. When his 
father died he succeeded him as vestryman of the Episcopal church and 
is treasurer of this congregation. 

The late Capt. John N. Gott was a stanch republican throughout his 
entire matured life. He took an interest in political matters and served 
as a member of the school board and as a member of the city council. 
For several years he was a vestryman of the Episcopalian church and 
was highly regarded as a worthy and upright citizen whose handsome 
home in Boonville was often opened for social and literary gatherings. 
He was honored and respected by all who knew him. 

F. Joseph Mann. — The late F. Joseph Mann, of Palestine township, 
was a Cooper County citizen of industry and ambition whose sole desire 
in life was to provide a comfortable and prosperous home for his family. 
In this he succeeded by the exercise of industry, diligence and wise man- 
agement and in the space of 20 years created one of the most attractive 
farm houses in his section of Missouri. No sooner than he had arrived at 
the point where he could look into the future in the anticipation of com- 
fortable living during the remainder of his days, than the grim reaper 
called him. The Mann estate is a productive tract of land, a good part of 
which is .Petit Saline River bottom land, the residence and buildings 
situated upon a high hill from which the surrounding country for many 
miles can be seen. Mrs. Josephine Mann, his widow, has kept the place 
in excellent repair, added a tenant house and other buildings until the 
farm is a valuable piece of property. F. Joseph Mann was born in Ed- 
wardsville, 111., April 25, 1857 and died May 24, 1910. 

*F. Joseph Mann, Sr., his father, was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 
1829 and died June 28, 1893. He was a son of Joseph Mann, a native of 
Alsace and a Frenchman by birth who came to America in 1850. F. 
Joseph Mann, Sr., immigrated to this country in 1850, married here and 
served in the Union army, enlisting in 1863 for a period of 16 months. 
He was a cabinet maker and during the Civil War he made coffins for the 
deceased soldiers. In 1866 he came to Cooper County and settled at Pilot 
Grove. During that same year he bought a 40 acre farm upon which 
he resided for a number of years. He followed his trade to some extent 
in this country and was a skilled cabinet maker as is attested by several 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 441 

fine pieces of his handicraft which can be seen in the Mann home. He 
died at the home of his son, F. Joseph Mann. 

F. Joseph Mann, of this sketch, was married June 23, 1885, in Clear 
Creek Catholic Church, by Father John, to Miss Josephine Marie Dietrich, 
who bore him the following children: Nina Marie, Alma, Josephine, 
Mabel Bernardine. Nina Marie was born March 22, 1886 and is the wife 
of E. Humphrey ville, living on the adjoining farm. He was born July 12, 
1885. They have one child, Helen Louise, born Oct. 7, 1907. AJma 
Josephine, born Feb. 28, 1893, married Edward Cleary, Feb. 24, 1916, 
who died in Feb., 1918. Mrs. Alma Cleary is office assistant to Probate 
Judge Davis. Mabel Bernardine, born June 12, 1896, is the wife of 
Charles L. Schuck, of Fredericksburg, Texas, and has one child, Francis 
Joseph, born March 8, 1918. Mr. Schuck was born Dec. 2, 1897. 

F. Joseph Mann was a republican, but was distinctly a home man 
who cared more for his home and fireside than for any outside attractions. 
His death was a distinct loss to the community in which he had become 
a valuable and worthy citizen. He was a member of the Catholic Church 
and was highly regarded by all who knew him. 

Mrs. Josephine Marie (Dietrich) Mann was born in the French 
province of Alsace, April 16, 1855 and is a daughter of Herman and Mary 
(Hoffstetter) Dietrich, the latter of whom died in 1871. Herman Dietrich 
came to America before the Civil War, and having had military training 
in his native land he offered his services to the Union. He was commis- 
sioned a lieutenant in the Union army and died of fever in a government 
hospital at New Orleans. Four children were left fatherless: E. C, who 
died in 1871, and had served five years in the French army; Cecilia, de- 
ceased; Henrietta, deceased; and Mrs. Josephine Mann of this review. 

Josephine Dietrich came to America in 1881 and made her home with 
her uncle, Jacob Dietrich who owned the old Bunce place. She went to 
Colorado in 1885 and was married to Mr. Mann upon her return to Mis- 
souri in 1885. Prior to purchasing their present place Mr. and Mrs. Mann 
lived at Pilot Grove until 1891. The Mann place was recently sold to her 
son-in-law, E. Humphreyville, May 19, 1919, and Mrs. Mann is making 
her home in Boonville with her daughter, Mrs. Edward Cleary. 

Mrs. Elizabeth Ellen Drennen. — The Drennen dairy farm of 112 acres, 
situated near Boonville, Mo., was purchased by Mrs. E. E. Drennen in 
1905 and is operated by the lady and her sons. Ten cows are milked and 
the milk is sold to Boonville restaurants. For the past 30 years the 
Drennen family have been engaged in the dairying industry and the 



442 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

family rented land for 16 years prior to purchasing the present Drennen 
home place. 

George Washington Drennen husband of Mrs. E. E. Drennen, was 
born in Kentucky, Dec. 6, 1843, and is a son of Robert and Martha (Lee) 
Drennen of that state. Mr. Drennen served as a soldier in the Union 
army during the Civil War and fought in a Kentucky regiment. 

George Washington Drennen and Elizabeth Ellen McDowell, were 
married on March 6, 1867. In October of 1870, they loaded their effects 
on wagons and moved to Indiana. After a year's residence in that state 
they came to Benton County, Mo., accompanied by two of Mrs. Drennen's 
brothers. James P. and Alfred Clark McDowell. After a residence of 
about 12 years in Benton County, the Drennens came to Cooper County, 
and here settled. 

The children born to G. W. and Elizabeth E. Drennen are: Homer, 
born in Kentucky, lives at Blackwater, Mo.; Eltie Hugh, deceased; Vern- 
anda C.j a farmer in Boonville township; George W., merchant at Prairie 
Lick ; Blanche, deceased ; Leonard Austin, born in 1879 ; Maurice, a hard- 
ware merchant, St. Louis, Mo.; James E., born 1886. 

Mrs. E. E. Drennen was born in Nicholas County, Ky., Dec. 16, 1849, 
and is a daughter of James Perry and Elizabeth (House) McDowell, both 
of whom were natives of Kentucky. Her father was of Scotch descent 
and her mother of German ancestry. James P. McDowell was a son of 
Matthew McDowell, who was a son of Ephraim McDowell, whose father, 
Ephraim McDowell (I) was a native of Scotland, emigrated to America 
and became owner of part of an island in New York harbor. Ephraim 
(II) was killed by Indians in Alabama. Matthew McDowell returned to 
New York from the South after the death of his father, to look after the 
family estate. He had previously settled in Kentucky. His death oc- 
curred at Elizabethtown, N. J. Mrs. Drennen's mother was a daughter 
of Richard House, a son of German parents. 

Mrs. Drennen has reared several orphan children. In Kentucky she 
took Elizabeth Keim into her home for several months. After the death 
of her own daughter she took Lulu Keouw, a girl 12 years old, whom she 
reared for five years. She next reared her niece, lone McDowell, 12 years 
old, whom she mothered for 12 years. An orphan boy, Charles B. Head, 
aged nine years, she reared to young manhood. Mrs. Drennen took from 
the Orphans Home, Minnie Smallwood, aged 10 years and kept her for 
nine years. Her last charge was a little boy, taken from a nursery at 
St. Louis, adopting him, William Henry Drennen, now aged six years. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 443 

Mrs. Drennen is a member of the Baptist Church and all of her chil- 
dren worship at this church. 

Edward L. Bauman county collector of Cooper County, is a native 
of Boonville, and is a capable and thoroughly efficient county official. He 
was born Oct. 27, 1870, and is a son of August Bauman, a native of 
Switzerland who came to America with his parents, John and Mary Bau- 
man, in 1844. The Baumans first settled in southwestern Missouri in the 
town of Sarcoxie. After a few years residence in Sarcoxie they came to 
Boonville in the early fifties. John Bauman was by trade, a weaver and 
followed this trade in Boonville for a number of years. 

August Bauman was born in 1836 and attained young manhood in 
Boonville. He learned the trade of wagon maker and wheelwright and 
established himself in business at Franklin, Mo., where he operated a 
shop for 39 years while making his home in Boonville. He married Mar- 
garet Stuckhart who was bom at Memphis, Tenn., in 1845, and was a 
daughter of Swiss parents. To August and Margaret Bauman were born 
seven children: William, a resident of Oregon; August, lives at Chanute, 
Kan.; Edward, of this i-eview; Carl, of Caldwell, Kan.; Oliver resides in 
Kansas City, Mo.; Miss Frances Beckett lives at Boonville; Mrs. Gertrude 
Murray resides in Jefferson City, Mo. ; August Bauman was bom in 1836 
and met with an accidental death in 1915. A fall from a ladder caused 
concussion of the brain and death ensued as a result. 

Edward Bauman was educated in the public and high school of his 
native city. After fa/ming for one year he learned the trade of harness 
maker and for nineteen years he worked at this trade, spending 23 years 
in all at his trade. For five years he was in the employ of H. T. Hudson 
and foij a considerable period he was manager for Dauwalter and Son of 
Boonville. 

It is worthy of mention that John Bauman, grandfather of Ed Bau- 
man, was a freighter for a number of years, freighting from Boonville 
to the southwest. This was in the old days when Boonville was the 
shipping center for a large section of territory and the highways leading 
south from the city were filled all day long with great wagon trains loaded 
with provisions and material for the settlers of the southwestern country. 

Mr. Bauman is a republican. He was elected county collector in 
1914 and was re-elected to the office in 1918. He is affiliated with the 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is popular with Cooper County 
people, managing the affairs of his office with justice and regard for the 
best interests of Cooper County. 



444 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

John E. Walz. — The jewelry store owned and operated by J. E. Walz, 
a leading citizen of Boonville, was established in 1894. It is one of the 
neatest, best stocked and well equipped jewelry establishments in Central 
Missouri and during the 25 years of its existence in Boonville, the Walz 
store has enjoyed a steady and ever increasing patron age. J. E. Walz 
was born in Booneville, Nov. 3, 1864. 

Nicholas Walz, his father was born in Zornheim, Germany, July 29, 
1838 and died in April, 1892. He was a son of Philip Walz who emigrated 
from Germany in 1846 and located in Chicago, 111., where Nicholas Walz 
was reared to young manhood. When 19 years of age he came to Boon- 
ville, his father, Philip Walz, having preceded him to this city. Nicholas 
Walz was first employed for two years at Mendota, 111., prior to coming 
to Boonville as a clerk in a general store. He first began business with 
his brother-in-law, Mr. Brenheisen, and in three years time he purchased 
the business which he conducted for many years with success. Mr. Walz 
did an extensive business and operated the largest grocery store in Cen- 
tral Missouri. For a number of years he transacted the largest volume 
of business of any store in this section of Missouri and he became widely 
and favorably known. He continued in business until 1884 and he then 
retired. 

Nicholas Walz was prominent in the civic affairs of Boonville and he 
served three terms as a member of the city council. He was a member 
of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and was a member of the Boon- 
ville Turner Society. He was manned to Julia Brenneisen, a daughter of 
Reinhart Brenheisen a native of Germany who emigrated from his native 
land in 1845 and became one of the pioneer merchants of Boonville. Mrs. 
Julia Walz was born in 1839 and died on April 18, 1914. Five sobs and 
three daughters were born to this marriage: Leopold C, St. Louis, Mo.; 
John E., subject of this review; Herman G., New York City; Louise, at 
home in Boonville; Charles A., born May 19, 1872, assistant to J. E. Walz 
in the Walz- Jewelry Store; Julia, at home; Mrs. Laura, wife of W. Ernest 
Sombart, Boonville; Henry G., St. Louis, Mo. 

J. E. Walz of this review, was educated in the public and high schools 
of his native city and began learning the trade of watchmaker and jeweler 
in 1880 with the firm of Hannacke and Kauffman. He remained with 
this firm for four years and the following ten years were spent with the 
firm of Gmelich and Huber in Boonville. He then established his present 
thriving business. 

Mr. Walz is a republican. He is a director of the Boonville Com- 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 445 

mercial Club and is fraternally affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, and 
the Modern Woodmen of America. 

Mr. Walz is a progressive and enterprising citizen who has been 
unusually active in promoting local enterprises for the benefit of his home 
city. He is the "Father of the White Way" on the main street of Boon- 
ville which was established in 1912. Mr. Walz originated the plan for a 
white way, pushed the project, solicited the contributions, secured suffici- 
ent funds to place eight standards, induced the Sombarts who then owned 
the lighting company, to donate the current, and when the electric light 
company was sold, the contract for free current was carried on by the 
new company. He has been twice tendered the nomination for mayor 
of the city by the republican party but has declined each time, having 
no ambition or preference for political honors. 

-Dr. Charles Swap, dentist, Boonville, Mo., has been engaged in the 
practice of his profession for the past 35 years. He was born April 23, 
1865, on the steamboat "Cora Kinney" while his parents were making the 
trip up the Missouri River from Jefferson City to St. Joseph, enroute to 
Iowa. His parents were Dr. Franklin Swap and Mary E. (Mitchell) 
Swap. 

Dr. Franklin Swap was born Aug. 19, 1830, at Schenectady, N. Y. 
and died Sept. 4, 1902. He was a son of William Swap and Belinda Swap, 
members of an old New York family of Holland Dutch descent. Mrs. 
Swap died in 1837 and William Swap removed to Crawford County, Pa., 
where he resided until his death in 1881. A great-uncle of Charles Swap, 
Jonathan Swap fought in the Revolution. The ancestors of Franklin 
Swap first settled in New Amsterdam, whence the great grandfather of 
Charles Swap moved to Schenectady in later years. In his boyhood days 
Franklin Swap learned the cabinet maker's trade and developed a posi- 
tive genius as an artisan which stood him in good stead in later years. 
He was married in 1851 and in 1857 he started to Lawrence, Kansas; did 
not like the country and removed with his family to Taylor County, 
Iowa, where he studied dentistry. He began the practice of dentistry 
about 1860 and was so poor that he was compelled to fashion his own 
dental instruments. His son, Dr. Charles Swap has a number of these 
instruments in his possession at this day and they are of fine and beauti- 
ful workmanship. Prior to this he had made a trip to Kansas in 1857 
with the idea of settling there.. He arrived at Lawrence Kansas, when 
there was but one house on the site of what is now a fair sized city. He 
returned to Iowa and located in Bedford, where he practiced dentistry 



446 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

until he offered his services to the Union when the Civil War broke out. 
He enlisted in the Union army as a private soldier and rose to the rank 
of captain. He was first a private in the Second Iowa Cavalry, in 1862 
he was commissioned a lieutenant, not long afterward was given a cap- 
tain's commission. He was appointed provost marshal of Central Mis- 
souri and had charge of eight counties, his district embracing all of the 
territory from Jefferson City to Lexington. Dr. Swap was honest and his 
administration of his important office was marked by fairness, kindness, 
and absolute honesty. One occasion in particular stands out prominently 
in his career in which he saved some visitors to the city from annoyance 
and persecution by some drunken Union soldiers made him warm friends, 
and one friend in particular who went out of his way to befriend him 
when he was struggling to gain a foothold in his practice in Boonville and 
support his family. In Dec, 1865, he again came to Boonville from Iowa 
and began the practice of his profession. He succeeded and for years 
was one of the best liked and highly respected citizens of Boonville. 

Dr. Franklin Swap was prominent in the public affairs of his adopted 
city and held many important positions of trust and responsibility. He 
was city clerk of Boonville for 18 years and served four terms as mayor 
of Boonville. He was secretary of the Board of Education for many years 
and identified himself with the cause of education. He was elected to 
the office of secretary of the Osage Valley and Southern Kansas Railroad 
during the time this road was being constructed. He was president of 
the State Dental Association and in many ways was a remarkable man 
who was fitted by nature for the period and time in which he lived. 

Aug. 2, 1851, Dr. Franklin Swap was married to Miss Mary E. 
Mitchell of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Mary E. Swap was born June 2, 1830 and 
is one of the oldest of the pioneer women of Boonville. Six children were 
born to this marriage: Harvey, born in Pennsylvania, died at the age of 
two years; Frank, born in Pennsylvania in 1854, is an artist and is con- 
nected with the Tanner Studio in Boonville; Mrs. Ida Gibbons lives at 
Edgewater, near Denver, Col.; Mrs. Emma Short lives in Boonville; 
Ettie is deceased ; and Dr. Charles Swap of this review. 

Dr. Charles Swap studied dentistry in the Pennsylvania College of 
Dental Surgery from 1884 to 1886. Prior to this time he had studied 
under his capable and talented father from June, 1881, until he left home 
to enter the Philadelphia College. Upon his return home he entered his 
father's office and practiced dentistry with his father until the tatter's 
retirement. Doctor Swap during the many years of his practice, has been 
very successful and his hours are filled with the work of his calling. 



HISTORY OP COOPER COUNTY 447 

March 23, 1891, he was married to Miss Jennie North of New Orleans, 
La., a daughter of Fountain North, owner of "Laurel Valley Plantation," 
one of the finest southern plantations in the country. Dr. Swap met and 
wooed his wife when the family came on a visit to Boonville. Two children 
have blessed this marriage : Charles, born in 1892 is in the employ of the A. 
P. Munning Manufacturing Co., of N. Y. City, with his headquarters in 
Chicago of Chicago branch ; Edgar, was born in 1915. 

Dr. Charles Swap is an independent republican and was a former 
Roosevelt adherent. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and is a 
member of the district. State and National Dental Associations, and has 
served as president of the District Dental Society. 

Dr. Rollie L. Anderson, osteopathic physician, with well appointed 
and finely equipped offices at 309 \'-> Main street, is one of the popular 
professional men of Cooper county. Dr. Anderson was born at Pleasant- 
ville. Marion County. Iowa, May 28, 1881, and is a son of Samuel and 
Mary Elizabeth (Courtney) Anderson, both natives of Iowa. 

Samuel Anderson was the son of John Anderson, a native of Scot- 
land and was born in 1858. He became a merchant and was successfully 
engaged in mercantile pursuits at Pleasantville, Iowa, until 1910, when 
he located in Des Moines, at 1500 Linden street. He married Mary Eliza- 
beth Courtney, a daughter of John Courtney, the son of Irish parents. 
To Samuel Horton and Mary Elizabeth Anderson were born three chil- 
dren: Albert Franklin Anderson is engaged in the real estate business 
in Minnesota; George Anderson is deceased; Rollie L. Anderson subject 
of this review. 

Dr. Anderson was educated in the public and high schools of Eldora, 
Iowa and completed his high school course in 1899. In 1901, R. L. Ander- 
son went to Minnesota and was engaged in the lumber and general mer- 
cantile business until he decided to study for his chosen profession. He 
studied the science of osteopathy at Kirksville, Mo., for four years and 
graduated from this famous school in 1916. 

Soon after receiving his diploma Dr. Anderson located in Boonville 
,and outfitted a splendid suite of offices where he cares for a huge and 
ever increasing practice. 

Dr. Anderson was married in November, 1903, to .Miss .Mary An- 
drews, of Silver Creek, Minn., a daughter of Anthony Andrews. 

Dr. Anderson is a republican and is fraternally affiliated with the 
Knights of Pythias, the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and the Mod- 
ern Woodmen of America and has made many warm and steadfast friends 
during the years which he has spent in Boonville. 



448 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 




John King was the first citizen of 
German birth to settle on Lone Elm 
Prairie in 1853. He became owner of 560 
acres of rich prairie land upon which his 
descendants are now living. Through Mr. 
King's influence many Germans came from 
the old country to settle in Cooper County 
and he would go so far as to travel to New 
York, meet them and assist them on their 
way here. 

The late John King was born in Hol- 
stein, Germany, Feb. 15, 1828, and died 
at his home in Lone Elm, Mo., Nov. 10, 
1916. He served as a soldier in the war 
between Germany and Denmark, and soon 
afterwards left his native land for a freer 
life in America. Landing at New Orleans, 
he made his way to Iowa, and there heard 
of the opening up of the Kansas territory 
and of the free and cheap lands to be ob- 
tained in the new country. He went to St. Louis and boarded a river 
steamer to Atchison. He stopped off at Boonville, saw several of his coun- 
trymen who encouraged him to stay. He had just six dollars in cash when 
he landed at Boonville. His first job was as hostler in a stable attached 
to the stage route from Boonville to Jimtown, receiving $12 per month. 
He soon became stage driver and later went to work on a farm near Pisgah 
at $15 per month for four years. Then his employer, Colonel Pope, made 
him a partner in the farm and he saved enough money in three years to 
purchase 180 acres of undeveloped prairie land at Lone Elm at a cost of 
SI 5 an acre. He continued to purchase land until he owned 560 acres. 

Mr. King was married Jan. 18, 1859 to Miss Sophia Friedmeyer, born 
Jan. 19, 1838, in Germany. She is a daughter of Bernard and Sophia 
(Karnes) Friedmeyer, who first settled at St. Louis, Mo., in 1857 and then 
came to Cooper County. The children born to John and Sophia (Fried- 
meyer) King are as follows : Minnie, wife of W. H. Twillman, Lone Elm ; 
Henry, living on the old home place; Mary, deceased, was the first wife 
of Fred Treiber, left one child, Mrs. Elizabeth Toellner; Mrs. Lucy Treiber, 
Lone Elm, widow of Fred Treiber, has one child, Amelia; Sophia, wife of 
Richard Martin, Lone Elm, Clarks Fork township; Ellen, wife of Charles 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 449 

Twillman, farmer, near Lone Elm. Mrs. King has 16 grand children and 
six great grandchildren, all of whom are living in the neighborhood. 

John King was one of the builders and always a liberal supporter of 
the Lone Elm Evangelical Church. He never had a law suit and was 
never sued. He followed as his course in business and living the golden 
rule and profited thereby. During the Civil War he served in the Mis- 
souri State Guards under Capt. Tom George. For 18 years he filled the 
post of deacon of the Clarks Fork Evangelical Church prior to the building 
of the Lone Elm Church. John King was a man worth while who left 
an indelible imprint on the community wherein he spent the greater part 
of a long and active life. 

Dr. Aubrey W. Frost, dentist, Boonville, Mo., is a native son of Cooper 
County who has risen high in the ranks of his chosen profession, during 
his more than 13 years of practice. Dr. Frost was born in Boonville, and 
is a son of Alexander and Lucinda (Post) Frost, natives of New England. 

Alexander Frost was born in Glover, Vt., in 1834 and died in 
April, 1916. He was a member of an old New England family and was 
the first of a large family of 14 children to die. He was reared in Ver- 
mont and was a farmer and stockman. He came west to Boonville in the 
early fifties and started a confectionery store which is still in existence. 
On the westward trip from the old home region in New England, he was 
accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Mary (Frost) Jones, his sister, and his 
brother-in-law, Benjamin F. Jones. Mr. Frost assisted in the erection 
of the old Central National Bank building and later entered the grocery 
and drygoods business, being a partner of Hiram Koontz during the Civil 
War. The partners buried their stock of goods so as to save them from 
the raiding Confederates during the war. In later years he removed to 
Illinois and lived there six years. He returned to Boonville in 1916 and 
died a few months later. Mr. Frost brought the first real carriages and 
the first hearse to Boonville and operated a livery barn for a number of 
years. He owned the first bus in Boonville and also dealt extensively 
in mules. 

Alexander and Lucinda Frost were parents of three children : Louis 
Eugene Frost, Chicago, 111.; Frank Arlin, Chicago, 111.; and Aubrey Ward 
Frost, subject of this review. 

A. W. Frost was educated in the local schools and the high school 

of Roadhouse, 111., and followed the trade of carpenter and builder until 

1900 in the employ of his uncle, B. F. Jones. He then took up the study 

of dentistry in 1903. Entering Washington University in that year he 

(29) 



450 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

graduated from the dental department in 1906 and practiced his pro- 
fession in St. Louis, Mo., until locating in Boonville in the fall of 1915. 
Dr. Frost has a suite of offices in the Victor Building and enjoys a large 
and ever increasing practice. He was married in 1905 to Miss Geneva 
E. Yeager, of Boonville, Mo., a daughter of Frank Yeager. Dr. and Mrs. 
Frost have one child, Roy Frost, aged 10 years. 

Dr. Frost is a republican ; he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
church and is fraternally affiliated with the Masons and the Knights of 
Pythias. 

Gideon A. Brownfield. — The career of G. A. Brownfield, senior mem- 
ber of the firm of Brownfield & Meyer, automobile dealers, Boonville. Mo., 
is that of a self made man who commenced wresting a living from Cooper 
County soil when 19 years of age, became a land owner, built up a splendid 
farm, made a success of the live stock shipping business, and then made 
another success of the automobile business. Mr. Brownfield is not only 
a first class farmer, a keen and sure judge of live stock, but he is a thor- 
oughly successful business man. 

The Brownfield and Meyer automobile business was established in 
1915 at the corner of Morgan and Sixth streets and the business room and 
repair department of the garage occupies a space 75x92 feet. Five men 
are employed in the conduct of the business and such substantial and well 
known makes of automobiles as the Hupmobile, Cadillac, Reo, and the 
Buick are sold to buyers in this section of Missouri. 

Jonas Brownfield, father of G. A. Brownfield, was born in Cooper 
County, reared here and married Jael K. Collins, who was born in Cooper 
County in 1819 and died in 1889. To Jonas and Jael Brownfield were 
born six children: Frank Brownfield, deceased; James Brownfield, a 
farmer living near Speed, Mo.; Gideon A., of this review; Augustus 
Brownfield, a farmer living near Blackwater, Mo. ; Frances, wife of A. E. 
Beeson, Sedalia ; Mo. ; Nannie, deceased. 

G. A. Brownfield was born near Pilot Grove, Mo., Dec. 12, 1860. 

The death of James Brownfield in 1862 left the widowed mother to 
rear her family of children as best she could under adverse circumstances. 
When nine years of age, Gideon A. Brownfield left the parental roof and 
began working out for his living. During his first year he received only 
his board and clothing; the second year he received small wages in addi- 
tion to his keep. He continued working at farm labor with ever increas- 
ing wages until 1879. when he rented land and farmed on his own account 
for the next 15 years until he had saved enough money to make his 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 451 

initial investment in a trust of farm land. Purchasing a farm of 140 
acres near Prairie Lick, Mo., he improved it and made a success of the 
venture. Mr. Brownfield began the buying and shipping of live stock in 
1893 and has become one of the largest live stock dealers and shippers 
in Cooper County. He handles over 365 car loads of stock yearly and his 
deals aggregated during the past two years the extremely large total in 
value of $1,608,123.28. He is without doubt the most extensive live stock 
dealer in this section of Missouri and has built up a reputation for honesty, 
square dealing and straightforward business methods which have stood 
him in good stead among the live stock men of the county. He located 
in Boonville in 1916. Mr. Brownfield is the principal owner of the auto- 
mobile business in which he is interested. 

G. A. Brownfield was married in 1879 to Miss Anna Hostler, of Pilot 
Grove, Mo., a daughter of the late Washington Hostler. This marriage 
was blessed with one son, Earl Brownfield, born in 1883, assisting his 
father in the automobile business, maried Grace Hull. 

G. A. Brownfield is a republican. Mrs. Brownfield is a member of 
the Presbyterian church. 

Dr. John Ambrose Barnett, osteopathic physician, with offices in 
the Trust Company building, Boonville, Mo., enjoys a lucrative and grow- 
ing practice which he has built up since coming to Boonville in January, 
1913. Doctor Barnett was born in Cicero, Hamilton County, Ind., April 
7, 1874, and is a son of William Harrison and Lucy (Boyd) Barnett, the 
former of whom was a native of Johnson County, Ind., and the latter a 
native of Kentucky. 

William Harrison Barnett was bom in 1841 and was a son of Am- 
brose Dudley Barnett, a native of Kentucky. Dr. John A. Barnett was 
reared and educated in Johnson County, Ind., and taught school for five 
years. For about one and a half years he was in the employ of the Scar- 
borough Company, handling maps and school supplies, and when at Okla- 
homa City he became interested in the science of Osteopathy. He en- 
tered college at Des Moines, Iowa, and graduated from the Still Osteopathic 
College in 1905. His parents then being residents of Irvington, at that 
time a suburb of Indianapolis, he located in the latter city and remained 
Ihere until his mothers death in April, 1906. Doctor Barnett then prac- 
ticed at Attica, Ind., for one and a half years and then moved to Rogers, 
Ark., in the hope that a change of climate would be beneficial to his wife's 
1 salth. From March. 1909. until January, 1913. he remained at Rogers 
and then located at Boonville. 



452 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

There were five children born to William Harrison and Lucy (Boyd) 
Barnett, as follow: Albert Raphael, a farmer, Franklin, Ind. ; Dr. John 
Ambrose Barnett, of this review; Victor Hugo Barnett, died in Septem- 
ber, 1916; Rev. Carl Harry Barnett, a graduate of Butler University, 
graduate of Yale University, prominent in Y. M. C. A. work and now 
pastor of the Oak Cliff Christian Church, Dallas, Texas; Chester Boyd 
Barnett, was a graduate of the Indianapolis Law School, and was engaged 
in the United States Reclamation Service when he died of influenza in 
the West Dec. 28, 1918. 

In March, 1903, Doctor Barnett was married to Miss Ruby Hall, of 
Terre Haute, Ind., a daughter of Herschell and Victoria (Hall) Hall. 
Seven children have blessed this union: Harold Ray, Juanita, Therese 
Lucille, Leslie Ambrose, John Alfred, Victoria Boyd, and Ruby Darline. 

Doctor Barnett, while practicing his profession at Rogers, Ark., was 
appointed by Gov. George W. Donaghey to a membership on the State 
Board of Osteopathic Examiners and served for two years, beginning 
Nov. 7, 1911. Upon coming to Boonville he passed the Missouri State 
Board of Osteopathic Examiners Feb. 8, 1913. He is a Democrat, a 
member of the Christian Church, and is affiliated with the Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. 

Joseph Ignatius Hazell, retired pioneer farmer, Speed, Mo., was born 
on a farm near Palestine, Cooper County, March 7, 1848, and is a son of 
Edwin and Sarah (Yarnell) Hazell, natives of Kentucky, and pioneers in 
Missouri. 

Edwin Hazell was born in 1811 and died in 1893. He was a son of 
Nathan Hazell, who came to Cooper County in 1821 and settled on a farm 
near old Palestine. He reared a family in Cooper County and died here. 
Edwin Hazell was brought up on his father's farm, and when he attained 
maturity, married Sarah Yarnell, who was born in 1806 and died in 1884. 
She was a daughter of Joseph Yarnell, a noted pioneer settler who was a 
close friend of Stephen Cole, one of the first settlers of Howard and 
Cooper Counties. Joseph Yarnell was an Indian fighter, a typical fron- 
tiersman, who with others went fully armed and assisted in the building 
of the forts wherein the people remained during the troublesome days 
of the War of 1812. 

A traditional story handed down for the past hundred years and 
since told with manv variations makes Samuel Cole and Joseph Yarnell 
the heroes of a comical episode. The story goes that Yarnell and Cole 
were going to attend a party across the Missouri River in Howard Countv. 




J. I. HAZKI.I, 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 453 

There was only one small skiff which they could use. Yarnell took the 
skiff and rowed his girl across the stream. Sam Cole stripped, took a 
young bull by the tail and made him swim across the stream and both 
attended the party. One version of the tale gives it that Yarnell and 
Cole rode a bull into the midst of the gathering and created an uproar. 
These two, however were apparently the heroes of many misadventures 
which have become legendary. 

Edwin Hazell became a blacksmith and carpenter and conducted a 
blacksmith shop on his place for the convenience of the settlers. When 
Shelby's raiders made their famous trip through Cooper County, during 
the Civil War, some of Shelby's men welded a broken axle and mended a 
cannon at the Hazell shop. The Hazell home was stripped of every vestige 
of food and valuables, the horses were taken and the cows and pigs were 
seized by the raiders. The next day after the rebels had passed through 
Joseph I. Hazell was sent to Pinney's Mill for a supply of corn meal. Old 
John Brown's men then came along in chase of Shelby's crowd and ate up 
all the meal, and perforce the trip had to be made over again so that the 
family could have something to eat. Brown's men seized two horses 
which had been left in exchange by Shelby's men and all that the Hazells 
had left were two contraband horses which were worn out and feeble from 
use. They fed up these animals, raiders came again and the same thing 
again happened, and so it went on throughout the war. 

Edwin Hazell had a family of ten children: James died in 1849 in 
California; Susan, Nancy, Elizabeth, William, Sarah, Eliza. Mary and 
Rhoda, are deceased. The subject of this sketch is the only one of the 
family now living. 

Opportunities for schooling were very limited during the youthful 
days of J. I. Hazell. During the four years of Civil War there were no 
schools. Mr. Hazell recalls that a young man named Henderson taught, 
school during the war time for awhile. This teacher wore a new pair of 
boots. He took them off while school was in session and wore slippers, 
taking good care to hide the boots in the fear that some wandering soldier 
might take a fancy to them and commandeer them for his own use. The 
school house of his home vicinity was a log building with rough wooden 
benches and everything about it was very primitive. 

Mr. Hazell was married in 1869 to Sarah Elizabeth Pulley, who was 
born near Tipton. Ind., in 1851 and is a daughter of Lorenzo and Demaris 
(Crews) Pulley, who were pioneer settlers of Cooper County. The chil- 
dren born to this marriage are: Judson, a railroad man, Atchison. Kans. ; 



454 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Leslie, a railroad man, Atchison, Kans. ; Aubrey and Dade, farmers, living 
near Billingsville, Mo. 

After his marriage, Mr. Hazell settled on a rented farm two miles 
west of Speed. He eventually purchased the old Hazell homestead of 60 
acres. He lived there for some years and then purchased 299 acres of 
bottom land, now owned by H. Friedrich, upon which he resided for seven 
years. This low ground was not good for an asthmatic condition which 
persisted in bothering Mr. Hazell and he exchanged farms with Mr. Fried- 
rich and received a tract of 122.5 acres. Mr. Hazell sold out this land, 
purchased property in Sedalia which is bringing him good rentals and 
moved to Speed. He owns three fine residence properties in Sedalia and 
has recently moved to the A. Rudolph farm northeast of Speed. 

Mr. Hazell is a democrat, loyal to the president and loyal to his party 
at all times. He is a member of the Baptist Church, a democrat and a 
Baptist being a splendid combination of old time settler which cannot be 
beaten for reliability, sturdiness, honesty and good humor. He is fra- 
ternally allied with the Woodmen of the World, at Speed. 

Jamesj R. Miller. — The city of Boonville has a very efficient and 
capable police force and is noted as a law abiding municipality. Chief 
of Police James R. Miller is a capable and honest public officer who is now 
serving his third term as city marshal and has been connected with tie 
police force of the city since his first appointment on May 1. 1911. Mr. 
Miller was born on a farm four miles west of Boonville Feb. 27, 1869, 
and is a son of Frederick W. (born 1839, died May 5, 1911) and Jessie 
B. (Payne) Miller (born 1843, died Jan. 20, 1899). 

Frederick W. Miller was born in Germany and accompanied his 
father to America in 1848, his father being a rebel against the Kaisers 
government and being connected with the uprising of a part of the Ger- 
man people in 1848, he fled to America for a haven of refuge for liberty 
loving people of his class. Jessie B. (Payne) Miller was a daughter of 
James R. Payne, better known as Squire Payne, one of the best known 
of the pioneers of Cooper County. Frederick W. Miller served his adopted 
country as a soldier in the Union Army during the Civil War and fol- 
lowed fanning successfully west of Boonville until his retirement to a 
home in Boonville in 1901. He was father of four children: Mrs. 
Eieanora Drexel. Boonville township; John \V. Miller, California, Mo.; 
Mis. Rosa Marie Brueckner. died in 1914; James R. Miller, of this review. 

Mr. Miller followed farming until 1909. He became owner of a 
splendid farm about four miles west of Boonville, which he cultivated 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 455 

with great success, becoming- owner of the Miller home place. Not being 
satisfied with a mediocre success Mr. Miller accumulated three farms in 
all, making a total of 315 acres. He has disposed of all of his farm 
lands, selling 157 acres in 1909. When he came to Boonville, he pur- 
chased a 20 acre tract on West Spring street in November, 1912. This 
place is well improved with a handsome brick residence and is very 
productive, Mrs. Miller having charge of its operation to a considerable 
extent while her husband keeps Boonville a law abiding community. 
From 1909 to his appointment as a member of the police force of Boon- 
ville May 1, 1911, Mr. Miller conducted a meat market and grocery. 
After serving three years as city policeman he was elected to the post 
of city marshal and is chief of police of the city. 

Mr. Miller was married Oct. 18, 1893, to Miss Carrie M. Brommer, 
born in West Boonville township, a daughter of Louis and Elizabeth 
Brommer, well known deceased residents of Cooper County. The chil- 
dren born to James R. and Carrie M. Miller are: Harry James, Beatrice, 
Roy Ferdinand and Earl Charles. 

Harry James Miller is an officer in the commissary department of 
the Missouri Training School. 

Beatrice Martha is at home with her parents. 

Roy Ferdinand Miller was bora April 21, 1897, and enlisted in the 
United States Navy July 1, 1918 and was trained for service at the Great 
Lakes Naval Training Station. Pneumonia resulting from a severe at- 
tack of the influenza caused his death at Great Lakes, Sept. 30, 1918. 

Earl Charles Miller is employed in the office of the Phoenix Ameri- 
can Pipe Factory. 

Mr. Miller is a Republican and is a member of the Evangelical 
Church. He is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and the Modern 
Woodmen of America. Chief Miller is a conscientious and fearless of- 
ficer who is devoted to his sworn duty although he is kind and just with 
minor offenders of the law. He is a familiar and well liked personality 
on the streets of Boonville and has many warm friends in the city and 
county. 

Edward J. GarthofTner, proprietor of a flourishing feed mill, has 
been engaged in business since July 1, 1917, when he purchased the mill 
from H. Olendorf. Two men are employed and Mr. Garthofner does a 
general wholesale and retail business which is growing in volume through 
his management. He was born in Boonville, Mo., April 11, 1867. 



456 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

George J. Garthoffner his father, was born in Germany and came 
to America in 1857. He operated a wagon shop in Boonville for many 
years and was prominently identified with the early growth and history 
of Boonville. He was born in 1828 and died May 13, 1873. His wife 
was Victoria (Wagner) Garthoffner, who bore him eight children, seven 
of whom are living: George, Boonville; Edward, subject of this review; 
Frank and Henry, engaged in the drug business in St. Louis ; Mary, Boon- 
ville; Louisa, deceased; Emma, Boonville; and Mrs. Sophia Gantner, 
Boonville. 

After attending the parochial schools of Boonville, Edward J. Garth- 
offner learned the trade of cigarmaker and followed his trade for twenty 
years, becoming a partner in business with his brother in 1890. He re- 
mained with him until 1910, when he closed out his partnership interest, 
in the business. In 1910, June, he was appointed postmaster of Boon- 
ville and served until July 1, 1914. For the following year he traveled 
for the Melito Fish and Oyster Company. Mr. Kramm became owner of 
the local feed mill at that time and Mr. Garthoffner operated it for 
Kramm for six months. Then Olendorf bought it and Mr. Garthoffner 
was in his employ until he became sole owner on July 1, 1917. 

Mr. Garthoffner was married in 1896 to Miss Mary E. Darby, a 
native of Cooper County, and daughter of Patrick Darby, a sketch of 
whom appears in this volume. Six children were born to this marriage: 
Bernardine, a teacher in the public schools of Cooper County; Mary, 
bookkeeper in the Commercial Bank of Boonville; Richard, Edward, Jr., 
Dorothy and Frances. 

Mr. Garthoffner has been active and influential in Republican politics 
and has served on the County and Congressional Central Committees. He 
has frequently been a delegate to the State convention of his party and 
has attended the National conventions. For several years he was vice- 
president of the Young Mens' Republican Association. He was elected to 
the office of city treasurer in 1908 and filled this office for two years. He 
is a member of Sts. Peter and Paul's Catholic Church, is a Grand Knight 
of the Knights of Columbus, and is affiliated with the Woodmen of 
the World. 

George H. Meyer, a well-known farmer and stockman of Clarks Fork 
township, is a native son of Cooper County, and is a descendant of one 
of the pioneer families of this section. He is a son of George H. and 
Elizabeth (Molan) Meyer. George H. Meyer was bom in Saline town- 
ship, Cooper County, in 1853, and died Feb. 9, 1903. His wife is also a 
native of Saline township and still resides in Saline township. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 157 

George H. Meyer is one of the following children born to his parents: 
Henry, deceased ; Herman W. resides in Boonville ; Lawrence C, Clarks 
Fork township; Emil Ewing, resides with his mother, Saline township; 
and George H., the subject of this sketch. 

Mr. Meyer was reared on a farm in Cooper County, and attended 
the district school. Later, he attended the Kemper Military School, and 
afterwards took a course in Gem City Business College, at Quincy, 111. 
He then engaged in farming, and for a few years operated rented land. 
In 1910 he purchased his present place in Clarks Fork township, where 
he has since been engaged in farming and stock raising. This is one of 
the valuable farms of Cooper County, and consists of 275 acres of well- 
improved land. The farm buildings are all modern, the residence being 
equipped with a heating and lighting system. The place is underlaid with 
coal to the extent of a vein of 7 feet thick in some places, although Mr. 
Meyer does not mine any of the coal at the present time. 

Sept. 6, 1905, George H. Meyer was united in marriage with Miss 
Julia N. Muntzel, a daughter of Albert and Margaret (Schmidt) Muntzel, 
the former a native of Germany, and the latter of Cooper County, both of 
whom are now deceased. Mrs. Meyer was born on the farm where she 
now resides, Oct. '15, 1881, and is one of the following children born to 
her parents : Albert, Portland, Ore. ; Martin W., St. Louis, Mo. ; Edward 
J., Boonville; Mrs. Clara Trampe, St. Louis County, Mo.; Lillian, resides 
with Mr. and Mrs. Meyer; Mrs. Caroline Fricke, on a farm near Sedalia, 
Mo.; Harry J., Clarks Fork township; and Mrs. Delia D. Muntzel. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Meyer have been born two children: Margaret Elizabeth, born 
July 20, 1906, and Norbert Wilbur, born May 10, 1919. 

Mr. Meyer takes a commendable interest in local public affairs, and 
is one of the present members of the Washington District School Board. 
He and Mrs. Meyer are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church at 
Clarks Fork. They are prominent in the community and rank among the 
leading citizens of Cooper County. 

Dr. Roy H. Ellis, dentist of 23 years successful practice in Cooper 
County, with offices in the Knights of Pythias building, Boonville, was 
born in Cooper County, Aug. 7, 1878. He is a son of one of the best 
known citizens of Cooper County, William H. Ellis, who was born in 
Cooper County in 1850 in the house where he now lives. 

Dr. William H. Ellis, grandfather of Dr. Roy H. Ellis, was a native 
of Richmond, Va., who came to Cooper County in 1839. He settled on 
a farm which had been entered by his father-in-law, Colin Johnson, a 



458 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

pioneer of Cooper County, who entered part of the Ellis farm in 1834. 
Dr. W. H. Ellis practiced medicine among the pioneer families of 
this section of Missouri until his death. He was one of the most widely 
and favorably known of the early doctors of this section of Missouri. 

The original patent of the land which is still owned by the Ellis 
family was signed by President James Monroe. William H. Ellis has 
always been interested in farming and has resided upon his land prac- 
tically all of his days. He is owner of 340 acres of land, part of which 
was a portion of a large estate of over 1,000 acres accumulated by his 
father, Doctor Ellis. The Ellis land is situated near Prairie Home, Mo 
and is vary valuable, easily worth $125 an acre. William H. Ellis mar- 
ried Margaret Graham McPhatridge, born in Abbington, Va., in 1850, 
and who came to Cooper County and taught in the public schools for 
some years. Eight sons and two daughters were bom 'to William H. and 
Margaret Ellis, as follow: Two died in infancy; Edward E., Dr. Roy H. 
Ellis ; Joseph Graham ; Lance F., Mary Ann, Clay W., Rylie. 

Edward E. is 42 years of age. He enlisted as a private soldier and 
is now sergeant in the 90th Division, Army of Occupation in Germany 
and is stationed at Coblenz. He fought at St. Mihiel and in the Argonne 
Forest battle, having been over 79 days on the front, prior to the sign- 
ing of the armistice. Joseph Graham Ellis is living on the home farm. 
T -ance F. Ellis lives in Wichita, Kan. Samuel T. Ellis resides in Lexing- 
ton, Mo. Mary Ann Simmons lives at Bunceton, Mo. Clay W., a resi- 
dent of Wichita, Kan., also spent six months as a private soldier in the 
National Army and received an honorable discharge from the service. 
Rylie Ellis is at home with her parents. 

Roy H. Ellis was educated in the district school and Prairie Home 
Institute. He studied dentistry at Washington University, St. Louis, Mo., 
and graduated from this institution in 1898. He practiced for a time at 
Prairie Home and then came to Boonville, where he has built up a splen- 
did practice. Since his graduation he has taken four special courses in 
dentistry under special instructors and has endeavored in every way to 
keep abreast of all modern developments and advancement in the science 
of his profession. 

Doctor Ellis was married dn June 3, 1903, to Miss Elizabeth Durrett, 
of Charlottesville, Va.. a daughter of Frank Durrett. Doctor and Mrs. 
Ellis have two children: William Henry. Jr., and Clara Margaret Ellis. 

Doctor Ellis is a member of the Missourt State, the Central Missouri 
and the National Dental Associations. He is a Democrat, is a member 
of the Baptist Church, and is a Mason. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 459 

Dr. William Thomas Gibson, justice of the peace, Boonville, Mo., and 
also engaged in the real estate business, is a native of Pennsylvania. He 
was born in Indiana County, Pa., Nov. 1, 1843, and is a son of Thomas 
Gibson. 

Thomas Gibson, his father, was born in Ireland in 1806 and died in 
1874. He immigrated to America with his parents in 1809 and was 
reared in Pennsylvania. He was there married to Margaret Thomas, 
who was born in Pennsylvania in 1812 and departed this life in 1896. 
The life of Thomas Gibson was spent in tilling the soil. He reared a 
famih of four children: Israel, a soldier in the Union Army, killed at 
Spottsylvania Court House; Samuel, a Union veteran, died in 1894; Wil- 
liam T., of this review; John, a Union veteran, died in 1915. It will thus 
be seen that all four sons of Thomas Gibson served the Nation in time 
of stress and the eldest gave his life on the battlefield. Israel Gibson 
was captain of Company C, Eleventh Pennsylvania Reserve Corps. 

William T. Gibson enlisted in July, 1862, in Company A, 135th Penn- 
sylvania Regiment, served six months in the First Pennsylvania Cavalry, 
and while serving 12 months in the 188th Pennsylvania Infantry he was 
marked for conspicuous bravery. At Fort Harrison, below Richmond, 
it wai quoted in official notices that he had performed an act of bravery 
in earning off wounded men under fire from the battlefield on Sept. 29. 
1864. Oct. 11, 1864, he was given a lieutenant's commission, and was 
afterwards commissioned a first lieutenant by President Lincoln, in the 
Fourth United States Colored Troops. Lieutenant Gibson received his 
honorable discharge at Washington, D. C. June 4, 1866, and immedi- 
ately returned to his home. The great battles in which he participated 
during the Civil War were: Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, 
the thirty days battle in the Wilderness, Cold Harbor, where half of his 
inient were killed or wounded in one-half hour, Fort Harrison and 
Fort Fisher, N. C. He took up the study of dentistry as a profession 
and came to Boonville, April 10, 1869. He practiced his profession for 
25 years and reluctantly relinquished his practice on account of his fail- 
ing eyesight. For 10 years he was engaged in the real estate business 
and served as police judge. He served 20 years in all as justice of the 
peace and was re-elected to this office in November, 1918. 

Doctor Gibson was married in 1877 to Margaret Rankin, who died 
in 1905. His second marriage took place in 1908 with Mrs. Alberta 
Greenstreet, who is mother of two daughters by a former marriage, 
viz: Louise, former milliner, died of influenza in St. Louis in November. 
1918; Maurine Greenstreet is at home in Boonville. 



460 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

During the 25 years in practicing his profession in Cooper County, 
Doctor Gibson was located at Prairie Home, Pisgah, and Boonville and 
became known far and wide as a noted horse trader, his keen judgment 
of horseflesh enabling him to make profitable trades. 

Justice Gibson is a stalwart Republican. 

George H. Meyer, now deceased, was a native of Cooper County, and 
a descendant of one of the pioneer families, and for many years was iden- 
tified with the development of the eastern portion of this country. He 
was born in Saline township, Feb. 5, 1853, and died Feb. 13, 1903. He 
was a son of Henry C. and Anna (Bahlman) Meyers, natives of Germany, 
both of whom were early settlers of this county and spent the remainder 
of their lives here, prior to the Civil War. Their remains are buried in 
the Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery at Clarks Fork. 

George H. Meyer was reared to manhood and educated in Cooper 
County, and during his lifetime was well known as an extensive farmer 
and stockman. He not only raised cattle and hogs, but bought and 
shipped cattle extensively. He was a progressive citizen and a good busi- 
ness man, and became well-to-do and prominent in the community. He 
took a special, interest in the betterment of the public school system, and 
for many years was an active member of the local school board. 

June 16, 1874, George H. Meyer was united in marriage with Miss 
Elizabeth Molan, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Schnuck) Molan. 
both of whom are now deceased and their remains are buried in Pleasant 
Grove Cemetery. They were natives of Germany, and settled in Missouri 
sometime in the '50s. Elizabeth (Molan) Meyer was born Oct. 29, 1856, 
in St. Louis County, Mo., and when a. young girl, in 1857, came to Cooper 
County with her parents, and here she was reared and educated, attend- 
ing the Highland District School in Saline township. After their mar- 
riage, Mr. and Mrs. George H. Meyer settled on the place where she now 
resides, in 1877. They first purchased 200 acres, and later added 200 
acres, and now the home place consists of 530 acres of valuable farm land. 
This is one of the notable stock farms of Saline township, and is known 
as "Forrest Grove Stock Farm." It is located 10 miles southeast of Boon- 
ville, and one mile from Clarks Fork store. 

To George H. Meyer and wife were born the following children: 
Henry, born Jan. 16, 1876, died at the age of 26 years ; Herman W., born 
Sept. 1, 1878, now engaged in the automobile business at Boonville 
George H., Jr., born. Sept. 17, 1880, married Julia Muntzel, Sept. 6, 1905 
Lawrence C, born Aug. 25, 1883, married Pauline Mills, Aug. 30, 1904 







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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 461 

and E. Ewing, born June 14, 1893, and now resides on the home place. 
He is a graduate of the University of Missouri, having completed the ag- 
ricultural course in 1913. In the operation of the home place, he gives 
special attention to raising Shorthorn cattle and pure bred Duroc Jersey 
hogs, of which he raises annually from 200 to 300 head. The annual cat- 
tle production of the place varies from 75 to 100 head, and Mr. Meyer also 
raises some sheep. The Meyers farm is naturally well adapted to stock 
raising, and the splendid barns and other arrangements for the care of 
stock classifies this place as one of the modern stock farms of Cooper 
County. E. Ewing Meyer and his brother, Herman W., are both members 
of the Knights of Pythias and Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and 
rank among the progressive young men of Cooper County. 

Mrs. Elizabeth (Moloan) Meyer is one of the estimable pioneer 
women of Cooper County. Her home has been within the confines of this 
county since 1857, and she has resided on her present home place for over 
42 years. She has seen Cooper County grow up, as it were. The Meyer 
family are highly valued citizens of Cooper County, and are all members 
of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Clarks Fork. 

.1. L. Hosford, conducting the best equipped and most modern shoe 
repair shop in Boonville which he established Aug. 17, 1904, is a versa- 
tile and well informed citizen. The Hosford shop is equipped with the 
latest improved shoe machinery. Only recently Mr. Hosford has added 
an adjunct to his many activities in the way of a second hand store. 

J. L. Hosford was born in Pike County, 111., Jan. 1, 1869. He is a 
son of J. L. and Rowena (Hatch) Hosford, the former of whom was a 
native of Connecticut and the latter of New York State. J. L. Hosford 
the elder was an engineer and carpenter but he engaged in farming 
when he came west and located in Pike County. He followed farming 
pursuits for a period of 40 years and died on March 15, 1917, at the 
home of his daughter, Mrs. M. H. Riley, living near Greenridge, Mo., at 
the ripe age of 84 years. In 1845 J. L. Hosford, grandfather of the 
subject of this review, settled at Versailles, Brown County. 111., and later 
went to Pike County, where he reared a large family of 12 children. 
Mrs. J. L. Hosford died in 1881. The other children of the family besides 
the subject of this review are: Mrs. M. H. Riley, living near Greenridge. 
Mo., and Mrs. D. C. Riley, of Windsor, Mo. 

When still a boy in his teens, J. L. Hosford learned the trade of 
shoemaker and has followed his trade successfully for over 30 years. 
At the age of 14 years he located in St. Louis and learned his trade in 



462 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

that city. After his marriage in 1895 he operated a shop in Keokuk, 
Iowa, from 1900 to 1903. He came to Boonville in 1903 and for the first 
14 months he was employed as teacher of shoe repair and shoemaking 
at the Missouri Training School for Boys. He then established his pres- 
ent business. 

Mr. Hosford was married on June 30, 1895, to Miss Florence Collison, 
of near Bluffs City, 111. Six children have been born to this marriage: 
John L. Hosford, aged 24 years, a shoemaker in St. Louis; Floyd B., is 
his fathers assistant; Glenn is deceased; J. D., aged 11 years; Rosa, aged 
nine years; Jessie, aged six, and Nadine, aged three years. 

Mr. Hosford is an independent voter. He is an extensive reader and 
student of history, law and instructive texts. He is one of the best in- 
formed men of his age in Boonville. Mr. Hosford is a member of the 
Presbyterian Church and is fraternally affiliated with the Knights of 
Pythias, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Modern Woodmen of America 
and the Woodmen of the World. 

Edward G. Scott, officer at the Missouri Training School in charge 
of the laundry, has held his present position for 19 years and is one of 
the most trustworthy and capable officials of the State Training School. 
Mr, Scott is a member of an old pioneer family in Missouri and was born 
in Boonville March 21, 1862. 

Adam Scott, his father, was born in Cooper County in 1819 and died 
in 1908. He-was a son of Robert Scott, a Virginian, who was the son of 
Adam Scott, a soldier of the Revolution who was one of the early pion- 
eers of this section of Missouri. The Scotts came to Cooper County in 
1819. Adam Scott (III) married Kate Gentry. She was born in 1839 
and died in 1915. She was a daughter of Benjamin Gentry a pioneer of 
Pettis County, Mo., and a native of Kentucky. For some years Adam 
Scott conducted a merchandise store at Boonville and then bought a farm 
one and a half miles south of the city, where he lived until he retired 
to a home in Boonville about 1890. The children born to Adam and Kate 
Scott are: Mrs. Robert Snyder, living south of Boonville; Edward G. 
Scott, of this review; Mrs. Joseph Combs, deceased; Charles Scott, Kan- 
sas City, Mo.; Jessie, wife of Joseph Combs, Boonville; Lola Scott, 
Boonville. 

When Edward G. Scott was 18 years of age he went to New Mexico 
and engaged in the cattle business for three years. In 1883 he returned 
to Boonville and farmed on the Scott home place south of the Boonville 
until he took up his duties as one of the officers at the Missouri Training 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 463 

School in 1900. Mr. Scott is owner of 40 acres, of valuable land adjoin- 
ing the Scott home place. He was married in 1903 to Miss Kate Dwyer, a 
daughter of William Dwyer of Pilot Grove, Mo. He is a Democrat. Per- 
sonally, Ed Scott is a genial, whole souled, capable citizen who has many 
friends. 

Dr. Robert L. Evans. — The 28 years of medical practice which Dr. 
Robert L. Evans has had in Cooper County have been replete with suc- 
cess and his career has been such as to place him in the front rank of 
the Cooper County physicians. During all these years he has enjoyed a 
large practice and is well liked and highly respected by the people of 
the county. Doctor Evans was born on a farm in Boon County, Mo., 
Oct. 13, 1865. 

His father, Willis J. Evans, was born in 1817 and died in 1868. He 
was a native of Kentucky who came to Missouri when a young man and 
eventually created a fine farm in Boone County. He married Jane Mor- 
gan Vanhorn, who was born in Maryland, Jan. 29, 1826, and died Sept. 
23, 1914. Her parents moved from Maryland to Virginia and came to 
Missouri in 1838. Her father founded the famous Van Horn Tavern, 
situated on the highway between Rocheport and Columbia, which for 
years was the midway point between these two towns and was the 
stopping place for the stages which plied from town to town over the 
Old Trails road. Willis J. Evans, prior to his marriage, drove a stage 
coach between Columbia and Lexington and made his headquarters in 
Boonville. After he had begun farming he operated a stage line. He 
was married in 1843 and had a family of 13 children, only six of whom 
are now living: Mrs. Ella Angell, living on a farm two and a half miles 
east of Rocheport, Mo. ; John G., Columbia, Mo. ; I. V. Evans. Rocheport, 
Mo.; Mrs. J. N. Darby, Burnett, Texas; L. L. Evans, Fairland, Okla. ; 
and Dr. Robert L. Evans, of this review. 

After attending the State University, Robert L. Evans entered the 
Missouri Medical College at St. Louis and graduated therefrom in 1891. 
He immediately began the practice of his profession and has practiced 
continuously in Cooper County, four years of which was at Pilot Grove, 
the rest of the time being in Boonville. He returned to Boonville in 1898. 

In October, 1896, Doctor Evans was married to Miss Grace Simmons, 
of Pilot Grove, Mo., a daughter of A. N. and Martha Simmons, the former 
of whom is deceased and the latter lives at Pilot Grove. 

Doctor Evans is a member of the Cooper County Medical Society, 
the Missouri State and the American Medical Associations. He is a spe- 



464 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

cial physician for the Missouri Training School of Boonville. He is a 
member cf the Methodist Episcopal Church, South and is fraternally 
affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Ancient 
Free and Accepted Masons. Doctor Evans is past master of the Boon- 
ville Masonic Lodge, a Knight Templar and member of the Ararat Tem- 
ple of Mystic Shriners. 

Henry Fricke, owner and proprietor of the "Prairie Home Stock 
Farm," one of the notable country places of Cooper County, is a native 
of Missouri. He was born in St. Louis County, Jan. 18, 1852, and is a son 
of Henry and Wilhelmina (Lindeman) Fricke, both natives of Germany. 
Henry Fricke, the father, settled in St. Louis upon coming to this country 
from his native land. Here he worked at his trade, which was that of a 
stone mason. He met with an accidental death Avhile digging a well. 
After his death, his widow came to Cooper County, about 1855, and here 
married Ferdinand Ohlendorf. Mrs. Wilhelmina (Fricke) Ohlendorf died 
March 30, 1904, and her remains are buried in the Evangelical Lutheran 
Cemetery of Clarks Fork. 

Henry Fricke, the subject of this sketch, was educated in the public 
schools of the Washington School District, and the German school at 
Pleasant Grove. He began life as a farmer and stockman, and has met 
with considerable more than ordinary success. He is known and recog- 
nized as one of the leading breeders of Cooper County, and for the past 20 
years has given special attention to breeding Hereford cattle. He is also 
an extensive feeder, and has shipped stock on a large scale and has been 
very successful in all his undertakings. Mr. Fricke bought his present 
farm of 320 acres in 1881, at $23.50 per acre. This land was originally 
entered from the Government by Henry Berger at the regulation Govern- 
ment price of 25 cents per acre. It is located 12 miles from Boonville 
and three miles northwest of Prairie Home, on Jefferson Highway. In 
striking contrast to the modem improvement on this place, stands an old 
log cabin, which was built by Mrs. E. P. Adams, at a very early date. 
The Fricke residence is one of the attractive places in this part of the 
county. It is surrounded by a picturesque grove of maple trees, which 
Mr. Fricke, himself, planted. At one time, Mr. Fricke was the owner of 
500 acres of land, but he sold 180 acres. The Fricke place is one of the 
historic old landmarks of the early days. The Fricke residence occupies 
the site of the old stage station, where the stage horses were changed 
enroute from Boonville to Jefferson City, and here is where Ely P. Adams 
conducted an old-time tavern in connection with the stage station. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 465 

Feb. 14, 1873, Henry Fricke was united in marriage, in Clarks Fork 
township, with Miss Caroline Kostedt, a daughter of Christian and Chris- 
tina (Hasenjoger) Kostedt, both natives of Germany. Mrs. Fricke was 
born in St. Louis County, Sept. 13, 1853, and came to Cooper County with 
her parents March 26, 1869. They settled in Clarks Fork township, 
where the parents spent the remainder of their lives, and their remains 
are now interred in Lutheran Cemetery of Clarks Foi-k. They were the 
parents of the following children: William, Peoria, 111.; Mrs. Christine 
Poese, Lone Elm ; Herman, Fairland, Okla. ; Caroline, the wife of Henry 
Fricke, the subject of this sketch; Fred, who was accidentally killed in 
St. Louis; and Charles, died in Clarks Fork township at the age of 21 
years. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Fricke have been born the following children: 
Sophia, married Peter Hein, Clarks Fork township ; Mary, married Walter 
Hoerl, Prairie Home township; Henry F., Sedalia, Mo.; Christ F., Prairie 
Home ; Clara, married Martin Smith, Lone Elm ; Martha, resides at home ; 
Anna, died at the age of 24 years ; Minnie, married Harry Muntzel, Clarks 
Fork township; and George H., Sedalia. 

In addition to his extensive farming and stock interest, Mr. Fricke 
has taken an active part in the development of other important enter- 
prises in the county. He took a prominent part in the organization of 
both the Bunceton and Prairie Home fairs, and is at present a member of 
the board of directors of the Prairie Home Fair. He was one of the or- 
ganizers of Clarks Fork Farmers Mutual Fire, Lightning and Tornado 
Insurance Co. of Cooper County. This company was organized in Nov., 
1892. and was incorporated Feb. 25, 1915. Mr. Fricke is now the only 
charter member on the board of directors of this company. This is one 
of the substantial institutions of its kind, and the following gentlemen 
constitute its present board of directors and officers: John King, presi- 
dent: C. H. Toeliner, secretary; P. G. Meisenheimer, treasurer; Conrad 
Greibold, Emil Bittner, John Brandes, Henry Fricke, and Emil Derend- 
inger, directors. 

Mr. Fricke is also interested in the Cooper County Bank, of which 
he is a member of the board of directors. He is also a stockholder in the 
grain elevator at Bunceton. 

Mr. Fricke is prominently identified with the republican party, and 
was his party candidate for county judge of the eastern district of Cooper 
County, and while the opposition partv has a normal majority of about 
(30) 



466 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

600 in this district, Mr. Fricke lacked but a few votes of being elected. 
Mr. Fricke is one of Cooper County's most substantial citizens, and he 
and his family are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of 
Clarks Fork. 

John F. Hack, baker at the Missouri Reformatory since 1891, and 
for the past 15 years in charge of the commissary at the school, has had 
40 years' experience at his trade. He was born in Henderson County, 
Ky., Jan. 27, 1859, and is a son of Andrew Hack (born 1822, died 1891), 
a native of Bavaria, Germany. 

Andrew Hack emigrated from his native country when a young man 
and operated a tailor shop and clothing business at Henderson, Ky., until 
1863. In that year he went to Jeffersonville and was employed as a 
journeyman tailor until his death. His wife, prior to her marriage, was 
Mary Weisenberger (born 1834, died 1869), a native of Baden, Germany. 
Andrew Hack was father of five children, namely: Emil, a druggist at 
Sewickley, Pa.; George, died in 1915; John F., of this review; Edward, 
a candymaker in St. Louis, Mo. ; Rosa Hack, a trained nurse at Jeffer- 
sonville, Ind. 

John F. Hack was reared and educated in Jeffersonville, Ind., and 
learned his trade at New Albany, Ind. In 1883 he located at Washing- 
ton, Ind., and was employed at his trade for two years. In 1888 he went 
to Pana, 111., and remained in that city for two years. In 1890 he was 
baker at the Indiana Reformatory for seven months. After six months 
spent in St. Louis he came to Boonville and took charge of the bakery 
and commissary at the Missouri Training School. 

Mr. Hack is a Democrat of the old school of Democracy. He was 
reared in the Catholic faith but has no church ties, believing in the 
brotherhood of man in so far as he can practice it and live rightly and 
sanely. He is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and 
is a citizen who keeps abreast of the times and is an expert in his 
profession. 

John S. Underwood, office assistant to the superintendent of the 
Missouri Reformatory, Boonville, was born at Pleasant Hill, Mo., Oct. 
29, 1884. 

John S. Underwood, his father, was born in October, 1844, in the 
neighborhood of the Cass-Johnson County line, and was the son of Jack- 
son County pioneer parents. He was reared on the farm and for 25 
years was engaged in the buying and shipping of live stock at Pleasant 
Hill, Mo. He removed to Boonville in August, 1918, and is living a re- 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 467 

tired life. A brother, Fletcher Underwood, was killed while serving in 
the Southern Army during the Civil War. His wife was Miss Josephine 
Winters prior to her marriage and she was born at Port Gibson, Miss., 
in 1856. Soon after her birth her parents located in Missouri and some 
time later located in Louisiana and again came to Missouri after the 
Civil War. John S. and Josephine (Winters) Underwood were parents 
of the following children: Mrs. Elizabeth Wilson, Lamar, Colo.; Tessie, 
wife of Newton H. Johnson,. Boonville; Mrs. Hazel Shortridge, Pleasant 
Hill, Mo.; Harry W. is in the live stock commission business at Kansas 
City; John S., subject of this sketch. 

After completing the courses of study in the public and high schools 
of Pleasant Hill, Mr. Underwood attended the Central Business College at 
Kansas City, Mo. For two years he was then employed in the stock 
yards of Kansas City. Jan. 1, 1905, Mr. Underwood came to Boonville 
and was employed in the law office of William F. Johnson as stenographer 
and also by the late Judge W. M. Williams for several years. He studied 
law under the tutelage of these gentlemen and was admitted to the bar 
in 1907. He began the practice of his profession in Boonville and served 
as assistant prosecuting attorney under W. F. Johnson. Mr. Underwood 
was elected county treasurer of Cooper County in 1912 and served for 
four years, then resumed the practice of his profession. He filled the 
post of secretary of the Boonville Commercial Club from 1905 to 1917 
and was for three years secretary and treasurer of the Cooper County 
Building and Loan Association. He was secretary of the Cooper County 
Automobile Association and served as secretary of the County Council 
of Defense during the World War. 

Mr. Underwood was married on Aug. 6, 1907, to Miss Dora Brewster 
of Boonville and to this marriage have been born three children : Dorothy, 
born June 19, 1910; Josephine, born Sept. 16, 1912; and Elizabeth, born 
Feb. 7, 1919. Mrs. Dora (Brewster) Underwood is a daughter of Harry 
and Willis (Trent) Brewster, both of whom died when Mrs. Underwood 
was but a child. Mrs. Willis (Trent) Brewster was a daughter of W. 
W. Trent. 

The Democratic party has always had the steadfast allegiance of 
Mr. Underwood. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church and is affil- 
iated with the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of America 
and the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, in all of which fraternal 
societies he takes an active interest. 



468 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Fred Lohse, one of the best known and most substantial of the "old- 
time" residents of Clarks Fork township, was born in Germany in 1843, 
a son of Hans and Katrina (Schlater) Lohse, both of whom also were 
born in that country and who spent all their lives there. M. Lohse, a well- 
known grocer at Boonville, is a brother of Fred Lohse. Another brother, 
Martin, was living at Hamburg at the time communication between this 
country and Germany was interrupted during the World War and no 
word has been received regarding him by the brothers here since that 
time. 

Reared in Germany Fred Lohse received his schooling there and re- 
mained in that country until after attaining his majority when, in 1866, 
he came to this country, locating in Cooper County. Here he has made his 
home ever since. Upon his arrival here, Mr. Lohse for a time worked for 
John King, then took employment on the James Martin farm and was 
for six years thus engaged, for $14 a month. He then transferred his 
services to the Daniels farm and for seven years was employed there, re- 
ceiving from $18 to $20 a month. He then rented the George Adams farm 
for five years, when he bought from Doctor Potter a quarter section of 
the farm where he since has made his home. Mr. Lohse later bought 
from John Hedgepath 50 acres and has a fine place of 210 acres, which 
he has well improved. Mr. Lohse's farm is four miles west of Prairie 
Home. Among the improvements are a substantial farm house, two 
bams, 48x50 and 30x40, a 12x30 silo and other buildings. The place is 
well adapted to the raising of live stock. Of late years, he has been con- 
tent to "take things easy" in the pleasant "evening time" of his life and 
some time ago turned over the active management of the farm to his son, 
Ernest Lohse. Mr. Lohse has always been interested in church work and 
was one of the organizers of the first church erected at Clarks Fork and 
helped build the same, there being at that time about twenty members 
of the congregation, under the ministration of the Reverend Lauger. He 
also contributed substantially to the erection of the later church, built 
about 10 years ago. 

In 1872, Fred Lohse was united in marriage to Annie Schmidt, a 
daughter of Claus Schmidt, one of the old settler's of Clarks Fork town- 
ship. Mrs. Lohse died in 1896 and is buried in Clarks Fork cemetery. 
To her union with Fred Lohse, eight children were bora : Margaret, mar- 
ried August Kaiser and is now deceased; John, a farmer and stockman, 
of Clarks Fork township ; Henry, of same township ; Lena, deceased ; Wil- 
liam, deceased; Martin, a farmer and stockman, of Clarks Fork town- 



V. 





HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 469 

ship; Ernest, on the home farm for his father; Sophia, wife of William 
Fricke, Clarks Fork township; and Walter, now fanning on Lone Elm 
Prairie, who was but an infant when his mother died and was reared in 
the family of a kinsman, Morris Naumann. Mr. Lohse has 14 grand- 
children, and in them he takes much delight. These grandchildren are 
Wilbur, Grace Marie and Bernice Lohse; Raymond, Roy and Anna Kai- 
ser; Lorine, Clara, Edna and Roy Lohse; Frances Elaine Lohse; Norbert 
and Lucille Fricke, and Laura Naumann. 

Ernest Lohse was reared on the farm of which he now has practical 
charge, relieving his father of the burden of management, and has from 
his boyhood devoted his attention to the cultivation of the place. June 
19, 1912, he was united in marriage to Emma Natalie Weller, who was 
born and educated in California, Mo. To this union one child has been 
born, a daughter, Frances Elaine. Mrs. Lohse is a daughter of John and 
Elizabeth (Holzer) Weller, who are now living in California, Mo. John 
Weller was born in Ohio and his wife in Iowa. They have four daughters, 
of whom Mrs. Lohse is the third in order of birth, the others being Otillie 
Pearl, Flora Rosetta and Alma Ursula. 

Dr. Walter L. Dugan. — The 14 years in the practice of his profession 
in Cooper County have established Dr. W. L. Dugan firmly in the esteem 
and regard of a large number of patients. His career as a physician 
has been a successful and useful one which has merited just recognition 
of his capabilities. Doctor Dugan is a native Missourian and was born 
March 19, 1860 on a farm in Webster County, not far from Springfield. 

George W. Dugan, his father, was born in 1810 and died in 1885. 
He was born in Kentucky and was a son of Kentucky pioneer parents 
who in turn were early settlers in Tennessee. George W. Dugan was 
reared in Tennessee and made a permanent settlement in Webster County, 
Mo., in 1843. He developed a fine farm in that county and was twice 
married. His second wife was Rebecca Benahaw, who was born in Ten- 
nessee in 1825 and departed this life in 1906. She was of English descent. 
By a former marriage George W. Dugan was father of 18 children. His 
second marriage resulted in the birth of three sons: Milton, killed in a 
railroad accident at Parsons, Kan., in 1917; Dr. Walter L., of this review; 
Addison Watts Dugan, lives at Wendling, Ore. 

Walter L. Dugan was educated at the Mountain Dale Seminary in 
Webster County and the Henderson Academy. For eight years he suc- 
cessfully taujrht school in his native county and in 1888 he began the 
study of medicine in a physicians office. In 1889 he entered the College 



470 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

of Physicians and Surgeons at St. Louis, Mo., and graduated from this 
college with the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1891. For the next 10 
years he practiced medicine in Laclede County, Mo. In 1901 he located 
in Barton County, Mo., and remained there for four years. On Dec. 3, 
1904, he located in Cooper County and has practiced his profession with 
offices at Clarks Fork and at Boonville continuously since that time. 
Sept. 25, 1918, Doctor Dugan came to Boonville, the advent and universal 
use of the automobile, and the continuous betterment of the highways 
of the county enabling him to care for his large country practice from 
this city with convenience. 

On Sunday, July 31, 1881, Dr. Walter L. Dugan and Miss Addie 
Josephine Derry of Mercer County were married at Long Lane, Dallas 
County, Mo. Mrs. Addie Dugan is a daughter of Abraham Derry, who 
is descended from Pennsylvania ancestry. Doctor and Mrs. Dugan have 
four children: Eugenie, Beatrice, Myrtle and Gertrude. Mrs. Eugenie 
Kissel lives in Barton County, Mo., and has there children: Alma, Lloyd, 
and Edwin. Beatrice Dugan is a teacher in the Mt. Sinai School, Cooper 
County; Mrs. Myrtle Sharp lives at Independence, Mo., where her hus- 
band is employed as telegraph operator. She is mother of two children: 
Edward and George. Gertrude Dugan is a teacher in the Cooper County 
schools. 

Doctor Dugan is a Democrat and a member of the Baptist Church. 
He is fraternally affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. 

Dr. George A. Russell, city physician, Boonville, with offices at the 
corner of Spring and Sixth streets, is one of the best known among the 
successful physicians of central Missouri. Doctor Russell was born near 
Darlington, Lafayette County, Wis., Oct. 22, 1860. 

His father, John B. Russell, was born in Waterloo. N. Y., and died 
in 1914 at the age of 86 years. He was a son of Dr. George W. Russell, 
a native of New York, and descended from a Massachusetts family of 
English origin. Dr. George W. Russell practiced his profession in New 
York until his removal to Gratiot, Wis., where he died at the age of 
70 years. He followed farming in Wisconsin in connection with his 
me'dical practice. John B. Russell was married to Elona Abell, of Brad- 
ford, Pa., daughter of Capt. Daniel Abell. She died at the age of 43 
years After his marriage, John B. Russell settled upon a tract of land 
in Lafayette County, Wis., and developed a fine farm from land which 
cost him a few dollars an acre. In old age he retired to a home in 
Platteville, Wis. His children are: Dr. George A. Russell, of this review; 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 471 

Edward Russell, Platteville, Wis.; Mary, life of Robert Dugdale, editor 
of the "Grant County News." Platteville, Wis. 

George A. Russell graduated from the Darlington, Wis., high school 
in 1880, and then studied at the Northwestern University, Evans ton, 111. 
In 1884 he entered the office of Doctor Can- at Apple River, 111., later 
entering the Hahnemann Medical College, Chicago, graduating therefrom 
in 1888. After two years' practice in Boonville, Mo., he went to Sedalia 
on March 1, 1890, and for eight years was a partner of Doctor Abell. 
Doctor Russell returned to Boonville in 1898. In addition to an extensive 
practice he is filling the post of city physician. 

In 1900 he was married to Emily Wadlow, of Sedalia, Mo. 

Doctor Russell is a Republican and has filled the office of coroner of 
Cooper County. He is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted 
Masons. 

Frank J. Felton, farmer and stockman of Cooper County, residing 
at 609 East Spring street, Boonville, is owner of 490 acres in his home 
farm in Boonville township formerly owned by Professor Kemper, foun- 
der of the Kemper Military School and which the professor had intended 
for a site for his school (and is also interested in an "80"). This farm 
is located about four and a half miles south of Boonville and was pur- 
chased from the Kemper heirs by Mr. Felton in 1889. The Felton farms 
are well improved and devoted to general farming and stock raising. Mr. 
Felton was born on a farm six miles east of Boonville Oct. 15, 1863, and 
is a son of Hubert Felton, born in 1834 and died in 1896. 

Hubert Felton was born in Germany and immigrated to America in 
1853. He returned to his native land in 1855 and there married Annie 
Catherine Leslie. He lived in Boonville for a short time after his return 
and then settled on his farm east of Boonville. He sold this tract in 
1861 and then purchased land near Prairie Lick which he developed and 
which is now owned by his sons. Mr. Felton became a large land owner 
and was very successful. He removed to Boonville in 1888 and spent his 
last days in comfortable retirement in this city. To Hubert and Annie 
Catherine Felton the following children were born: Mrs. Bena Huff, 
Pilto Grove, Mo.; Joseph, Boonville; Christena, Boonville; Michael, on 
the old home place of the familv; Frank H., of this review: John R.. a 
farmer; Herman, a farmer; Katie, deceased. 

What schooling Frank J. Felton received was obtained in the Hickory 
Grove school house. He has always been a farmer from his boyhood 
days. His first investment was the old Kemper tract of 400 acres to 



472 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

which he has added additional land. Mr. Felton removed to Boonville 
in 1909. 

Nov. 16, 1909, Frank J. Felton and Miss Laura Whitehurse were 
united in marriage. Mrs. Laura Felton was born in Cooper County near 
the old Kemper farm and is a daughter of Ferdinand and Mary (Scheide- 
mantle) Whitehurse, natives of Lorraine, France, and Cincinnati, re- 
spectively. Mr. Whitehurse came to America at the age of nine years. 
He was born in 1838 and died in 1896. The Whitehurse family made a 
settlement in Cooper County and his descendants are well to do agricul- 
tural folk. Ferdinand Whitehurse was a Union soldier who came to 
Cooper County after the close of the Civil War. He served four years 
in an Ohio regiment and participated in many battles. 

Mr. Felton is a Democrat. Mr. and Mrs. Felton are members of 
Sts. Peter and Pauls Catholic Church of Boonville and Mr. Felton is 
fraternally affiliated with the Knights of Columbus. 

Heinrich Gronstedt, one of the well known and substantial farmers 
of Clarks Fork township, was born at Nordlengen, Hillscheim, Hanover, 
Aug. 16, 1853, and remained in his native country until he was 27 years 
of age when he came to America, arriving on this side Nov. 4, 1880. 
The following winter and the next spring he spent in Hancock County, 
111., and then, in June, 1881, came to Missouri and located in Cooper County, 
where he ever since has resided. 

In 1884, the year of his marriage, Mr. Gronstedt bought 80 acres of 
land in Prairie Home township and has since been farming there. In 
1905, he bought more land in Clarks Fork township and in 1910 bought 
another tract and now owns 260 acres. Since buying this farm, Mr. 
Gronstedt has improved the place, including a new farm house, two barns 
and other buildings. He carries on general farming and stock raising. 

Nov. 5, 1884, Heinrich Gronstedt was married to Margaret Theiss, 
who was born near Jamestown, Mo., and who died at her home in Clarks 
Fork township, Oct. 18, 1899, and is buried in the Lutheran cemetery at 
Clarks Fork. To Heinrich and Margaret (Theiss) Gronstedt_ were born 
six sons, namely: Fred, born Feb. 1, 1886, Dec. 6, 1911, married Blanche 
Wolf and is now farming in Clarks Fork township; Hermann, April 6, 
1887, assisting his father; Frank, March 18, 1889, also at home; William, 
Sept. 20, 1891, at home; Martin, Aug. 29, 1896, who has recently returned 
from overseas service in the United States army ; and George, Feb. 15, 
1899, at home. Martin Gronstedt, the soldier son, was inducted into the 




HEINRICH GRl (NSTEDT 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 473 

army and after preliminary training on this side was ordered in Nov., 
1918, with his command to sail for overseas service. The vessel on which 
he and his comrades sailed was three days at sea when a wireless message 
brought the tidings that an armistice had been signed and that the war 
thus virtually was over. Not long after the command reached European 
shores, preparations were begun for its return and in December he was 
flustered out and returned home. William Gronstedt, the fourth son, 
enlisted for service in the World War Sept. 19, 1917, and was attached to 
the 354th Infantry, with which he confidently expected to get into the 
overseas service, but the later discovery on the part of the medical exam- 
iners of a slight physical fault due to an injury to one of his hands re- 
ceived in boyhood days resulted in his discharge on an examiner's cer- 
tificate of disability in the following December. Mr. Gronstedt and his 
sons are members of the Lutheran Church. 

Frank S. Sauter, vice-president of the Boonville National Bank, Boon- 
ville, is one of the best known and successful men in central Missouri 
and a member of the substantial Sauter family of Cooper County. He 
was born in Germany in June, 1858, and is a son of Matthew and Rosa 
Sauter, former well known residents of Boonville, a sketch of whom 
appears elsewhere in this volume in connection with the history of the 
family. 

Frank S. Sauter was but litte over a year old when his parents 
landed from a Missouri River steamboat at Boonville in October, 1859. 
Mr. Sauter was reared on his fathers farm in Cooper County and became 
interested with his brothers in the mercantile business under the name 
of Sauter Mercantile Company. Mr. Sauter applied himself to farming 
for a number of years and in 1895 engaged in banking. He organized 
the Fanners Stock Bank at Blackwater, Mo., and served as cashier of 
this bank for 12 years. In 1907 he returned to Boonville and a short 
time later he organized the Citizens Trust Company of Boonville. He 
was one .of the charter members of the trust company which later bought 
out the Fanners Bank which was later consolidated with the Boonville 
National Bank of which Mr. Sauter is vice-president. Mr. Sauter is a 
Republican and a citizen whose fidelity and interest in the upbuilding of 
his home city and county is well known. 

Col. John S. Elliot. — One of the outstanding figures in the develop- 
ment and upbuilding of Boonville and central Missouri was the late Col. 
John S. Elliot of Boonville, pioneer railroad builder, banker, and influ- 



474 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

ential citizen whose generosity to his home city will long be remembered. 
Colonel Elliot was a native Missourian and a son of one of the first 
native born pioneers of this section of the State. 

His father. Col. Newton G. Elliot, was born in Howard County, Mo., 
March 3, 1812, and died Jan. 3, 1877. He was a son of John Elliot a 
Virginian who removed to Kentucky with his father. After his marriage 
to Polly Glasgow, he set out for Missouri, he and his bride riding horse- 
back the entire distance, in 1811. John Elliot subsequently took part 
in the Indian wars of the period from 1812 to 1815 and founded a home 
on the then frontier. Col. Newton G. Elliot was reared in Howard 
County, and became prominent in the official life of this section of Mis- 
souri. In 1837 he served as justice of the peace. He served as a member 
of the Missouri State Legislature in 1852. Prior to this he had filled the 
office of sheriff of the county from 1848 to 1852. In 1838 he had been 
elected captain of the company organized to expel the Mormans from 
western Missouri and became commandant of the organization. In Octo- 
ber, 1839, he was elected major of the 14th Regiment of State Militia. 
In 1840 he was commissioned lieutenant colonel of this regiment. He 
became interested in railroad building and in 1869 he became a director 
of the Tebo and Neosho railroad, now the Missouri, Kansas & Texas 
railroad. In 1872 he became a director of the Boonville Bridge Company. 

Col. Newton G. Elliot's first wife was Elizabeth Wilkerson. His 
second wife was Martha W. Stewart, a daughter of Hugh and Elizabeth 
Stewart. 

John S. Elliot was born March 16, 1844, and was reared and edu- 
cated in Howard County. He completed his education in Central College 
at Fayette, Mo. His first business experience was in the stock business 
with his father until 1869. The opportunity then presented itself for 
him to engage in railroad construction work as a contractor. He took 
the contract for the building of the Tebo and Neosho railroad from 
Moberly to Fayette and completed the work in 1872. The railroad com- 
pany was in need of large numbers of ties for further building and repairs 
to the road bed. Mr. Elliot took the contract for supplying the railroad 
company (The M. K. & T.) with ties. This contract lasted over a num- 
ber of years and resulted in considerable profit to Colonel Elliot. He 
made his home in Boonville and identified himself with the growth and 
well being of the city. He engaged in the banking business in 1881 and 
later became president of the Commercial Bank, identifying himself with 
the organization of this bank in 1883. He served as president of this 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 475 

bank until he was succeeded by the late Jacob F. Gmelich in 1888. 
Colonel Elliot was one of the organizers of the Boonville Water Works 
Company, which gave to the city its water supply. He served as presi- 
dent of this company during its existence. He was largely interested in 
Boonville real estate and in Central Missouri farm lands and left a con- 
siderable estate at his death. March 11, 1915. 

November 15, 1882, he was manned to Miss Laura Speed, a daughter 
of William P. Speed, born in 1816, came to Cooper County in 1840 and 
died in this county June 27, 1863. The wife of William P. Speed was 
Sarah Ardell Hutchison, before her marriage. She was a daughter of 
Col. Jack Hutchison, a Cooper County pioneer. Mrs. Laura Speed Elliot 
departed this life in 1912. Grief over the loss of his wife caused the 
death of Colonel Elliot three years later. One son survives: John Speed 
Elliot. 

Colonel Elliot was a democrat who took a considerable interest in 
county and state politics more on account of a love of the political game 
than any other motive, inasmuch as he had no aspirations for public 
office. He was a Mason, this lodge having charge of the obsequies con- 
ducted at the grave of this distinguished citizen. Colonel Elliot was kind 
hearted, liberal to a high degree and ever ready to extend the hand of 
charity or to give freely of his means to assist his home city. One of 
the notable gifts to the city of Boonville was the "Hayden" lot upon which 
was erected the Laura Speed Elliot High School so named in memory of 
Mrs. Laura Speed Elliot. 

Herman Schnack, retired, and living comfortably in his beautiful 
residence at 600 East High street, Boonville, is one of the best known of 
the substantial and wealthy citizens of Boonville. Mr. Schnack was born 
at Hornerkirchen, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, Oct. 15, 1849. He is a 
son of Christian Frederick and Magdalene (Pingel) Schnack, who lived all 
of their lives in their native village. Herman Schnack was not contented 
to remain in his native land, however, and accordingly, he left the old 
home of the family on May 29, 1869, aboard ship from Hamburg, Ger- 
many. After landing at Castle Garden, New York, he came directly to 
Boonville and thence to the Clarks Fork neighborhood in the southeastern 
part of Cooper County where he was employed as farm laborer for the 
next two years. He then went to St. Louis and was employed in that city 
until 1871. After a period of employment in the sawmills of Wayne 
County, Mo., he returned to St. Louis and was employed there until 1873 
when he returned to Boonville. From 1888 until 1918, Mr. Schnack was 



476 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

engaged in the retail liquor business in Boonville and was very successful 
from a financial standpoint. Mr. Schnack erected one of the finest brick 
residences in Boonville and is owner of the brick building in which the 
Manion & Muntzel clothing store is located. 

December 13, 1877, Herman Schnack and Wilhelmina Ohlendorf were 
united in marriage. Mrs. Wilhelmina Schnack was born in Clarks Fork 
township, Oct. 7, 1858, and is a daughter of Ferdinand Ohlendorf, a sketch 
of whom is given in this volume. The following children were born of 
this marriage: Wilhelmina, deceased wife of F. J. Muntzel; Emma, 
wife of William L. Koenig, automobile dealer, Boonville; Elsie, wife of 
Harry T. Manion, of the New Clothing Store, Boonville. 

Mr. Schnack is a republican and is well informed, genial, kindly dis- 
posed, and is one of the city's liberal and progressive citizens who has 
ever been ready to lend assistance in counsel and money to advance the 
prestige and growth of his home city. 

Fritz Sieckman, who died at his farm home in the Overton neighbor- 
hood in Saline township in the spring of 1913, was a native of Germany. 
He was born in 1855 and was but a boy when he came to this country with 
his parents, the family first locating at Washington, Mo., and moved from 
there to Warren County, where they settled on the farm and there the 
parents spent the remainder of their lives. Mr. Sieckman married in 
Warren County and three years later, in 1890, moved from there to Osage 
County, where he remained until 1901, when he moved with his family to 
Cooper County and bought the farm in Saline township on which his 
widow and the younger children of the family are still living. His orig- 
inal purchase there was of 130 acres, but he bought an adjoining tract 
and at the time of his death was the owner of 190 acres. There he died 
April 22, 1913, being then 58 years of age, and is buried in the Clayton 
cemetery. Mr. Sieckman was a member of the Evangelical Church, as is 
his widow, and their children were reared in that faith. 

After her husband's death, Mrs. Sieckman assumed the management 
of the home place, kept her family together, carried out necessary im- 
provements on the place and during the recent absence of her elder son 
in the United States naval service she bravely assumed the double burden 
of management thus laid on her shoulders and in times of scarcity of help 
pluckily took up the most pressing out-door labors, the care of stock and 
such other duties as thus devolved upon her. 

Mrs. Sieckman was born, Fredericka Wehmeyer, in Germany, in 1867, 
a daugher of Fritz and Charlotte (Erske) Wehmeyer, the former a vet- 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 477 

eran of the German army, who came with their family to the United 
States in 1882 and to Missouri, locating on a farm in Warren County, 
where in 1887, five years after her arrival here, the daughter Fredericka 
was married to Fritz Sieckman. Mrs. Sieckman's parents both are living 
at Hermann, Mo. They have five children, those besides Mrs. Sieckman 
being Mrs. Caroline Vahrenburg, of Warren County ; Mrs. Augusta Vieth, 
of Kingfisher, Okla. ; Mrs. Emma Schwartz, of Warren County, and Charles 
Wehmeyer, of Boone County. 

To Fritz and Fredericka (Wehmeyer) Sieckman eight children were 
born, namely : Ida, born Feb. 21, 1890, wife of Henry Kosf eldt, of Overton ; 
Lena, March 22, 1892, wife of Gilbert Korte, of Boonville ; Edward, April 
14, 1894, who died at the age of 23 years and is buried at the Clayton ceme- 
tery; Otto, Feb. 5, 1896, who has but recently returned home from more 
than a year's service in the United States navy in the World War; Alma, 
Dec. 17, 1897; Laurence, Feb. 4, 1900; Martin, July 16, 1903, and Lorena, 
Aug. 5. 1911. Otto Sieckman, the sailor son, enlisted Dec. 5, 1917, at St. 
Louis. He was sent to the Great Lakes Naval Training Station at Chi- 
cago and after three weeks of training there was transferred to Phila- 
delphia, whence a week later he was sent to New York and thence to New- 
port, where he was assigned to the U. S. S. "Canandaigua", a mine layer 
attached to Base 18 at Inverness, Scotland, and on that vessel was engaged 
in laying mines in the North Sea from May until the signing of the 
armistice, continuing attached to Base 18 until Dec. 9, when he was trans- 
ferred to the U. S. S. "Arkansas" at Portland, England, and with that 
vessel formed part of the convoy which went out to meet the "George 
Washington", which was bearing President Wilson to France to attend 
the Versailles peace conference, and thus helped escort the President to 
Brest. He left Brest Dec. 14 and on the 26th arrived at New York, where 
he was transferred to the receiving ship "New York". Not long after- 
ward he was transferred to the mine-sweeper "Osprey" and served on 
that vessel until his discharge about a month later. He arrived home 
Jan. 25, 1919, and is again looking after the affairs of the home farm, 
having many a thrilling and interesting tale to tell of his service in the 
submarine zone during the closing months of the war. One of Mrs. Sieck- 
man's nephews, Fritz Vahrenburg, also rendered sen-ice during the time 
of this country's participation in the World War with the American Expe- 
ditionary Forces in Europe 

Anthony Smith, retired merchant. Boonville, was bom Nov. 22. 1848, 
in Chariton County, Mo. He is a son of John and Catherine (Lock) 



478 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Smith, natives of Prussia, who immigrated to America in 1839 and 
settled in Charitan County. 

John Smith was a pioneer blacksmith in Charitan Count and had 
a shop on his farm which he conducted until his early death in 1844. 
Catherine (Lock) Smith, his wife, died in 1885 at the home of her son, 
Anthony, in Boonville, where she resided during the last 18 years of 
her life. There were nine children born to John" and Catherine Smith, 
eight of whom were reared to maturity : John, deceased ; Nicholas, Bar- 
bara, and Peter, deceased; Mrs. Mary Grubbs, lives in Charitan County, 
Mo. ; Matthias, served three years in the Union Army during the Civil 
War, and lives at Lansing, Kan, with his children; Catherine, deceased; 
Anthony, subject of this review. Six of the foregoing children were 
born in Germany. 

In the spring of 1864 Anthony Smith left Chariton County, after 
serving for a short time with the Missouri State Militia. He crossed 
the plains to Nevada and drove a freighting team to Salt Lake City. He 
remained in the western country for three years, worked in the timber, 
and hauled cord wood to the stamp mills at Virginia City. He wit- 
nessed the glory of the great mining camps of the West when at their 
greatest prosperity and recalls the wild days of the famous Virginia 
City camp. In 1867, Mr. Smith returned to Missouri and established 
himself in the mercantile business at Boonville. He remained in busi- 
ness pursuits until 1898 when he sold out his business and retired. 

In April, 1868, Mr. Smith was married to Catherine Franken, who 
was born at Cologne, Germany, May 21, 1849, and accompanied her 
parents to America in 1854. She was a daughter of Urban and Sybilla 
(Proepper) Franken, who with their eight children settled on a farm 
located on the Jefferson City road seven miles southeast of Boonville. 
On the way across the Atlantic, the father of the family died and was 
buried in mid ocean. The Franken children were: Joanna, Peter Joseph 
and Theodore, deceased; Mrs. Mary Heinen, California; Peter, deceased; 
.Mrs. Margaret Meistrell, Boonville. Catherine was buried in Germany ; 
Henry, died at Boonville, Mo., his home having been at Norborne, Mo. 

The children born to Anthony and Catherine Smith are: Joseph, Ed- 
ward, and Antoinette, deceased; Mrs. Henrietta Am, St. Louis, Mo.; 
Urban Albert, a music dealer, Boonville ; Dr. Arthur J. Smith, Boonville ; 
Olive, wife of John F. Wright, Dallas, Texas; Augusta, a trained nurse, 
St. Louis, Mo. ; Oscar, deceased ; Bertha, at home with her parents ; Laura 
Cecelia, a music teacher, Boonville; Warner a plumber, Boonville; Helen, 
wife of John G. McNair, St. Joseph, Mo. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 479 

Dr. Arthur J. Smith was born Oct. 21, 1875 and received his educa- 
tion in the public and high schools of his native city. Entering Wash- 
ington University at St. Louis, he graduated from the medical depart- 
ment in 1901. Doctor Smith immediately began the practice of his pro- 
fession at Boonville. In June, 1913, he enlisted in the Missouri National 
Guard. On April 30, 1918, Doctor Smith was commissioned first lieu- 
tenant in the Medical Corps of the National Army. Previous to this he 
had served with his command on the Mexican border from August, 1916 
to June 5, 1917, having been mustered out of the service at Fort Riley. 
Since his second enlistment Lieutenant Smith was stationed at Camp 
Travis, Texas. On May 20, 1919, he embarked at New Orleans en route 
to the Panama Canal Zone, where he will be stationed. He is a skilled 
physician and his services are appreciated and valued by his superior 
officers in the National Army. Keen of intellect, well informed, pro- 
gressive, and studious, Doctor Smith has had a successful career thus 
far with a bright future before him. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have given 
all of their children the advantage of a good education and a training 
for some profession. They have 14 grandchildren. On April 30. 1918 
this aged and worthy couple celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. 
Doctor Smith served for three years in Mullanphy Hospital in St. Louis 
and was assistant associate surgeon at St. Joseph Centenary Hospital 
from 1902 to 1916. 

To digress and go back to the beginning of the history of the Smith 
family in America, it is well to state that the Smith family set sail from 
Havre, France, and landed a New Orleans. They traveled for six weeks 
on the road from their native city of Saint Wendel to Havre. The name 
of the vessel which earned them to this country was the "George Hud- 
dlebut." They were 42 days upon the ocean. The Frankens came across 
the Atlantic in a steamship, which they boarded at Antwerp, Holland, 
and in 10 days voyaging landed at New York. After 12 years' residence 
on the farm the Franken family moved to Boonville. Two of the sons 
of the family fought in the Civil War on the Union side. 

Anthony Smith, on his westward trip, crossed the Missouri River 
at St. Joseph on April 15, 1864 and arrived at his destination in the West 
on July 15, 1864. He returned to his home in Missouri by the Nicara- 
guan route, landing at Greytown, crossing the Isthmus and again took 
ship at San Juan, thence north. 

Mr. Smith is a Republican. He and his family are devout Catholics 
and are members of the Sts. Peter and Paul's Catholic Church. 



480 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Henry A. Allen, one of Saline township's progressive farmers, was 
born in Delaware County, Ohio, Oct. 9, 1862, son of Thomas and Elizabeth 
(Stottlemeier) Allen, both natives of Pennsylvania, the former born in 
1817 and the latter in 1824, who were married in Delaware County, Ohio, 
and there resided until about 1874 when they came to Missouri with their 
family and located in Moniteau County, later coming to Cooper County, 
where they spent the remainder of their days. Mrs. Allen was 71 years 
of age when she died and Mr. Allen lived to the great age of 89 years, and 
both are buried in Clayton cemetery. Thomas Allen and his wife were 
the parents of 11 children as follows: John, died at the age of 11 years; 
Mrs. Mollie Landon, of Delaware County, Ohio; Elizabeth, St. Louis 
County, Mo. ; Emma, of Boonville ; Jennie, widow of Michael Gray, 
Shawnee, Okla. ; Henry A. ; Edward, Overton ; Margaret, deceased ; Charles, 
of Fowler, Cal. ; Thomas, Fowler, Cal., and Caroline B., wife of Frank 
Henderson, St. Louis 

Henry A. Allen completed his schooling in the Sherman district school 
in Moniteau County and was about 21 years of age when he came to 
Cooper County, in 1883. Here he rented the W. P. Eager farm in Saline 
township and continued to make that his home for 33 years. In the 
meantime he bought from Thomas Tucker a farm of 117 acres, two miles 
southeast of Overton and for 3 time lived on that place, but in 1915 moved 
back to the Eager farm, where he is now living, renting his own farm. 
Mr. Allen is an energetic and progressive farmer and has always done 
well. In the current year (1919) he has 170 acres of wheat and 60 acres 
of corn and has a drove of about 50 head of hogs, together with a sufficient 
number of horses and cows for farm and dairy needs. For years Mr. 
Allen has been one of the most persistent and energetic good roads "boost- 
ers" in the county and for some time served as overseer of roads in his 
home township, during this incumbency being able to accomplish much 
toward the betterment of the roads in that part of the county. He is a 
member of the local lodge of the Woodmen of the World at Gooch's Mill, 
as are all his sons and sons-in-law, and his wife and four daughters are 
members of the auxilliary lodge of the Woodmen's Circle. 

Jan. 22, 1886, Henry A. Allen was united in marriage to Addie Ander- 
son, who was born in Cooper County, and to this union four daughters 
have been born, namely: Mary E.. wife of Troy Neal, of Saline town- 
ship; Maud, born on June 26, 1889, wife of A. Hagan Windsor, of Clarks 
Fork township: Novel, Dec. 2, 1891, wife of William Lamm, Overton, who 
was born in the vicinity of Wooldridge. July 12, 1891, and Bessie, May 21, 





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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 481 

1893, wife of William Diehl, of Boonville, who is now (spring of 1919) 
with the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe. William Diehl en- 
listed May 23, 1918, for service in the World War and sailed in July fol- 
lowing for overseas service, a member of the 351st Infantry, 88th Divi- 
sion and was at the front when the armistice was signed. He was hon- 
orably discharged and arrived home June 5, 1919. Mr. and Mrs. Allen 
have four grandchildren, Thelma Rae, Allen Walker, and Orville Fluke 
Neal, and Agnes Ruth Lamm. Mrs. Allen was born in Saline township, a 
daughter of John Anderson and wife, both long since deceased. Mr. John 
Anderson was a Union veteran. Her mother died when she was but an 
infant and she was reared in the family of William Eager, with whom she 
was making her home at the time of her marriage to Mr. Allen. She 
was the last born of the four children born to her parents and she has 
three sisters, Rena, wife of Mel Bailey, of Overton; Loretta, wife of 
Thomas Douglas, of Windsor, and Sarah, wife of John Ainsworth, of 
Franklin. 

Edgar Thomas Hale, county surveyor, and county engineer of Cooper 
County, is making a record for thorough and conscientious work in his 
profession that has given him a reputation as an engineer second to none 
in Central Missouri. Mr. Hale is also filling the post of city engineer 
for Boonville and is one of the busiest county officials in Cooper County. 
He was first elected to the office in 1904 and has served in the capacity of 
county surveyor since Jan., 1905. Many fine bridges have been erected 
under his supervision and planning in Cooper County and the splendid 
system of county roads have been graded during his period of service. 
The Turley bridge across the Lamine River, also the Dick bridge, across 
the Blackwater, five miles east of the town of Blackwater, were erected 
under his supervision. Mr. Hale has had sole charge of all of the modern 
bridge, culvert and road work in Cooper County during the past few 
years. He surveyed the site for the Laura Speed Elliot High School 
building, the new court house and had charge of all street improvement, 
paving and bridge work in the city. 

Mr. Hale was born in a log cabin on the Hale farm six miles southeast 
of Boonville, and is a son of Thomas Wagner Hale, former well known 
farmer of Cooper County. Thomas Wagner Hale was born in Tennessee 
in 1832, of Holland Dutch descent and died in 1907. His wife was Eliza- 
beth Partis born in 1844 and departed this life in 1911. She was born in 
London, England, a daughter of David Partis, a cooper by trade who after 
(31) 



482 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

making several trips to America, decided to settle in this country. He 
settled in Cooper County in 1850, locating 10 miles southwest of Boon- 
ville where he followed his trade until his death. Thomas Wagner Hale 
was the son of Thomas Hale of Tennessee who settled in Cooper County 
on a farm adjoining the Partis place in 1837. William Hale, a son of 
Thomas Hale, crossed the Great Plains in 1849, went to the gold fields 
of California and never returned. During his lifetime, Thomas Wag- 
ner Hale developed a fine farm of 107 acres and about six months prior 
to his death he located in Boonville. He served in the 45th Missouri 
Regiment during the Civil War and fought with the Union forces in Mis- 
souri, Arkansas, and Tennessee, contracting a severe illness. He was 
treated in the Jefferson City Hospital for some months and as a result of 
his illness he lost the power of speech and never regained it during the 
remainder of his life. He was father of seven children, as follows: Mrs. 
Rosa H. Smith, Liberty; Dr. Byron L. Hale, Cherry vale, Kan.; William 
D. Hale, deceased ; Mrs. Millie A. Monroe, Boonville ; Street L., deceased ; 
Edgar Thomas Hale of this review; and Dr. Tyre H. Hale, of 801 Easton 
avenue, St. Louis, Mo. 

E. T. Hale was educated in the Hooper Institute. Clarksburg, the 
State Normal School at Denton, Texas, and the State Normal School at 
Warrensburg, Mo. He holds a State teachers certifice in both Texas and 
Missouri and taught school for five years in Texas. While engaged in 
teaching he specialized in engineering and began his professional career 
in 1904 in his native county. Success has marked his efforts. Mr. Hale 
recently disposed of the old Hale Farm which had come into his possession. 

January 13, 1908, he was united in marriage to Miss Flora Lohse, of 
Boonville, who died Feb. 13, 1916. Mrs. Flora (Lohse) Hale was a daugh- 
ter of M. Lohse of Boonville, a slcetch of whom appears in this volume. 

Mr. Hale is a republican. He attends the Sunday School and Divine 
services at the Methodist Episcopal church and is a member of the 
Knights of Pythias. 

William L. Koenig. — Fair dealing and honesty in business trans- 
actions are keynotes of the business policy pursued by the Koenig Auto 
Sales Company at the Corner of Main and Chestnut streets, Boonville. 
The concern was established Jan. 25, 1918, by William L. Koenig and has 
met with success from its very inception. The Hudson, Essex and 
Chevrolet automobiles are sold by Mr. Koenig over a considerable extent 
of territory. The Essex is a new automobile manufactured by the Hud- 
son Motor Car Company of Detroit and is a splendid machine which is 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 183 

rapidly becoming a prime favorite among auto lovers. During the past 
season it has been almost impossible to supply the demands for this auto- 
mobile, so universal has been the acclaim accorded it on the standpoint 
cf utility, compactness and beauty of design, speed and action on the 
load. A storage room is operated in connection with the sales depart- 
ment of the Koenig Company with space 90x90 feet, a show room and a 
rspair department operated by expert mechanics is also maintained. 

William L. Koenig is a native of Cooper County and was born at 
Prairie Lick, June 23, 1886. His father, William Koenig, was born in 
1853 and died in 1909. William Koenig was a native of Wisconsin and 
was a son of Joseph Koenig, a native of Germany, who first settled in the 
woods of Wisconsin and then came to Cooper County where he settled in 
1865 in the Prairie Lick neighborhood. Mr. Koenig was reared on the 
farm at Prairie Lick and followed farming until his removal to Boonville 
in 1891. Here he engaged in the implement business and became inter- 
ested in politics, serving two terms as sheriff of Cooper County. During 
his period of service he officiated at the hanging of three convicted mur- 
derers. During his first term of sheriff the murderer "Jacko" paid the 
penalty of his crime for the killing of the city marshal and met death 
upon the scaffold. During William Koenig's second term he officiated 
at the hanging of Spinner Reeves who was convicted of brutally mur- 
dering his wife. After his second term as sheriff expired, Mr. Koenig 
engaged in the hardware and seed business but again entered politics 
and was elected county collector. He died while serving the county in 
this capacity, a popular and highly esteemed county official. His son, 
William L. Koenig, was appointed to fill the unexpired term made vacant 
by his father's death. 

William Koenig married Miss Louisa Hirsch who was born in 1862. 
To this marriage were born four sons and three daughters: George, liv- 
ing in Chicago, 111.; Mamie, deceased; William L., of this review; 
Mrs. Rosa True, St. Louis, Mo. ; Clara, deceased, and Lawrence. 

Lawrence Koenig enlisted in the National Army on Jan., 1918, and 
became a member of the Aviation Corps as a pilot. At this writing he 
is in training at Riverside, Cal. 

After attending the public and high schools of Boonville, William L. 
Kcenig pursued a course at Central Business College, Sedalia, Mo. From 
1904 to 1907 he was in the employ of Kingman's Implement Company, 
St. Louis, Mo. He returned to Boonville in 1907 and entered upon his 
duties as deputy county collector under his father. Upon his father's 



484 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

death in 1909 he filled out the unexpired term until 1911. During the 
fall of 1910 he was a candidate for election to the office and was elected 
for another term of four years, serving as county collector until 1915. 
Mr. Koenig then purchased a local bus and transfer business and oper- 
ated this until Feb. 11, 1917. Disposing of the transfer business he 
entered the employ of the Viertel Garage as automobile salesman until 
beginning business on his own account in 1918. Mr. Koenig formerly 
had the agency for the Dodge cars but sold this agency to George Esser. 

July 13, 1909, William L. Koenig and Miss Emma Schnack were 
united in marriage. Mrs. Koenig is a daughter of Herman Schnack of 
Boonville. 

Mr. Koenig is a democrat and has generally taken an active part in 
the affairs of his party. He is a thorough business man, a good sales- 
man, and an excellent citizen who has the best interests of his native 
county and city at heart. 

Colbey Coward Groom, who died at his farm home, the old Kickashear 
place, at the edge of Overton in Saline township in 1912, was a Virginian. 
He was born in Louisa County, in 1859, a son of Samuel and Sallie (Smith) 
Groom, and was reared and educated in that county. Samuel Groom was 
born in Kentucky but in 1812 his parents returned to Virginia. Samuel 
was a babe in arms at the time being carried in the arms of his mother, 
who made the trip on horseback. Of the 12 children born to Samuel 
Groom and wife two are now living, John M. Groom, of Bunceton, and 
James Groom, Shady Side, Ohio. 

In 1880, Colbey C. Groom came to Cooper County. Not long after 
coming here he bought a part of the farm now owned by Henry Schnuck 
in Saline township and settled there in 1883. Not long afterward, how- 
ever, he sold that place to Mr. Schnuck and then bought from Mrs. Mar- 
garet Kickashear, his wife's mother, the farm at the edge of Overton on 
which he spent the remainder of his life. He died in 1912. He is buried 
in the Clayton cemetery. It was on that farm on Oct. 29, 1883, that 
Colbey C. Groom was married to Emma Kickashear, her parents having 
moved there when she was but a child, she receiving her schooling in 
the Highland school. The Groom farm is one of the best in that section 
of Cooper County and is admirably located just at the southeast edge of 
Overton. Of the 300 acres in the farm 110 acres is Missouri River bot- 
tom land and the rest upland, the place thus not only being an excellent 
grain producer but well adapted to stock raising. Mr. Groom was a man 
of excellent qualities and left a good memory in the neighborhood. He 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 485 

was a member of the Woodmen of the World at Gooch's Mill, the Modern 
Woodmen of America at Overton and of the Modern Brotherhood at 
Wooldridge, and in the affairs of these several organizations, as well as 
in church work and in the general social affairs of the community took a 
hearty interest, he and his family having been among the organizers of 
the Sunday school of the Highland Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 

Mrs. Emma K. Groom is a daughter of Joseph and Margaret (Rymel) 
Kickashear and was born on the place on which she is now living. The 
cabin in which she was born and in which her parents began housekeeping 
is still standing on the place. This cabin originally occupied the site of 
the present farm house, but when the latter was erected was moved over 
to make room for the new house and is carefully preserved as a relic of 
pioneer days. Joseph Kickashear was an Italian who came to America 
in the days of his young manhood and in 1852 became a resident of Cooper 
County. His name was Chicazolla, but the soft Italian pronunciation of 
this name apparently was too difficult for his Missouri neighbors, who by 
common consent "Americanized" it to Kickashear, a process to which 
Mr. Chicazolla offered no serious objection and in this latter form it has 
now been the family name for three generations. In 1855 Joseph Kicka- 
shear married Margaret Rymel, a member of one of the pioneer families 
of this neighborhood, and settled on the farm on which his widow is still 
living. Mrs. Kickashear now 83 years of age, is the only living chai'ter 
member of the Highland Cumberland Presbyterian Church and still main- 
tains her interest in that organization, a constant attendant at Sunday 
school and otherwise interested in the work of the church. She is well 
and active and during the recent war knit 50 pair of socks for the Red 
Cross. She and her husband were the parents of seven children, of whom 
four are still living, those besides Mrs. Groom being the following: Mary 
Frances, Aberdeen, Wash., widow of George Johnson: Andrew J., Sedalia: 
and Virginia Leta, wife of Fred Schilb, postmaster at Prairie Home. The 
deceased members of this family are Martha, who died in infancy; George, 
who died at the age of 21 vears, and Morris, who married Kate Hickman 
and who. as well as his wife, died, leaving a son Joseph, then 10 years of 
age, who was reared bv Mrs. Groom and who died at the age of 19 in L914. 

To Colbey C. and Emma (Kickashear) Groom were born seven chil- 
dren. Of these a son, the third in order of birth, and a daughter, the 
fifth in order of birth, died in infancy, the others being as follows: Joseph 
Hurt Groom, named in honor of his maternal grandfather and Dr. Hurt, 
of Boonville, and who is now farming in Saline township; Bessie, wife of 



486 . HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Emest H. Ambrose, farmer, Overton; John Clay Groom, farmer, Saline 
township; George K., who died at the age of 20 years, and Colbey Coward 
Groom, who is farming the home place. He married Dena Grannemann, 
of Saline township, and has a daughter, Dorothy Pauline. Mrs. Groom 
has seven grandchildren, Zerelda Hazel and George Ambrose. Laura Vir- 
ginia, Jessie Madeline and Dorothy Pauline Groom and Paul and Chapman 
Groom. As noted above, Mrs. Groom and her husband were the chief 
promoters of the organization of the Sunday school of the Highland Cum- 
berland Presbyterian Church and during the 21 years of that school's 
service she has missed voluntarily attendance but four Sundays and for 
CO ■• avs was the teacher of one cia3S. 

Emil H. Mueller, one of the best known and successful citizens of 
Boonville, is a native of Germany. He was born Sept. 10, 1865, at Zeller- 
feld, Hanover. Germany, and is a son of Edward and Julia (Hoehne) 
Mueller, the former of whom was a well educated man who followed the 
profession of mining engineer in his native country. The father died in 
Germany in 1918, and his widow still resides in her native town, aged 73 
years. Edward and Julia Mueller were parents of six children, all of 
whom were sons: Albert, who followed the teaching profession in Ger- 
many, is deceased; Emil H., subject of this review; Hugo died in infancy; 
Herman died at the age of 14 years; Leopold, who is following in his 
fathei-'s footsteps and is a mining engineer in his native country ; Fred- 
erick, a postal service official in Germany. 

Emil H. Mueller received an excellent education in the public schools 
of his native city and attended a private school at Clausthal, Hanover. 

entered the mercantile business and received a thorough training in 
this "business in Germany until 1889 when he emigrated to America. Prior 
to this time he had served for two years in the German army, from 1885 
to 1887. He first located at Versailles, Mo., and was there engaged in 
the mercantile business for one year; then spent one year at Deepwater. 
Mo. After two and a half years in business at Pilot Grove, Mo., he came 
to Boonville and established himself in the retail liquor business in 1895. 

Whatever may be said about the saloon business by its opponents 
it tan be stated of Mr. Mueller that he always endeavored to conduct a 
quiet orderly place in Boonville and carried on his business strictly in 

rdance with the laws regulations. He is a striking exception to the 
usual influence which the conduct of the business has had upon the saloon 
man and has been an excellent citizen who has carefully saved his profits 
and heavily invested in Boonville real estate. Now that national legis- 



HISTORY OF COOPEE COUNTY 487 

lation has put an end to the business which Mr. Mueller has followed for 
30 many years he has no regrets and no incriminations against the oppon- 
ents of the liquor traffic. He owns one of the finest brick residences in 
Boonviile, modern in every respect, erected in 1916 on lots which he pur- 
chased in 1901. He is also owner of six residence properties in the city 
most of which are acreage tracts, besides two business properties on 
Main street. Mr. Mueller is a genial, well informed citizen, who is a 
booster for Boonville's prosperity and growth at any and all times. 

May 6. 1897, Emil H. Mueller and Miss Sallie Smith of Pilot Grove 
were united in marriage. Two children were born of this union: Helen 
Mueller, born March 26, 1898: Edward Mueller, bom Sept. 13, 1899. 
Mrs. Sallie (Smith) Mueller is a daughter of Squire John E. and Lucy 
(Marshall) Smith both of whom were old and well known residents of 
Cooper County. Squire Smith died in 1915 and his widow makes her 
home with Mr. Mueller, having attained the advanced age of 72 years. 

Mr. Mueller is a republican and is a member of the Evangelical 
church. He is fraternally affiliated with the Knights of Pythias. 

August Brueckner. — When a building site for the location of the 
splendid, new St. Joseph's Hospital was desired in Boonviile, the pro- 
moters had little difficulty in finding a place on the high bluffs of the 
Missouri River just east of the main part of the city. A more ideal loca- 
tion for the hospital could not be desired and it was the public spirited 
and kindly impulse of August Brueckner to dispose of 11 acres of his 
land for this purpose at less than its actual value, the sale price being $200 
per acre. The remaining 30 acres of the Brueckner land is devoted to 
fruit raising and is one of the most valuable fruit farms in Cooper County. 
Mr. Brueckner moved to this place from his farm in 1904, erected a large 
handsome brick residence facing the grounds of the Missouri Training 
School and set out an orchard. His orchard was planted in 1905 and con- 
's of peaches, pears and plums, containing 500 peach trees, and 50 pear 
trees, 60 cherry trees and embracing five acres in all. Mr. Brueckner 
raises alfalfa as well as small fruits and is kept busily employed in caring 
for his orchards. 

August Brueckner was born on a farm one mile south of Boonvillr. 
Aug. 28, 1855. He is a son of John M. and Margaret Brueckner both of 
whom were born in Germany. His parents emigrated from Germany in 
IS',2 and John M. Brueckner settled on his farm and resided thereon until 
his death in 1906 at the age of 82 years. He reared a family of five sons 
and a daughter: George, the eldest son was killed by lightning; August, 



488 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

subject of this review; Gustav A., lives in Boonville; William L., retired 
farmer living in Boonville ; John lives in Henry County, Mo. ; Louisa, wife 
of Rudolph Kennis, Boonville. 

When he was 26 years, August Brueckner rented land from his 
father. He was industrious and saving and in 1890 he was enabled to 
purchase his own farm of 136 acres. This tract was without improve- 
ments of any value and Mr. Brueckner, in the course of a few years placed 
excellent improvements on the farm and from year to year made money. 
In 1904, the condition of his wife's health demanded that he leave the 
farm and he accordingly sold out and purchased his present place. The 
old Brueckner farm is now owned by G. A. Brownfield. 

Mr. Brueckner was married in 1890 to Miss Bettie Smith of Cooper 
Cooper County, a daughter of Nicholas Smith. Three children have been 
born to this marriage: Laura, at home with her parents; Nettie, wife of 
George Neff , St. Louis, Mo. ; Victor A., bookkeeper in the office of Roeder 
& Weyland. 

Mr. Brueckner is inclined to support the republican party but has 
little time to devote to political matters. He is a member of the Evang- 
elical Lutheran church and is a good, progressive citizen who loves his 
home county and is whole souled, genial and kindly. 

Herman Kaiser, Sr., one of the real "old-timers" of Saline township, 
was born in Hanover, June 30, 1837, and was 22 years of age when in 1860 
he came to this country with his parents, Henry and Mary (Warneck) 
Kaiser. They settled on the place in Saline township now owned by Mr. 
Kaiser, who has been a continuous resident of that place since coming 
here more than 59 years ago. When the Kaiser family settled there in 
1860 the place was an unimproved woodland tract and the task of making 
a clearing for the home and getting the place under cultivation was no 
small one. At that time Jacob Schilb, Henry Meyer, Isaac Glass, Joseph 
Pursley and Colonel Dalton were about the only neighbors anyways near 
the Kaiser place and Gooch's Mill was the trading point of the settlement. 
John Clayton being the proprietor of the only store there at that time. 
On that pioneer farm Henry Kaiser and his wife spent the remainder of 
their lives, the latter dying in 1870 and the former in 1875, and both 
are buried in the Lutheran church yard. Of the children born to this 
pioneer pair and who accompanied them here from Hanover, the subject 
of this sketch is the only one now living. 

During the Civil War Herman Kaiser served as a member of the 
Home Guard, and on account of the numerous Confederate forays made 




HERMAN KAISER, WIFE AND GRANDCHILDREN. 




HERMAN KAISER, WIFE \\'l> DAITGHTERS 




HERMAN KAISER, WIFE AND SONS 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 489 

through this section saw considerable active service and had a number of 
exciting experiences. He married in 1866 and established his home on 
the home place, where he ever since has resided, in time coming into full 
ownership of the same, and as time passed made improvements until all 
the original buildings on the place had been supplanted by newer and more 
commodious buildings and an excellent farm plant was created. In ad- 
dition to his general farming Mr. Kaiser also for years has been more or 
less actively engaged in the raising of live stock. Of late years he has 
lived practically retired from the active management of the farm, turn- 
ing the same over to his son, Herman Kaiser, Jr. He recalls that Luth- 
wick Haxel owned the first "self-binder" reaping machine brought to this 
neighborhood and that immediately afterward, in the same season, he 
bought a "binder", Ulrich Oerly buying one at the same time. The junior 
Herman Kaiser, who is now in charge of the farm, has the same pro- 
gressive spirit as his father and is doing well. 

Herman Kaiser, Sr., has been twice married. In 1866 he was united 
in marriage to Mary Gatchet, who was born on April 3, 1844, and to that 
union 10 children were born, namely: John, born Nov. 28, 1866, died at 
the age of 19 years ; Elizabeth, Dec. .15, 1867, wife of Charles Schrader, 
Saline township; Wilhelm, Feb. 1, 1869,' Wooldridge ; H. Heinrich, Dec. 28, 
1870; Emma C, Jan. 19, 1873, married C. R. Diehl and died Nov. 19, 1908; 
R. Sophia, Feb. 17, 1875, died Oct. 13, following; M. Louisa, Aug. 10, 1876, 
wife of Henry Hazel, Prairie Home township; A. Catherine, Oct. 15, 1878, 
married Martin Lohse and died May 2, 1907; Anna C, Jan. 15, 1881, wife 
of Otto Stock, Moniteau County, and Ida M., Dec, 17, 1884, married 
Edward McFall and died Nov. 19, 1906. The mother of these children 
died Aug. 21, 1885, and Sept. 3, 1886, Mr. Kaiser married Mrs. Louisa 
(Heckermann) Broer, widow of Carl Broer, and to this union two children 
have been born, L. Marie, bora Aug. 2, 1887, wife of Emil Klatt, Moniteau 
County, and A. \Y. Kaiser, Nov. 30, 1888. Mrs. Kaiser's first husband, 
Carl Broer, died June 30. 1874. She married him in 1869 and to that 
union were born two children, Charles Broer, born Feb. 9, 1870, now liv- 
ing in St. Louis, and Cordelia, Nov. 14, 1871, wife of H. Winkelmeyer. 
of Boonville. Mrs. Kaiser was born in Germany and received her school- 
ing in the private school at Pleasant Grove, her first teacher there having 
been the Reverend Juengel, who had about 40 pupils. The Kaisers have 
ever taken an interested part in church work. 

Matthew Cleary, farmer and stockman, and well known dealer in live 
stock, residing at 626 East Morgan street is a native born citizen of 



490 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Cooper County. Mr. Cleary was born on a farm near Bunceton, Jan. 21, 
1863. 

John Cleary, his father, was born in Ireland in 1812 and died in 
Cooper County, 1884. He came to America in 1852 and for some years 
he was employed in railroad construction work. Following the line of 
the railroad his work eventually brought him to Cooper County, Mo. Mr. 
Cleary rightly decided that this beautiful and productive country was the 
best place on earth in which to buy a farm, settle and rear a family. He 
had married Catherine Clifford, a native of Ireland, and to this marriage. 
seven children were born, three of whom are living, viz: John Cleary. 
Wichita, Kan.; Edward Cleary, Boonville, Mn. ; and Matthew, subject of 
this review. The mother of this family died in 1869. John Cleary later 
married Martha Johnson who bore him two children: Mrs. Eliza Farris, 
Boonville, Mo. ; and Helen, deceased. 

Matt Cleary attended the Concord district school and the parochial 
schools of Boonville. He began his own career when he became of age 
but embarked as a live stock trader when he was but 16 years old. He 
accumulated 300 acres of ground of which Mr. Cleary sold 80 acres in 1917 
and is now owner of 220 acres of good land located six miles south of 
Boonville. During his career he has handled a great amount of live 
stock and formerly supplied the local meat markets when the dealers con- 
ducted their own abattoirs. He is now raising and feeding from one and 
a half to two carloads of hogs each year. 

Mr. Cleary has been twice married. His first marriage took place in 
Jan., 1890, to Christina Oswald, who died Jan. 14, 1891, leaving one child. 
Laura, who married Barney Youngkamp and died at Manhattan, Kan.. 
July 4, 1912, leaving one child, Virginia May Youngkamp. 

Mr. Cleary's second marriage occurred May 2, 1900, to Miss Julia 
Darby, born Nov. 1, 1868 in Geneseo, New York, a daughter of Patrick 
Darby and Ellen Coleman Darby, who came to Cooper County and settled 
near Billingsville, Mo., in 1869. Soon after Mrs. Darby's death in 1899, 
Patrick Darby left the farm and located in Boonville, where he died Jan.. 
1917. Seven children were born to Patrick and Ellen Darby, viz: John. 
Nelson, Mo.; James, Shreveport, La.; Mrs. Matthew Cleary; Edward, a 
merchant, Boonville, Mo.; Eugene, engaged in the implement business. 
Boonville, Mo.; Edward died at the age of four years; Mrs. Mary Gart- 
hofner, Boonville. 

Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Cleary have three living children, viz: Ger- 
trude, attending the Catholic Seminary at Marshall, Mo.; Edith, also a 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 491 

student at Marshall, Mo.; Louise, attending the Boonville schools; one 
child died in infancy. 

The democratic party has always had the steadfast allegiance of 
Matt Cleary and he has alwavs been somewhat interested in civic and 
political matters. He filled the position of street commissioner of Boon- 
vi'le from 1912 to 1914 at the time the street paving system was placed 
under way and at times had as high as 50 men in his charge working on 
the city improvements. He and Mrs. Cleary are members of Sts. Peter 
and Paul's Catholic church. Mr. Cleary is affiliated with the Knights of 
Columbus and the Modern Woodmen of America. 

John E. Walterscheid, retail liquor dealer, Boonville, Mo., was born 
in Moniteau County, Mo., Dec. 3, 1864. He is a son of Peter and Caro- 
lina (Baker) Walterscheid. Peter Walterscheid, his father, was born 
near Killan, Germany, and came to this country when a boy, settling on a 
farm in Moniteau County, where he died in about 1870. His wife, Caro- 
line Baker Walterscheid, was born near Dayton, Ohio, in 1840, and died 
in 1914. She was a daughter of pioneer parents in Moniteau County, 
who were natives of Germany. Twelve children were born to Peter and 
Caroline (Baker) Walterscheid, eleven of whom were reared: Catherine, 
deceased ; Peter, lives at Tipton, Mo. ; Mrs. Louisa Strickfadden, lives at 
Prairie Home, Mo.; John E., subject of this sketch; Joseph, lives at St. 
Louis, Mo.; William, a farmer in Clarks Fork township; Frank, a farmer 
in Moniteau County, Mo.; Mrs. Emma Imhoff, Walters, Okla. ; Charles, 
a resident of Pilot Grove, Mo. ; Mrs. Mary Scheid, Prairie Home, Mo. ; Mrs. 
Rosa Imhoff, Moniteau County, Mo. ; Edward, lives in Kansas. The last 
five children were born of a second marriage of Mrs. Walterscheid to 
Joseph Sweitzer. 

John E. Walterscheid was reared in Moniteau and Cooper Counties 
and learned the blacksmith trade in his youth. He plied his trade, at 
Prairie Home and California, Mo. In 1898 he established a hardware 
business at Prairie Home, Mo., and a short time later he engaged in the 
saloon business at California. 

Mr. Walterscheid came to Boonville in 1903 and established his pres- 
ent business. He was married in 1890 to Louisa Imhoff of Moniteau 
County, a daughter of Michael Imhoff. Five children have been born of 
this union: Herman J., Peter, Paul, Lulu, and Gertrude. 

Herman J. Walterscheid was born in 1892, enlisted in the National 
Army in Sept., 1917, and was stationed at Governor's Island, De- 



492 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

partment of Manhattan, as departmental clerk. He received his honor- 
able discharge on May 8, 1919. 

Peter Walterscheid was born in 1893, and is employed at Hannibal, 
Mo. He enlisted in May, 1917, and was trained at Fort Riley, and Camp 
Funston, was first sergeant, entered the Officers' Training School and was 
honorably discharged from the service in Dec, 1918. 

Paul Walterscheid, aged 24 years, is a mechanical draughtsman, in 
the employ of the C, B. & Q. R. R., Hannibal, Mo. Lulu, aged 22 years, 
and Gertrude, aged 15 years, are at home. Mr. Walterscheid is an inde- 
pendent voter. 

Charles Lewis Eager, properietor of "Elmwood Farm", is a native of 
Cooper County. During his boyhood, in war times, there were many 
stirring scenes in and about Gooch's Mill, incidents due to the irrepress- 
ible clash of sectional feeling, and he has many interesting stories to tell 
of that period, stories of tragedies that thrilled the neighborhood and 
created lasting impressions in his memory. Mr. Eager was born May 5, 
1850, son of Lewis and Cynthia A. (Gooch) Eager, the former of whom 
was connected with the mill that had been established by his father-in-law 
and was afterward proprietor of the mill and long one of the most influen- 
tial citizens in that part of Cooper County. 

Lewis Eager was a native of Virginia, born in Louisa County, May 1, 
1809, and came to Cooper County in pioneer days. Here he married 
Cynthia A. Gooch, daughter of William D. Gooch, the pioneer miller. She 
was born in Albemarle County, Virginia, in 1814, and was about ten years 
of age when her father, William D. Gooch, moved with his family from 
Virginia into Ohio. About five years later, about 1830 Mr. Gooch left 
Ohio and with his family came to Missouri, locating in this county and 
erecting in Saline township the mill which bore his name and around 
which gathered the settlement which was the nucleus of the present thriv- 
ing town of Gooch's Mill. Originally, this mill derived its motive power 
from the watercourse along which it was built, but after the death of 
Mr. Gooch his son-in-law, Lewis Eager, who was a millwright, who became 
proprietor of the mill, installed a steam plant and for years afterward 
operated the mill. He died in 1881 and is buried at Gooch's Mill. His 
wife had long preceded him to the grave, her death having occurred in 
1859, and she also is buried at Gooch's Mill. Lewis Eager and his wife 
were the parents of four children: John William Eager, deceased; Mary 
Louisa, deceased; Tyre Harris Eager, Muskogee, Okla. ; and Charles L. 

In addition to his milling operations Lewis Eager also was the owner 
of a good farm and his youngest son, Charles Lewis Eager, was from the 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 493 

days of his boyhood interested in the work of the farm. Upon complet- 
ing his schooling he gave his undivided attention to farming and has ever 
pursued that vocation and in time became the owner of his present fine 
place, "Elmwood", a mile east of the old mill site. His house is of modern 
construction, equipped with an acetylene gas plant, and he has two good 
barns and other buildings in keeping with the same. Of late years Mr. 
Eager has been living more or less "retired" from the active manage- 
ment of the farm, the operation of which is being carried on by his young- 
est son, Paul Raymond Eager. 

In 1876 Charles Lewis Eager was united in marriage to Rebecca 
Shepherd, a daughter of Levi and Joanna (Campbell) Shepherd, of Saline 
township. Levi Shepherd was born in the vicinity of Independence. Mo., 
and became a well-to-do farmer of Cooper County. He and his wife spent 
their last days in Saline township and are buried at Gooch's Mill. To 
Charles L. and Rebecca (Shepherd) Eager five children have been born, 
namely: Anna Lee, wife of Fred Keifer, of Saline township; Lewis Vir- 
gil, a graduate of Kemper Military School .and a Free Mason, who died 
at the age of 26 years; Ethel, wife of Joseph T. Hickam, of Saline town- 
ship; Clarence Levi, of that same township, and Paul Raymond on the 
home farm. Mr. and Mrs. Eager have 11 grandchildren, namely: Herbert, 
Charles Shelby, Eunice Ethel, Ruth Jane, Helen Marie, Emma Lorine and 
Aubrey Wayne Hickam ; Anna Lewis and Charles Frederick Keiffer, and 
Hazel Louise and Powell Milton Eager. 

Mr. Eager is a democrat and a member of the Baptist Church. He 
is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Prairie Home, 
Mo. 

William G. Pendleton. — The name of Pendleton has long been an 
honored and respected one in Cooper County. The history of the family 
in Cooper Countv begins with the advent of the late Dr. George T. Pendle- 
ton in 1855. The law firm of W. G. and G. T. Pendleton oi floonville is 
one of the best known and efficient legal firms in the county and central 
Missouri, William G. Pendleton, the senior member of the firm having been 
engaged in the practice of law in this county since 1878, and during that 
time has filled positions of honor, trust and usefulness in the city of Boon- 
ville. He was bom Jan. 6, 1854, in Oldham County, Kentucky. 

Dr. George T. Pendleton was born in Jefferson County, Ky., Dec. 2, 
1824, and died in Cooper County, Mo., Jan. 25, 1883. George T. Pendle- 
ton was reared and educated in his native county and began the study of 
medicine after having secured the groundwork of an academic preparation. 
He studied at the Louisville Medical College and graduated from this 



494 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

institution. He was married on May 1, 1851, to Miss Catherine A. Ma- 
g ruder. In 1855 or 1856 he removed to Missouri and located near Pilot 
Grove, Cooper County, where for nearly 30 years he practiced his pro- 
fession successfully and honorably. While practicing medicine he fol- 
lowed the custom of his day and lived on his farm, the cultivation of 
which he directed. Dr. Pendleton was a man greatly beloved and re- 
spected in the community and his passing was marked with deep regret 
and sorrow from the hundreds of people to whom he had ministered in 
time of sickness and trouble. Naturally gifted, well educated, the pass- 
ing years only ripened his intellect and capabilities and he became one 
of the leading physicians of Central Missouri. 

Dr. Pendleton was father of the following children: Dr. Thomas 0. 
Pendleton, a physician of Pilot Grove, Mo.; William G. Pendleton, of this 
review; Elizabeth A., wife of Prof. Charles R. Forster, a member of the 
faculty of Macon College, Macon, Ga. ; Catherine H., wife of S. C. Stites, 
Pilot Grove, Mo.; Stapleton C, a railway official, Denver, Colo.; Susan R., 
living at Pilot Grove; George T., an attorney, member of the law firm, 
Boonville, Mo. ; Eleanor C, wife of R. M. Embry, an attorney, California, 
Mo. 

The mother of the foregoing children was born in Oldham County, 
Ky., in 1833, and died at Pilot Grove, Mo., Oct. 20, 1909. She was a 
daughter of Owen Magruder, of Kentucky, who was a descendant of the 
McGregors of Scotland. 

William G. Pendleton of this review, was educated in the common 
schools of Cooper County and the Law School of Louisville, Ky. He was 
admitted to practice in 1878 and for the past 41 years he has held a 
high place among the legal fraternity of Cooper County and Central Mis- 
souri, as a practitioner endowed with a profound knowledge of the law, 
and keen legal acumen. 

Mr. Pendleton was married Dec. 27, 1888 to Miss Marriet E. McKenzie, 
a native of New York, and a daughter of George and Jennie McKenzie 
who were natives of Inverness, Scotland, first settled in New York and 
from that state came to Cooper County, Mo., in 1878. Both Mr. and Mrs. 
McKenzie died in this county, the latter having departed this life in Boon- 
ville, in March, 1897. 

Mr. Pendleton was originally a democrat but became a republican in 
1896, because of the fact that he could not acquiesce in the "free silver" 
plank in the democratic platform in that year. For eight years he served 
as county chairman of the Republican Central Committee, and has attended 
the State Convention of his party as delegate. From 1902 to 1912, he 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 495 

filled the office of mayor of Boonville. During his term as mayor the 
city waterworks were acquired by the municipality, the improvement of 
the city's streets was placed under way, much public work was under- 
taken and the streets of the city were extensively paved. His admin- 
istration was one of the best the city has ever had. 

Herman August Schmidt, former police judge, and prominent citizen 
of Boonville, and now engaged in fanning, on his fine farm of 182 acres 
on the Lamine River bottoms in Blackwater township, is a native son of 
Cooper County. The Schmidt farm is a very productive one which pro- 
duced 39 bushels of wheat to the acre during the season of 1918. Judge 
Schmidt was bom Oct. 19, 1861, on a pioneer farm eight miles east of 
Boonville, in Saline township. 

His father, Herman Schmidt, was born in Germany in 1821 and 
died Jan. 4, 1880. He immigrated to America in 1837, with his parents, 
Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Schmidt, who settled on the old Schmidt home- 
stead. Four generations of Schmidts have lived upon the farm, where 
the father of Judge Schmidt died and upon which he was reared to ma- 
turity. Only six small acres of the Schmidt land was cleared of forests 
in 1836 and the first home of the family was a small log cabin. Herman 
Schmidt was reared on this farm and married Theresa Spieler, who was 
born in Germany in 1830 and died Dec. 29, 1905. She came to America in 
1845 with her parents, Andrew Spieler and wife. The following children 
were born to Herman and Theresa Schmidt: Mrs. Ida Hoberecht, Cali- 
fornia, Mo.; Mrs. Emma Hasenbach, Boonville; Herman August, of this 
review; Otto, living on the old home place of the family, whose son, Oscar, 
aged 19 years, is of the fourth generation of Schmidts who have lived on 
the homestead. 

Herman August Schmidt was educated in the common schools. His 
father died when he was 18 years of age and he remained at home unti 
38 years old and then came to Boonville in 1899. In 1898 he was ap- 
pointed to the post of receiver of the United States Land Office by Presi- 
dent William McKinley. In 1902 he was re-appointed by President Roose- 
velt, and served for eight years in this capacity. In 1910 he was elected 
police judge and was re-elected to this position in 1912. Mr. Schmidt has 
served as deputy assessor and as deputy sheriff of Cooper County. 

Mr. Schmidt was married to Miss Laura Hoefer, of Boonville. ; 
daughter of Henry and Mary Hoefer, a sketch of whom appears in thu 
volume. 

Mr. Schmidt has always been allied with the Republican party and is 
prominent in the affairs of his party in Cooper County. In August, 1910, 



496 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

he was nominated by his party as their candidate for the office of judge 
of the Probate Court, but was defeated in the November election by a 
very narrow margin. He is a member of the Evangelical Church, and for 
the past 16 years has been a member of the board of trustees of this 
church. He has served as treasurer of the board for the past year. He 
is a member of the Woodmen of the World and has been a member of the 
board of managers of this camp for the past 14 years. 

Ernest C. Oerly, proprietor of the "Gooch Pioneer Stock Farm", the 
old Gooch homestead place at Gooch's Mill, one of the energetic and pro- 
gressive young farmers and stockmen of Cooper Cunty, was born in this 
county Feb. 11, 1893, son of John and Elizabeth (Michler) Oerly, the lat- 
ter born in 1856, is still living on the home place in Prairie Home town- 
ship. She whs born in Switzerland and came to this country with her 
parents, who settled in this section of Missouri. John Oerly also was of 
Swiss stock. He was born near Jamestown, Mo., in 1853, son of Ulrich 
Oerly and wife, whose last days were spent in Cooper County and who 
are buried in the Pleasant Grove cemetery. Ulrich Oerly was born in 
Switzerland and came to this country in young manhood, locating in Moni- 
teau County and later came to Cooper County and located on a farm in 
Prairie Home township, where he spent the remainder of his life. He 
died in 1904. His son John also spent his last days there, his death occur- 
ring in 1912, and is buried in Pleasant Grove cemetery. John and Eliza- 
beth Oerly were the parents of seven children: W. A. Oerly, of Woold- 
ridge ; Lulu, wife of Thomas Chrisman, Wooldridge; Bertha, married 
Nicholas H. Blank and died in Sept., 1918, and is buried in Walnut Grove 
cemetery, Boonville; Oscar Oerly, who was accidentally killed by the dis- 
charge of a gun at Gooch's Mill in 1907, he then being 21 years old ; Dula, 
wife of Hagan Hickam, of Boonville, and Grace, wife of Truman Swan- 
stone, of Saline township and Ernest C. 

Reared on the home farm in Prairie Home township, Ernest Oerly 
received his schooling in the Liberty district school and from the days of 
his boyhood has been devoted to farming. In 1913, when he was 20 years 
of age he bought 80 acres of his present farm in Saline township and 
began farming. In 1917 he bought a tract of 153 acres adjoining and 
on which stands the substantial old house erected there by his wife's 
great-grandfather before the Civil War, and has since made his home in 
that house, Ihe old Gooch home, which in days now long gone was a centre 
for much of the social activity of the Gooch's Mill neighborhood. There 







ERNEST C. OERLY AND WIPE 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 497 

are five great fireplaces in the old house and in its picturesque setting it 
affords a very pleasant home for its present owners. Since taking posses- 
sion of this fine farm of 233 acres and which he very appropriately has 
named the "Gooch Pioneer Stock Farm", Mr. Oerly has made numerous 
substantial improvements along the lines of modern development. One 
of the valuable features of this farm is a great never failing spring, which 
i said to be one of the best springs in this region of numerous springs. 

In 1916 Ernest Oerly was united in marriage with Anna Gray Coch- 
ran, who was born at Gooch's Mill April 26, 1893, daughter of Dr. 0. W. 
Cochran, of that place. Mr. Oerly is a member of the Independent Order 
of Odd Fellows at Gooch's Mill and Mrs. Oerly is a member of the auxiliary 
order of Daughters of Rebecca there. 

During the time of the cyclone which visited this section on the even- 
ing of June 5, 1917, Mr. and Mrs. Oerly lost their home and had a most 
thrilling and hazardous experience. They then were living in the house 
on the other part of their present farm, in the place and both were at 
home at the time the cyclone came up, that being about 9 o'clock in the 
evening, with them being Herbert Blank, a nephew of Mr. Oerly. The 
house was blown away, utterly destroyed. When neighbors searched the 
scene of devastation Mrs. Oerly was found lying but a few feet from the 
site of the house and was at first thought to be dead, but signs of life 
presently were detected and she was tenderly cared for. So great was 
the shock she had received, however, that it was three weeks before shg 
regained consciousness. Mr. Oerly was blown a distance of 300 yards 
or more, was rendered insensible by the shock and did not l-egain conscious- 
ness for half an hour afterwards. Happily no permanent injury was in- 
curred either by his wife or himself. Herbert Blank, the lad who was 
visiting with his uncle and aunt, was picked up by the cyclone and car- 
ried above the treetops. He was not rendered unconscious and retains 
the most distinct impressions of his journey through the air and of being 
lightly deposited again on mother earth uninjured. A big carpet fell 
upon him as he was lying wondering what was going to happen next. 
Mr. Oerly's bank book was found at Paris, eight miles away. Nearly all 
the household silverware was recovered, but of the furniture scarcely a 
vestige remained. Chickens were completely stripped of their feathers 
and of Mr. Oerly's live stock four horses and about 25 head of hogs were 
killed. He also lost his automobile and in other ways suffered a severe 
loss of property. 
(32) 



498 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

William L. Tanner. — Without question or possible rivalry, the Tanner 
Studio and Art Shop, which was opened by William L. Tanner, in Boon- 
ville, on Feb. 26, 1919, is the most artistic and completely equipped studio 
and photographic establishment in Central Missouri. Following a dis- 
astrous fire, which destroyed the former Tanner Studio in the McCurdy 
Building, Dec. 23, 1918, it was necessary for Mr. Tanner to find other 
quarters and to completely equip a new studio and shop. This he pro- 
ceeded to do and has spared no pains or expense in presenting to the 
people his present beautiful shop, located in the Gmelich Building, 305 
Main Street. The Tanner Studio is the last word in modernity. The 
nitrogen lighting system, with a battery of eight lights, of strength of 
8000 watts, is used and renders reliance on daylight as an adjunct to 
photography unnecessary. Posing can be accomplished at any hour of 
the day or night by means of the lighting system which Mr. Tanner has 
installed. The studio is equipped with the finest model of camera in 
existence fitted with an automatic adjustment, and which uses films in- 
stead of plates. Perfectly appointed dressing rooms have been provided 
for patrons. The studio occupies two floors and the basement of the build- 
ing. Mr. Tanner's assistants are Mrs. Tanner, who is an expert pho- 
tographer; Carl Bach, and Frank Swap, the local artist. 

Mr. Tanner has been in business in Boonville since 1916. He came to 
this city from St. Louis, a stranger, unknown and without friends or 
even acquaintances. On March 23, 1916, he held an opening, something 
unique in presenting a newly equipped photo study for the inspection of 
the public. Each lady attending his first opening received an appropriate 
souvenir of the occasion — a photograph of herself. Fifty-four Boonville 
ladies availed themselves of this opportunity, and the Tanner Studio was 
successfully launched in Boonville. Since his initial opening in Boonville, 
the business has prospered and numbers among its clients the best fam- 
ilies of Boonville and this section of Missouri. The re-opening of the 
Tanner Studio and Art Shop on Feb. 26, 1919, was largely attended and 
was a social event in the city; none called but to admire and commenl 
upon the perfect appointments and the furnishings of the studio, and 
others have been coming to have high grade work done. 

A department of the business or profession which will be cared for 
at the Tanner Studio is the painting of portraits of those who desire work 
of this character. 

William L. Tanner was born in Illinois, Sept. 24, 1880. He is a son of 
Louis and Christina (Kraft) Tanner, the former of whom was a native 
of Switzerland and the latter of Illinois. Louis Tanner left his native 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 499 

mountain country and crossed the Atlantic to New Orleans when a boy 
of 14. During the Civil War he served as munition driver with the Fed- 
eral forces and had the rank of captain. When 16 years old he was a 
whip maker. He located in St. Louis with his parents and operated a 
manufacturing business there. Later the family traded for property at 
Lost Prairie, near Sparta, 111., and there made their future home. William 
L. Tanner is the oldest son of a family of 12 children, five sons and seven 
daughters, born to his parents. In 1886 the family again moved to St. 
Louis, where the father died Aug. 4, 1912, at the age of 69 years. Mrs. 
Tanner makes her home with her son, William L., and is aged 73 years. 
When 13 years old, William L. Tanner left school and went to work. He 
was employed in a gents' furnishing store until he attained the age of 19 
years. He then took up the study of photography and worked for Gustav 
Schneidt, a successful photographer who had learned his art in Germany 
and operated two studios in St. Louis. He was with Mr. Schneidt (his 
father-in-law) for ten years and in 1911 was in the studio of 0. C. Conk- 
ling for three years. In 1914 he entered the employ of Hyatt's Photo 
Supply Company as traveling salesman and remained with this concern 
until he located in Boonville in 1916. 

Mr. Tanner was married on June 5, 1905, to Miss Emma Georgiana 
Schneidt, who was born in St. Louis, Mo., a daughter of the late Gustav 
Schneidt, who died April 24, 1916. Mrs. Schneidt and her son, George C. 
Schneidt, are operating the studios in St. Louis. Mrs. Emma Tanner is 
an expert finisher of photos and has followed the profession since leaving 
school. Mr. and Mrs. Tanner have a son, William Louis, Jr., born 
Feb. 2, 1904. 

Mr. Tanner is a republican. He is a member of the Evangelical Lu- 
theran Church and is fraternally affiliated with the Knights of Pythias 
and the National Union of St. Louis. 

William L. Brickner, retired farmer, residing at 411 Center street, 
Boonville, Mo., is owner of a fine farm of 380 acres on the Santa Fe Trail 
road, five miles west of Boonville. Mr. Brickner was born Feb. 8, 1860, 
on a farm four miles west of Boonville and is a son of John M. and Mar- 
et Brickner, a sketch of whom appears in this history in connection 
with that of August Bricker. 

Mr. Brickner was reared on the home farm in Cooper County and 
in October, 1884, he located on a farm one mile south of the home place 
from his father. He purchased a tract of 135 acres to begin with and 
erected all buildings and improvements on the place. He continued to 
accumulate land as he prospered in his farming operations until he be- 



500 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

came owner of 380 acres. Mr. Brickner then rightly decided that he had 
earned a rest and he removed to Boonville in October, 1914. 

Oct. 28, 1884, William L. Brickner and Mary Williams were united 
in marriage. The following children have been born to them: Walter 
is operating the home farm, married Nellie Johnmeyer and has three 
children, William W., Margaret, and Earl; Mrs. Birdie Rasmussen also 
lives on part of the home place and is mother of one child, Dorsey, born 
Sept. 23, 1918 ; Lloyd and Beulah Brickner, twins, born July 7, 1898. 

The mother of these children was born Feb. 6, 1868, on a farm within 
one-half mile of the Brickner home place. She is a daughter of Walter 
and Virginia (Payne) Williams, the latter of whom was born and reared 
in Cooper County, the daughter of Cooper County pioneers. Walter Wil- 
liams was born in 1826 and died March 1, 1895. He was a native of Wales 
and immigrated to America in the early forties. He crossed the Plains to 
the gold fields of the Pacific Slope in 1849 and was engaged in mining 
gold for some months. Virginia (Payne) Williams was born July 28, 
1S47, and died Feb. 7, 1918. She was a daughter of James R. and Lucy 
Payne, natives of Virginia, who were pioneer settlers in Cooper County. 
The children of the Williams family are as follows : Mrs. Mary Brickner, 
of this review; James R., Walter, and William C. Williams, who reside on 
the Williams home place, west of Boonville. 

Mr. Brickner is a republican. He and his family worship at the 
Evangelical Church. 

^arnut! Oerly, proprietor of "Walnut Grove Farm" in Saline town- 
ship, is one of the leading agriculturists and stockmen of Cooper County. 
Mr. Oerlv is a native of Moniteau County, Mo. He was born in 1858, a 
son of Ulrich and Margaret (Gatchet) Oerly, natives of Switzerland. 

Ulrich Oerly was born in 1827. He immigrated to America in 1847 
and located first in Ohio, coming thence two years later to Missouri, locat- 
ing in Moniteau County, whence he came to Cooper County in 1865 and 
settled on a farm three miles south of Wooldridge. During the Civil War 
he served in the state militia one year. He died in 1909 and is buried in 
Methodist Episcopal Church cemetery at Pleasant Ridge. Margaret 
(Gatchet) Oerly came to America from Switzerland with her parents, 
when she was a child eight years of age, in 1834. Her father, John 
Gatchet, located first in Ohio, also, and from Ohio he came to Missouri in 
1849 and settled on a farm in Moniteau County. Mrs. Oerly died in 1911. 
The children of Ulrich and Margaret Oerly are: John, deceased; Emanuel, 
a farmer, of Overton, Mo. ; Samuel, the subject of this sketch ; Mary, the 
wife of Adam Schilb, Wooldridge, Mo.; William, of Spice Creek, Mo.; 





MR AND MRS SAMUEL OERLY AND FAMILY 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 501 

Ferdinand, whose address is unknown ; Charles, Moniteau County, Mo. ; 
and Fred, of Pilot Grove, Mo. 

Samuel Oerly attended Oakland school in Moniteau County and Lib- 
erty school in Cooper County. He recalls the log cabin home of his child- 
hood, with its mortar-filled cracks and puncheon floor, and the old-style 
trundle bed in which he slept, when a lad Since attaining maturity, Mr. 
Oerly has engaged in farming and stockraising. He purchased his pres- 
ent farm in 1881, from James Q. Ragland, a place comprising 204 acres 
of land, named "Walnut Grove Farm" because of the splendid walnut 
trees growing thereon. Excepting the residence and a barn, Mr. Oerly 
has added all the improvements now on his farm. The land is well 
watered by eight springs, three of which are never failing. He raises 
registered Big Bone Poland China hogs and Shorthorn cattle, Cotswold 
sheep and Rhode Island Red chickens. Mr. Oerly does general farming 
and feeds extensively hogs and cattle. 

June 16, 1881, Samuel Oerly and Mary Adaline Schnuck were united 
in marriage. Mrs. Oerly is a daughter of John G. and Catherina E. 
(Meyer) Schnuck. Mr. Schnuck died Aug. 2, 1880, and the widowed 
mother now makes her home with a son in Boonville township. Mr. and 
Mrs. Oerly are the parents of the following children: Henry W., born 
April 7, 1882, the postmaster and merchant at Overton, Mo. ; Herman H., 
born March 4, 1884, at home; Frank J., born Nov. 19, 1886, now with Com- 
pany L, 356th Infantry, 89th Division, at Bordeaux, France, when last 
heard from at the time of this writing; Florence M., at home; and Dora 
E., the wife of Herman Frederick, of Saline township. Frank J. Oerly, 
the soldier enlisted in the U. S. army Sept. 19, 1917, and was trained for 
service at Camp Funston ; became a member of Company L, 356th In- 
fantry, 89th Division. He sailed for France, June 30, 1918, and from 
Aug. 5, 1918 to Oct. 19, 1918, was at the front, Verdun and Argonne For- 
est. He was taken sick and sent back to Base Hospital No. 22, Bordeaux. 
Arrived in America March 28, 1919; honorably discharged April 21. 1919, 
and now at home. 

Mr. and Mrs. Oerly are highly respected in their community. They 
are worthy and consistent members of the Boonville Evangelical Church. 
Mr. Oerly is a republican. 

Herman B. Friedrich, Mr. Oerly's son-in-law, served in the National 
Army and was on his way to France when the armistice was signed. 

Mr. and Mrs. Oerly have two grandchildren : Laura Marie and Ewing 
Jcseph, the former, the daughter of Henry W. Oerly and the latter, the 
son of Mrs. Herman Frederick. 



502 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

John M. Haller, proprietor and manager of the Boonville Coal Com- 
pany, is a native of Boonville. Mr. Haller is successor to Burger & Son, 
and purchased this thriving business on Dec. 1, 1918. The yards of the 
Boonville Coal Company are located at 602 East Spring Street and cover 
one-half block. Wood, coal, cement, sewer pipe, etc., are sold at retail and 
three teams are operating continually, and five men are employed in car- 
ing for the activities of the yard. John M. Haller was born in Boonville 
June 22, 1888. 

Martin J. Haller, his father, was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, in 
1859, learned the printer's trade, and emigrating from his native land, 
located in Boonville in 1872. For the past 15 years, Mr. Haller has been 
foreman of the "Advertiser" publishing and printing plant in Boonville. 
He was married to Anna Bach in 1869. Mrs. Anna (Bach) Haller was 
bom in Boonville and is a daughter of Peter Bach, a Cooper County 
pioneer. The children born to Martin and Anna Haller are : John M., the 
subject of this review; Mrs. Minnie Cramer, Boonville; Louise, at home 
with her parents; Ernest, a sailor, enlisted man in United States Navy, 
enlisted in 1917 as a pharmacist and is located at Naval Base No. 29; 
Gilbert enlisted in the United States Navy in 1918, and is attached to 
U Submarine Boat, No. 3. 

John M. Haller was educated in the Boonville public and high schools. 
For 15 years after leaving high school he was a trusted and capable em- 
ploye of the Sauter Mercantile Company of Boonville. The business ex- 
perience gained with this old time established concern, which has lately 
dissolved, has stood him in good stead since he has engaged in business 
on his own account, and Mr. Haller is making a decided success of his 
business venture. 

He was married, Aug. 11, 1913, to Miss Nina Demarest of New York 
City, a daughter of Stephen and Evelyn (Vreeland) Demarest, who now 
reside in Chariton County, Mo. Mr. and Mrs. John M. Haller have two 
children: John Haller, Jr., born Oct. 6, 1916; Helen Louise Haller, born 
Aug. 18. 1914. 

Mr. Haller is a republican, but is an independent voter. He is a 
member of the Evangelical Church and is affiliated fraternally with the 
Knights of Pythias Lodge. 

Martin Tucker, sheriff of Cooper County, was born in Louisville, 
Ky., Jan. 23, 1864. His parents were Joseph Albert and Mary Magdalena 
(Huber) Tucker, the former a native of England and the latter a native 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 503 

of Germany. Joseph A. Tucker was bom in 1825- and died in 1880. He 
emigrated from England to America in 1860 and fought in the Union 
army throughout the Civil War, as sergeant of his company in a Ken- 
tucky Union regiment of volunteers. Magdalena (Huber) Tucker was 
born in 1842 and accompanied her mother to America in 1845. Her 
father died while serving as a soldier in the German army. She now 
resides in St. Louis. In 1870 the Tuckers left Kentucky and after one 
year in St. Louis, they settled at Tipton. The children born to Joseph A. 
and Mary Magdalena Tucker are : Mrs. Priscilla Belle Hamilton, a widow, 
residing with her mother in St. Louis; Albert Edward, St. Louis, and 
Martin Tucker of this review. 

Martin Tucker learned the trade of painter and decorator in St. Louis 
and first followed his trade at Tipton, Mo., where he resided until Sept. 7, 
1884, when he located in Boonville. He was employed by Spahr Brothers 
of this city for a few months and then engaged in business for himself. 
Mr. Tucker was appointed to a membership on the city police force in 
1899 and served as city policeman for six years and seven months. He 
was then elected city marshal and served for eight years as marshal and 
chief of police, from 1906 to 1914. The next step in his official career was 
his election to the office of sheriff of the county in November of 1916 for 
a term of four years. 

Sheriff Tucker was married on Feb. 12, 1885, to Miss Margaret 
Kirchner, who was born at Belleville, 111., April 18, 1864, and is a daughter 
of John C. and Anna B. (Knoch) Kirchner. natives of Germany who im- 
migrated to America in 1854. In about 1854 the Kirchners settled in 
Boonville, later moved to Belleville, 111., in 1862, and returned to Boon- 
ville in the spring of 1866. Mr. Kirchner was employed in the coal mines 
near Boonville and was a farmer and grape grower who conducted a vine- 
yard near Boonville. John C. Kirchner was born Aug. 19, 1833, and died 
\ug. 8, f900. His wife, Anna B. Kirchner, was born Jan. 29, 1830, and 
died Aug. 23, 1907. Two children of theirs are living out of 11 born to 
them: Lizzie is the wife of John G. Bauer, Boonville, Mo., and Mrs. 
Martin Tucker. 

Eight children have been born to Martin and Margaret Tucker, as 
follows: Two died in infancy; John, Ramsey, 111., a member of the Ma- 
sonic order; Charles lives at St. Louis, Mo.; Barbara, at home; Edna 
Jane, her father's office assistant, member of the Eastern Star; Pauline, 
a teacher in the public schools near Otterville, Mo.; James, graduate of 



504 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

the Boonville High School, class of 1919. Pauline Tucker was married 
April 17, 1918, to Carl Anthony Watts, a soldier in the National Army, 
landed in France in August, 1918, member of Company F, 313th Engi- 
neers, 88th Division. 

Sheriff Tucker is a republican, but is a sheriff of all the people, faith- 
ful and conscientious and honest to the last degree in the performance of 
his official duties — one of the best and most capable sheriffs who ever 
held this high office in Cooper County. He is a member of the Evangelical 
Church and is fraternally affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows, the Independent Order of Red Men, the Fraternal Order of 
Eagles, the Woodmen of the World, the Degree of Pocahontas, and the 
Woodmen Auxiliary Order. Mrs. Tucker is a member of the Ladies' 
Auxiliary to the Woodmen of the World and the Degree of Pocahontas. 

John M. Burrus, now deceased, was one of the honored and highly 
valued pioneers of Cooper County, who contributed his part to the better- 
ment and upbuilding of his community and county. He was a native of 
Tennessee, born Aug. 23, 1819, and departed this life March 30, 1888, and 
his remains now rest in the Harris cemetery. He was a son of Hawkey 
and Frances (Martin) Burrus, who were married May 19, 1817. They 
settled in Cooper County 2*/2 miles south of Pisgah, on a farm now owned 
by George Class, and were among the very earliest pioneers of this sec- 
tion. They came from Tennessee. Their children, all of whom are dead, 
were as follows: John M., the subject of this sketch; Jacob, born Jan. 
22, 1823 ; Sarah, born Feb. 24, 1825 ; William, born March 9, 1827 ; James, 
born April 16, 1828, was a Confederate soldier, and was killed at the bat- 
tle of Gettysburg; and Valentine, born Aug. 28, 1830. 

John M. Burrus was united in marriage April 2, 1857 with Miss 
Amanda Lovell, the marriage ceremony taking place on the farm where 
Mrs. Burrus now lives, Rev. Robert Harris being the officiating minister. 
Mrs. Burrus was born Feb. 3. 1837, on the farm where she now lives and 
is a daughter of Thomas J. and Olive (Burrus) Lovell. 

To John M. and Amanda F. (Lovell) Burrus were bom four children 
as follows: Jacob, born June 29, 1858; Hawkey, born May 3, 1860; T. J., 
born April 15, 1870. and Martin Nolan, born June 7, 1867. 

T. J. Burrus who is engaged in farming in Prairie Home township 
was married Sept. 4, 1895, to Miss Alpha McDow, a daughter of Milton 
and Keziah (Kirkpatrick) McDow. Seven children have been born to 
this union, as follows: Bernice married L. B. Morris and has two chil- 




Ji IHN M. AND AMANDA BURRUS 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 505 

dren : Thomas J. and Clara Louise ; John M., Prairie Home ; Porter Valen- 
tine ; Emil Thomas ; Charles Edward ; Mary Margaret and Joe McDow, all 
residing at home with their parents. 

The Burrus homestead, the home of Mrs. Burrus, is one of the valu- 
able home farms of Prairie Home township. It contains 215 acres and is 
well located 21/2 miles southwest of Prairie Home. This land was entered 
from the government by Mrs. Burrus' father, T. J. Lovell. 

Mrs. Burrus is one of the noble pioneer women of Cooper County. 
She has an extensive acquaintance throughout southeastern Cooper 
County and her friends are legion. She is a member of the Baptist Church 
at Pisgah. She is the oldest native born pioneer woman in Cooper County. 

Joseph M. Green, proprietor of the European Hotel, one of the oldest 
established and best known hostelries in Boonville, which Mr. Green has 
been conducting since 1883, was born May 23, 1850, in Green County, 
near Greensburg, on Green River, Ky. The hotel which Mr. Green owns 
and operates was used as the official building of the county during the 
process of construction of the new court house a few years ago. For 
years, until Mr. Green purposely curtailed his activities as a landlord so 
as to cut down to a minimum the amount of work involved in conducting 
the house, this hotel was a popular place for visitors to Boonville, and 
was prosperous. 

David D. Green, father of Joseph M. Green, was a native of New 
Jersey, migrated to Ohio in the thirties, thence to Kentucky, where he 
was engaged in business for 15 years, and then came to Arrow Rock, Mo., 
in 1852. Here he operated a general store and also conducted a saddlery 
and a hardware business. As age came upon him, the elder Green turned 
over the store to his eldest son, who changed the business plant to that 
of a general merchandist store ; later, Joseph M. Green took charge of the 
business, succeeding his elder brother in the saddlery and harness busi- 
ness, and conducted it for a number of years. 

David D. Green was born in 1801 and died in 1875. When a young 
man he married Nancy C. Phillips, who was born in Kentucky in 1816 
and died in 1884. To this marriage were bom three children; Sarah, 
deceased; Joseph M., of this review; and John, who died at the age of 
five years. By a former marriage, David D. Green was father of a son, 
William P., who died in Texas. 

Joseph M. Green operated the general store at Arrow Rock, Mo., until 
1883. He then came to Boonville and took charge of the hotel. Mr. 
Green, in past years, has built four additions to the hotel and has modern- 



506 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

ized the building throughout. It now consists of 22 rooms fitted with 
every comfort for the convenience of guests. He has lived continuously 
in Boonville for the past 36 years, with the exception of three years spent 
in Arkansas, from 1911 to 1914, looking after some land which he owns 
in that state. 

Mr. Green was married on Jan. 14, 1870, to Miss Willa A. Mahan, 
who has borne him children as follows: Mrs. Ida Gale Stewart, born 
May 20, 1871, died at Little Rock, Ark., Jan. 12, 1919; Will Ella, born 
April 19, 1873, died Oct. 30, 1883; Leeta Kate, bom Feb. 3, 1875, died 
Dec. 26, 1883 ; William David, born Jan. 19, 1877, died Feb. 6, 1879 ; Mabel 
Lenore, born April 3, 1881, died Dec. 28, 1883 ; Jessie, born Feb. 24, 1885, 
is wife of George R. Whittaker, Raton, N. M. ; Dorothy, born Feb. 24, 
1885, wife of George Barnes, Boonville, Mo., and mother of two children, 
George Marshall Barnes, bom June 19, 1916, and Selma Anita, born 
Dec. 10, 1917. 

The mother of the foregoing children was born in Cooper County, 
Mo., in 1853. She is a daughter of the late Rev. William D. Mahan, 
picneer Cumberland Presbyterian minister of Central Missouri. Reverend 
Mahan was bom in Virginia July 27, 1824, and died Oct. 19, 1906. He 
was married on July 27, 1850, to Martha R. Johnston, who bore him the 
following children: Eleanor B., deceased wife of Frank Stewart; and 
Mrs. Willa A. Green of this review. Reverend Mahan was born in Pitts- 
burg County, Va., and accompanied his parents to Missouri in 1837. He 
came to Cooper County in 1845 and preached the gospel according to the 
Cumberland Presbyterian faith for over half a century. He was a son of 
Thomas Jefferson Mahan, who was a son of William Pope and Permelia 
Mahan of Pittsylvania County, Va. Thomas Mahan served in Capt. 
Henry Garnett's Company or the Captain John Douglas Company, Sec- 
ond Virginia State Militia, under Colonel Gregory, during the War of 
1812. Mrs. Green is a niece by marriage of Judge McFarland, who mar- 
ried Mary B. Johnston, a daughter of Robert Johnston, a Cooper County 
pioneer, and is a second cousin of Col. Thomas A. Johnston of Boonville. 
An ancestor was Thomas Mahan, whose name appears on the roster of 
exchanged prisoners sent from Quebec in November, 1779, during the 
American Revolution. Another ancestor, named Smith, served in the 
Revolution. He enlisted Feb. 12, 1778, and served until February, 1779. 

Rev. W. D. Mahan was widely known as an author and writer of 
religious books. He published "Archaeological Writings of the Sanhedrim 
and Talmuds of the Jews," which were afterwards combined in the Archko 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 507 

Library. He based his deductions and decisions upon the results of ex- 
tensive personal research and study in the ruins and libraries of Rome 
and Constantinople, gathering at first hand the information necessary 
from archaeological inscriptions and had the translations duly made by 
scholars so that he could incorporate the matter in his books. He wrote 
and published "Caesar's Court," in 1895. The Archko Library, which 
originally consisted of five volumes, was afterwards combined and pub- 
lished in its entirety by the Archko Book Company of Boonville. He 
wrote "History on Baptism" and other pamphlets. Rev. Mahan devoted 
the best years of his life to the production of "Acta Pilate," his first book. 

Joseph M. Green is a democrat of the straight, and true variety, 
which recognizes no deviation from democratic principles of government. 
He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Mr. Green is 
fraternally affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the 
Knights of the Maccabees. He has been an Odd Fellow since May, 1871. 

.ichn J. Walther, contractor and builder, residing at 406 East High 
street, Boonville, Mo., has been engaged in the contracting business since 
1880. During his career as contractor and builder, Mr. Walther has built 
a large number of Missouri River steamboats; erected the large elevator 
for the milling company ; built many new store fronts in Boonville ; erected 
a large number of residences in Boonville and Cooper County, and has 
employed from three to 10 men during his busy seasons. 

John J. Walther was born in Saxony, Germany, Jan. 23, 1854 and is 
a son of Peter and Carolina (Englehardt) Walther who were born and 
reared in Germany. Mr. Walther's grandfather was a carpenter and gov- 
ernment official in Germany. Peter Walther, his father, was an expert 
willow worker. 

Peter Walther immigrated to America leaving Bremen and landing 
at New Orleans from a sailing vessel when John J. Walther was six weeks 
old. Walther, Sr.. settled on a farm west of Boonville and here spent the 
remainder of his days. He was born in 1832 and died in 1900. His wife 
was born in 1833 and died in 1873. The children of the Walther family 
were: John J., of this review; Louis, Emma, Louise, and Bertha, de- 
ceased : and Mrs. Anna Labbo, San Francisco. 

At the age of 21 years, Mr. Walther began to follow his trade of 
carpenter. When a boy he chopped wood on his father's farm, helped 
to build the parental home from timber cut on the place, drove oxen and 
did the hardest kind of farm labor. Having a natural aptitude for car- 
penter work he indulged his lobby and has made a success of his life work. 



508 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

For many years he was a skilled steamboat builder. He built the 
"Dorothy" a local ferry boat, the "Edna", "Elta" and many other boats 
and barges. Mr. Walther is owner of a half block of valuable city prop- 
erty, upon which are three brick residence buildings, including his own 
large house which is a double structure, and his shop which is built upon 
the same block. 

Mr. Walther was married in 1880 to Miss Elizabeth Weber, who was 
born in '1857 and departed this life in 1900. She was born in Boonville, 
a daughter of John and Margaret Weber. To this marriage have been 
born two sons and two daughters: William, Carl and Odell. William 
Walther is a carpenter and contractor, married Nettie Becker and has a 
daughter, Elizabeth Walther. Carl Walther is a carpenter and contractor 
now in Texas, married Donell Woods who died leaving one child, Carl 
Jacob. Odell Walther is at home. One child died in infancy. 

Mr. Walther is a republican but spends little time with political 
affairs. He is a member of the Evangelical church and has been an Odd 
Fellow since 1884. He is a substantial well informed, industrious and 
progressive citizen who has won a high place in the citizenship of Boon- 
ville and Cooper County. 

Mark Jacobs, proprietor and manager of the Jacobs Brothers Dry 
Goods Store, is a progressive and enterprising citizen and merchant of 
Boonville, who is ever found in the forefront of all movements for the 
advancement of his home city. Jacobs Bros, store was founded in May, 
1894, by David W. and Mark Jacobs. After the accidental death of David 
W. Jacobs as a result of injuries received from a boiler explosion in Seattle. 
Mark Jacobs purchased the business. The store room is 140 feet in depth 
to which has been added two rooms on Spring street facing to the south 
and 40x90 feet in size. In 1916, Mr. Jacobs purchased the three buildings 
now occupied by his large establishment and remodeled the floor space 
and uses the lower floors of the buildings. The Jacobs store has the 
largest floor space and the most extensive stock of ladies' wearing apparel, 
cloaks and suits, in central Missouri and the trade is the best in this sec- 
tion of the state. Mr. Jacobs employs fourteen sales people, has a secre- 
tary, Miss Mollie Jones, who has been in his employ for the past 21 years, 
and he has kept the same porter for 17 years. During the 25 years in 
which he has been engaged in business he has never discharged an em- 
ploye, although many young ladies have left his employ for the duties 
of wife and housekeeper in past years. Four of his salespeople have been 




DR. A. C. .1 \i'i »BS 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 509 

in his employ since the beginning of the business. This record speaks 
volumes for the kindness, fairness and diplomatic management of Mr. 
Jacobs. 

Mark Jacobs was born in Quincy, 111., Aug. 2, 1869. He is a son of 
A. Jacobs and Flora (Levy) Jacobs, both of whom were natives of Berlin, 
Germany. When A. Jacobs was a child his parents removed from Berlin 
to England and he was there reared. He was born in 1836 and died in 
1900, in Boonville. He came to America in 1848 with his parents, and 
was brought up in the shoe business in Quincy, 111. He was a merchant 
in Quincy, 111. until 1884 when he went to the Osage Mission, Kan., and 
was engaged in business there until he came to Boonville in 1894. Mrs. 
Jacobs died in 1904 at the age of 64 years. Seven children were born to 
Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs, as follows: David W., deceased; Mark, subject of 
this review; Mrs. Belle Mendheim, Chicago, 111.; Mrs. Rose Wolfson, Pilot 
Grove, Mo. ; Dr. A. C. Jacobs, Boonville, Mo., who died July 24, 1918, as the 
result of injuries received in an accident at Choteau Springs, Mo.; Mrs. 
Adelaide Klein, Keokuk, Iowa, died April 14, 1919 ; Burt Jacobs, traveling 
salesman for the Hirschfield Skirt Company. 

At the age of 14 years, Mark Jacobs ended his schooling and enter- 
ing his father's store where he received his excellent business training. 
In addition to the management of his large dry goods business, Mr. Jacobs 
is secretary of the Hirsch Wholesale Grocery Company. He is a member 
of the St. Joseph's Hospital board and has served as chairman of the State 
Fuel Committee having entire charge of the fuel disposition in three 
counties. Howard, Cooper and Moniteau during the World War. Mr. 
Jacobs is a factor in local, civic and commercial affairs and is one of the 
leaders in the project for a greater and better Boonville. 

Dr. Henry Clay Gibson. The late Dr. Henry Clay Gibson was, in 
his day, the most able physician in Cooper County, and was in his later 
days the oldest practicing physician in this section of Missouri. Dr. 
Gibson was born in Cooper County, Aug. 25, 1825, and died Dec. 14, 1887. 
He was born on the old Gibson homestead, which is now incorporated 
into the Missouri Training School property. William, or "Uncle Billy 
Gibson," his father, was a native of North Carolina and was an early 
pioneer in Cooper County. He married for his first wife, Rhoda Cole, 
born in Cole's Fort on the Missouri River, and a daughter of Stephen 
Cole, the first white settler in what is now Cooper County. 

Henry Clay Gibson was educated in Kemper School, and attended the 
Transylvania Medical College at Lexington, Ky., during the sessions of 



510 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

1846-47. He then entered the Medical Department of the University of 
Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, from which he was afterwards graduated. 
Returning to Boonville after receiving his degree, he began the practice 
of his profession, soon secured a lucrative practice, and established a wide 
reputation as an educated, successful physician. Devoted to medicine as 
a science, not less than to his practice, and desiring to keep up with the 
progress of the profession as represented by the advancement in learning 
in the schools, he returned to Philadelphia and again entered his alma 
mater for a post graduate course. 

Dr. Gibson resumed his practice in Boonville in 1853 and continued 
to practice successfully until the time of his death. 

Dr. Gibson was twice married. His first marriage occurred on Jan. 
11, 1856, too Miss Mittie Nelson, a native of Virginia, and sister to James 
M. Nelson. She died one year after marriage. Dr. Gibson's second mar- 
riage took place Jan. 11, 1871, with Mrs. Mary L. (Jones) McCarthy, 
widow of Justin McCarthy. Three children were born to this union: 
Mary J. Gibson, at home with her mother; Rhoda Cole Gibson, died in 
infancy ; Martha, wife of A. K. Mills, died at Webb City, Mo. ; Mrs. Nancy 
O'Meara, wife of Joseph O'Meara, teacher of dramatic art in the College 
of Music, Cincinnati, Ohio. The mother of these children was born Nov. 
2, 1840, in a log cabin at Bolivar, Mo. She is a daughter of Caleb and 
Nancy (Chapman) Jones, natives of Baltimore, Md., and Old Franklin, 
Mo., respectively. Caleb Jones was a pioneer merchant, trader, post- 
master, and Whig politician of the early pioneer days. He was born in 
Baltimore, a son of Joshua Jones, a native of that city, who fought with 
the American Army in the War of 1812. The wife of Joshua Jones was 
Mary Ann Sands, a daughter of Commodore Sands of the United States 
Navy. Caleb Jones was born in 1800 and died March 15, 1883. He came 
up the river to St. Louis, and walked to Arrow Rock, Mo., where he taught 
school and formed a partnership with Clay Jackson, later the war gov- 
ernor of Missouri. He became a merchant, moved to Old Franklin, and 
developed a large wholesale business which supplied many points in south- 
west Missouri with goods. He had previously operated a trading post in 
Bolivar, Mo., and was widely and favorably known throughout the entire 
section where his goods were sold. Mr. Jones later had an establishment 
in Boonville, including both a retail and a wholesale business. During the 
Civil War he suffered serious reverses from which he never fully recov- 
ered. He died in Mrs. Dr. Gibson's home. His children were: Mrs. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 511 

H. C. Gibson ; Mrs. William D. Muir, deceased ; George C. Jones, a large 
land owner of Blackwater, Mo. 

Joshua Jones, mentioned in the preceding paragraph, was a son of 
Joshua Jones, patriot, of Welsh extraction, who fought in the American 
Revolution. Nancy Chapman Jones, mother of Mrs. Gibson, was born 
April 6, 1814, and died Feb. 7, 1878. She was a daughter of Squire 
George Washington Chapman, a Kentucky frontiersman, and a pioneer 
in Missouri, Illinois, and Kansas. He was a noted border character who 
spent his life in advancing the outposts of civilization in remote and 
unsettled regions. 

Mary L. Jones was first married in 1860 to Justin McCarthy, of San 
Antonio, Texas, who died in that city in 1865, leaving a son, William J., 
an actor. 

Dr. Gibson was a democrat and was a member of the Methodist 
Church. Mrs. Gibson and her children are members of the Catholic 
Church. 

John J. Heiberger, proprietor of the Heiberger Bakery, Boonville, 
Mo., has the oldest established bakery in the city. Mr. Heiberger estab- 
lished his bakery in May, 1895, and has been doing business successfully 
in the same location since that time. The output of the Heiberger bakery 
is 700 loaves of bread daily, besides a quantity of pies, all of which is con- 
sumed in Boonville and the towns of Cooper County. One auto truck is 
operated and three men are employed in the operation of the bakery. 

Mr. Heiberger was born in Boonville, Aug. 3, 1872, and is a son of 
Blasius (b. 1847, d. May 11, 1918), who was born in Alsace and came with 
his mother to America in his boyhood days and settled in the Clear Creek 
neighborhood in Cooper County. When grown to manhood B. Heiberger 
came to Boonville and operated a saloon, restaurant and various other 
business enterprises during his career. He married Mary Friess who 
was bom in Germany in 1849 and came to America with her parents when 
a child. B. and Mary Heiberger were parents of the following children: 
Charles, Hannibal, Mo. ; Anna, wife of Clarence Ashley, St. Louis, Mo. ; 
Kate Heiberger, a trained nurse, in the government hospital at Wash- 
ington, D. C. ; and John J., subject of this review; Josephine, employed in 
the office of the United States Rubber Co., St. Louis, makes her home 
with her mother. 

At the age of 13 years, John J. Heiberger began to learn the trade 
of baker in Boonville. When 17 years old he went to St. Louis, and fol- 



512 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

lowed his trade in the metropolis for three years. In 1892 he returned 
to Boonville and three years later started his successful industry. 

October 6, 1897, he was married to Rebecca Stammerjohn who was 
born in Boonville, June 24, 1875, and is a daughter of Claus Stammer- 
john and Emma, his wife, natives of Holstein, and Prussia, respectively, 
the former of whom was born in 1843, emigrated to America in 1869 and 
settled in Boonville. Emma Stammerjohn was born in 1851 and came to 
America when young. Two children were born to John J. and Rebecca 
Heiberger, as follows: John C, a student in the Missouri State Uni- 
versity, Columbia, Mo.; Edwin, assisting his father in the bakery. 

Mr. Heiberger is a stanch republican. He is a member of the Chris- 
tian church and is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. 
He is a good citizen, substantial, progressive and enterprising. 

Walter Barron, a Civil War veteran of the Union army, and an early 
settler of Cooper County, is a native of Ireland. He was born in County 
Waterford, April 2, 1840, a son of Michael and Mary R. (Murphy) Barron, 
both natives of Ireland. The father was born in 1800, and immigrated to 
America with his family in 1848. They first settled in Calloway County, 
Mo., after landing at New Orleans from a sailing vessel, and coming up 
the Mississippi River to St. Louis by steamboat and to Calloway County 
by stage coach. They remained in Calloway County about two years, 
and in 1850 settled at Boonville. The father helped build a mill at Boon- 
ville and was engaged in the milling business for a number of years. He 
died in 1891 at the advanced age of 91 years. His wife died in 1870 at the 
age of 50 years. This pioneer couple were the parents of two children: 
Mary, who married Hiram Shrowt, and died in 1900, and Walter, the sub- 
ject of this sketch. 

Walter Barron was educated in the public schools of Boonville and 
Mt. Sinia, Cooper County. He began life as a farmer and stock raiser, and 
has been engaged in that business all his life. He purchased the farm, 
"Ballan Curia," where he now resides, in 1865, and thus it has been his 
home for over half a century. He first bought 80 acres of land and later 
added 320 acres more and at one time owned about 400 acres. However, 
he disposed of a part of his land and now owns 166 acres. He has a well- 
improved place, a good modern farm residence of nine rooms with a good 
barn 48x54 feet, and other commdious and convenient farm buildings. In 
recent years Mr. Barron has rented his place, although he continues in 
the stock business on a moderate scale. During his active carrer he was 
one of the successful fruit growers of Cooper County, and has set out 
three orchards. 




WALTER BARRON 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 513 

When the Civil War broke out, Mr. Barron enlisted in the Home 
Guards at Boonville. He was then just 21 years of age. Later he en- 
listed in the 37th Illinois Infantry, and afterwards became a member of 
the 9th Missouri Cavalry. He participated in the battle of Castle Rock 
Ford on the Osage River and was in the skirmish south of Boonville. He 
was also at the battles of Little Blue, Independence, Big Blue, Mine Creek 
and Little Osage and a number of other engagements and skirmishes. 
He took part in 21 engagements in all, including the battle with Bill An- 
derson's guerrillas at Fayette, in which many men were killed. 

In 1869. Mr. Barron was married to Miss Virginia M. Hurt, a daugh- 
ter of Joel and Harriet (Farris) Hurt, both deceased. The Hurt family 
consisted of the following children: Henrietta Runkle; Virginia M. ; 
Boone Hurt, Pleasant Green ; Mary Helen Cartner, deceased ; Mrs. Dora 
Davis, Boonville township; Mrs. Josie Earhart, Gooch Mill, and Milo B., 
deceased. By a first marriage, Joel Hurt was father of: Joel Hurt, a 
wealthy citizen of Omaha ; Ira 0., Texas ; Nancy McAllister, Oklahoma. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Barron were born the following children: William P., 
died at the age of 24 years ; Mrs. Minnie Langkop, Bunceton, Mo. ; Mrs. 
Rosa Brandes, Clarks Fork township; Mrs. Lulu Brandes, Boonville, Mo.; 
John, Moniteau township ; Nellie resides at home ; Boone, Brunceton, Mo. ; 
Walter, Jr., died at the age of 19 ; Mary Ellen, died at the age of 13, and 
Josie and Joseph, twins, died in infancy. Mrs. Barron died January 7, 
1918, and her remains are buried in the Catholic cemetery at Boonville. 
The following are the grandchildren: Ralph and Waldo Langkop; Clo- 
rine, Earle, Mary Virginia Brandes, Walter Barron and Ruth, Lloyd and 
Rodney Brandes. Boone Brandes has one son, Boone Donald. 

Mr. Barron was commissioned captain of the Missouri State Militia 
by Governor Thomas Fletcher just after the close of the Civil War, and 
the duties of this organization was to protect peaceful citizens against 
bands of outlaws which infested the state at that time. Mr. Barron is 
one of the real pioneers of Cooper County. He says that he cannot recall 
the names of a half dozen people now living in Boonville who were here 
when he came here, 69 years ago, which impresses us with the fact that 
time is rapidly thinning the ranks of the old settlers. Mr. Barron cast 
his first vote for Abraham Lincoln for president, and since that time has 
supported the policies and principles of the Republican party. He is a 
member of the Grand Army of the Republican, John A. Hayne Post No. 
240, Boonville, Mo., and is Past Commander of this post. 
(33) 



514 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

William F. Johnmeyer. — It is given to but few men to achieve suc- 
cess such as that which has come to William F. Johnmeyer, retired farmer 
of Boonville, in the short space of 37 years since he first came to America 
from Germany and hired out as farm hand in Cooper County. Mr. John- 
meyer has not only accumulated a fine farm, become well to do, but has 
achieved more than a local reputation as a grower of corn and a breeder 
of poultry. In 1907 his exhibit of corn was awarded a silver loving cup 
at the Jamestown Exposition for the best exhibit of many kinds of corn. 
He received the grand corn prize through the Missouri Commission hav- 
ing charge of the Missouri exhibits at the exposition. Mrs. Johnmeyer, 
in 1901, 1902, and 1903, was awarded loving cups at the county fairs, for 
taking the most prizes ,for canned goods and farm products put up on the 
Johnmeyer farm. For several years Mr. Johnmeyer was an expert corn 
grower and made a business of producing seed corn which commanded a 
ready sale at good prices. He also specialized in fine poultry. He won 
many premiums on seed corn exhibited at Columbia and elsewhere, and 
his achievements as a corn grower attracted nation-wide attention, as 
having produced the best grades of corn in the United States, according 
to the leading agricultural authorities at Washington, D. C. 

William F. Johnmeyer was born in Germany, Nov. 15, 1858, and was 
a son of Frederick William and Charlotte Johnmeyer, who lived and died 
in Germany. Mr. Johnmeyer came to America in 1881, locating at once 
in Cooper County. He had very little money and accordingly went right 
to work as a hired hand on the farms in Cooper County. He hired out 
for three years at $12 per month at the start, and $20 per month during 
the third year, and during that time saved $500. Feeling himself to be 
well off, he got married and then rented a farm for four and a half years. 
In the fall of 1888, he purchased 132 acres of land west of Boonville in 
Boonville township. He agreed to pay $36 an acre for this land. Not 
long afterwards he bought an additional 33 acres, paid out, and then 
bought another tract of 140 acres, which he sold some time ago at a 
profit. The Johnmeyer farm is well improved and highly productive and 
has created wealth for its owner, who has tilled his land with intelligence 
and foresight. March 2, 1914, Mr. and Mrs. Johnmeyer moved to Boon- 
ville. In process of erection on High Street, is a new residence which will 
be occupied by this worthy couple when completed. 

Jan. 28, 1884, William F. Johnmeyer and Miss Sophia Smith were 
united in marriage. Mrs. Sophia Johnmeyer was born on Lone Elm 
Prairie, Dec. 25, 1863, and is a daughter of Nicholas and Margaret (Dem- 
hauser) Smith, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this history. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 515 

Eight children have been born to William F. and- Sophia Johnmeyer, as 
follows : Margaret, wife of George Branch, a farmer of Boonville town- 
ship ; Fred, a farmer in Saline County, Mo. ; Albert, a farmer, living west 
of Boonville ; Martin, who is cultivating the Johnmeyer home place ; Nellie, 
wife of Walter Breuckner, living west of Boonville; Mrs. Emma Lang- 
lotz, west of Boonville; Perley, on the home place; Alexandra, aged 
12 years. 

Mr. Johnmeyer is a republican, but has taken little part in political 
affairs, other than to cast his vote. He and his family are members of 
the Evangelical Church. Many things are to be placed to the credit of 
Mr. and Mrs. Johnmeyer, the best of which is the rearing of a splendid 
family of sons and daughters, who are all good citizens, industrious and 
enterprising. They are a congenial, intelligent, and progressive couple, 
whose achievements in Cooper County have made them widely known 
throughout the country. For a farmer, Mr. Johnmeyer evidently has 
enough fame to last him the remainder of his life. 

William B. Talbott, traveling salesman, Boonville, Mo. ; was born at 
Marengo, Iowa, May 20, 1885. He is a son of George Edward and Mary 
(Davis) Talbott, the former of whom is a native of Illinois, and the latter 
a native of Williamsburg, Iowa. 

George Edward Talbott was a son of George Washington Talbott, of 
Virginia, who first settled in Ohio and went from that state to Illinois, 
where George Edward Talbott was born and reared. Mr. Talbott was 
married in Iowa, and in about 1910, went to Wichita, Kan., where he re- 
mained for three years. In 1912 he located in Kansas City where he 
holds the position of manager of the Baker Manufacturing Company. He 
had previously been engaged in manufacturing at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 
under the firm name of Smith-Talbott Manufacturing Company. His 
children are as follows : William B. Talbott, Maude L., at home with her 
parents; Mina C, a teacher in the Kansas City, Kan., public schools; Mrs. 
Josephine Ramsdale, Kansas City ; Rev. Howard Talbott, a minister of 
the Presbyterian denomination, now Chaplain with the American Expe- 
ditionary Forces, 2nd Division, first in France and now in Germany with 
the Army of Occupation ; Lieut. George H. Talbott, a theological student, 
enlisted in the National Army with the 32nd Division at the outbreak of 
he war and has seen much active service with the American Army in 
France ; Helen Louise Talbott, aged 12 years, is at home with her parents. 
William B. Talbott received his education in the high school of Cedar 
Rapids, Iowa, attended the Beloit College, Beloit, Wis. for two years, and 



516 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

then studied law in the University of Iowa. Illness coming upon his 
father, he was prevented from completing his collegiate course and had 
to go to work and assist in supporting the family. In 1907 he became a 
salesman for the Baker Manufacturing Company of Kansas City, and is 
one of the most successful traveling salesmen on the road. Mr. Talbott's 
territory covers western Missouri from Jefferson City, westward. He 
came to Boonville on July 4, 1909 and is one of the best known of the 
progressive and public spirited citizens of this city. He was married on 
June 14, 1911, to Miss Minnie B. Gross, who was born in Boonville and is 
a daughter of C. E. Gross. The children born to William B. and Minnie 
B. Talbott are: Ruth Louise, bom April 19, 1912; William Burl, Jr., born- 
Oct. 13, 1913; Mary Frances, born Oct. 12, 1917. 

Mr. Talbott is a pronounced democrat. He has been active in the 
affairs of his party and has served as secretary of the Democratic Cen- 
tral Committee. He was elected to a membership on the Boonville Board 
of Education in the spring of 1918 and took his seat as a member of 
the board in June, 1918. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church 
while Mrs. Talbott is a Catholic. He is affiliated with the Ancient Free 
and Accepted Masons and is a member of the Chapter, Commandery and 
Shrine; the United Commercial Travelers and the Missouri Drummers 
Association. 

A. W. McFarland. — The story of the struggles and accomplishments 
of the pioneer men and women of any section of the country, is one of 
ever increasing interest. The true history of Cooper County consists, in 
a large measure, in the recital of the lives and deeds of the pioneers, 
whose sacrifices made possible the better condiations which those of a 
later generation enjoy. A. W. McFarland, who died Jan. 9, 1910, while 
a native of Cooper County saw much of the early life and early day devel- 
opment of this county. He belonged to a family of pioneers. He was 
born in Boonville township in 1834, a son of Jacob and Matilda (Fleming) 
McFarland, who were among the very early settlers of this county. 
Jacob McFarland died in 1843, and his wife departed this life three years 
later, and their remains now rest in a private cemetery on their old home 
farm. 

A. W. McFarland was reared to manhood in Cooper County, and edu- 
cated in the district schools, or such schools as existed at that time. He 
was married Dec. 10, 1857, to Miss Mary Catherine Hurt. They resided in 
Cooper County for about three years after their marriage, when they 
removed to Henry County, and remained there three years. They then 
returned to Cooper County and settled on the farm where Mrs. McFarland 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 517 

now lives. Here A. W. McFarland engaged in farming and stock raising, 
and was regarded as a successful man of affairs, and a good citizen. He 
improved his place and made a pleasant home for himself and his family. 
It is one of the attractive places in that section of the county, and the 
cedar trees which were set out over a half century ago still ornament the 
front yard of the residence, and give the place an artistic and distinctive 
appearance. 

Mary Catherine (Hurt) McFarland is also a native of Cooper County, 
and belongs to a family of pioneers. She was born in Clarks Fork town- 
ship, Sept. 2, 1838, a daughter of William and Catherine (Robertson) 
Hurt. William Hurt was born in Cooper County, of Virginia parents, 
who were among the first settlers of this section. He died in 1895. His 
wife, who was also born in this county died in 1881. Their remains are 
interred in Walnut Grove Cemetery. William and Catherine (Robertson) 
Hurt were the parents of the following children: Mrs. Nancy M. Davis, 
deceased; Mary Catherine, widow of A. W. McFarland, the subject of this 
sketch ; Jenkin B., deceased ; Benijoh, deceased ; William, resides in Clarks 
Fork township ; and James, resides in Clarks Fork township. 

To A. W. and Mary Catherine (Hurt) McFarland were born the fol- 
lowing children : Alice, married Robert Johnston, who is now deceased, 
and she lives in Boonville ; Laura Catherine, deceased ; William J., resides 
on the old home place ; Lillie May, deceased ; and Agnes Lee, married Ter- 
rell Mills, and they reside on the McFarland homestead. 

Terrell Mills and Agnes Lee McFarland were married Oct. 11, 1899. 
Mr. Mills was born in Clarks Fork township, Feb. 20, 1878. He is a son 
of James T. and Bettie Elizabeth Mills. The father is now deceased and 
the mother resides in Kansas City, Mo. To Terrell and Agnes Lee (Mc- 
Farland) Mills has been born one child. Mary Elizabeth, bom Jan. 18, 1905. 

There were nine grandchildren in the McFarland family, as follows: 
Emmett B. Johnston; Mrs. Berna Swarne; Mrs. Ruth Swarner; Percy E. 
McFarland, deceased; Mrs. Eula Mercer; Wilbur J. McFarland; Mary 
Martha McFarland; Alice Grace McFarland; and Mary Elizabeth Mills. 
The following are great-grandchildren of Mrs. McFarland: Burnah Mil- 
dred Lucile, Edward, and Mildred Swamer, and Roberta, Bernard, and 
Mary Edwina Johnston. 

The McFarland family have been prominently identified with Cooper 
County almost since its beginning, and are one of the highly respected 
pioneer families of this section. Mrs. McFarland, although in her 81st 
year, has a keen insight into the affairs of every-day life and a remarka- 
ble memory, rich in reminiscense of Cooper County history. 



518 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Homer L. Chamberlin has resided in Cooper County since his birth, 
with the exception of one year spent in the employ of the Consolidated 
Copper Company of Luray, Ariz. When 19 years old he bought 72 acres 
of land near Speed, Mo. He sold this farm and then bought 300 acres in 
the Texas Panhandle, which he sold in 1907. He then rented until he 
purchased his present farm in 1910. 

November 10, 1912, Homer L. Chamberlin and Miss Alice Dauer were 
married. This marriage has been blessed with the following children: 
Doris, born Nov. 8, 1913; Bernice, born July 5, 1915; Hortense, born July 
9, 1917; Birdie Jeanette, born Dec. 2, 1918. In addition to his own family, 
Mr. Chamberlin is rearing an orphan boy, George Kowler, whom he 
adopted Nov. 25, 1913, and who was born March 2, 1903. 

The mother of the foregoing children was born in Cooper County, 
July 4, 1888, and is a daughter of Max and Augusta (Haas) Dauer. Max 
Dauer was born in Germany, April 1, 1860, and accompanied his parents, 
George and Anna Dauer, to Cooper County, Mo., in 1867. He was reared 
here, became a farm owner, and was married in 1885 to Augusta Haas, 
who was born in Germany in 1865. Mr. Dauer owned a farm of 85 acres, 
which he recently sold and is now living in Boonville. He has two chil- 
dren: Mrs. Homer L. Chamberlin, and Birdie, wife of Albert Selck, as- 
sistant postmaster, Boonville, Mo. 

Mr. Chamberlin is a democrat, a member of the Evangelical Church 
and the Woodmen of the World. 

Thomas Hogan, retired contractor, living in his comfortable and 
substantial home at 629 East Spring street, Boonville, Mo., is a native of 
New York. Mr. Hogan was born Aug. 15, 1856, and is a son of Peter and 
Catherine (Murphy) Hogan, both of whom were natives of Ireland. They 
emigrated from Ireland to America when young and lived the remainder 
of their lives in the vicinity of New York City and Brooklyn, rearing a 
family of four children of whom Thomas Hogan of this review is the only 
survivor. 

The boyhood days of Thomas Hogan were spent in the city of his 
birth and he attended the public schools of his home city. When Greeley 
was giving his famous advice, "Go West Young Man, Go West, and Grow 
Up With the Country." Thomas Hogan was one of the many thousands 
of young men from the East who read, thought, then acted upon the 
admonition of the great editor. He came West, grew up with the country 
and assisted it to materially grow up with him. He began his westward 
way as a builder of railroads, albeit at first in an humble capacity, first 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 519 

working with the construction gangs in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, 
and Indiana, then farther west to Illinois. All the time he was following 
the laying of the steel tracks toward his goal "The West." He continued 
to go West until he got to the furthermost end of the country, Washing- 
ton Territory, all the time engaged in railroad building. He rose from an 
humble shoveler and digger to become a contractor in his own right and 
handled some large and important construction undertakings. He was 
doing construction work on the Oregon Short Line and the Northern 
Pacific through the Cascade Mountains in 1882. Before he had attained 
the age of 21 years he had reached the Puget Sound country. In 1877 
he was laying track on the Eastern and Washington Railroad from 
Springfield, Ohio, to Washington Court House. At this time he began 
contracting on his own account and has followed it for over 40 years with 
varying degrees of fortune. Sometimes, Mr. Hogan made money; then 
at other times, weather conditions and other things would conspire to rob 
him of any profit which might have been made on the job. He constructed 
the great railroad tunnel at Carter, Okla., on the Iron Mountain Railway, 
in 1904. This tunnel is 4,700 feet long and was a notable undertaking. 
He built 15 miles of railroad from Batesville, Ark., west on the White 
River line. Mr. Hogan located at Boonville in 1892 and made this city 
his headquarters. In 1898 he built part of the line of the Missouri Pacific 
Railway to Jefferson City, building two miles of the road to the Elliot 
station. He built five miles of road between Wymore and Fairbury, Neb., 
on the Burlington Railway in 1880, at a time when Nebraska was new 
and undeveloped. He followed the iron rails into Colorado, and built six 
miles of the Denver extension in 1882. He built eight miles on the Wood 
River branch, running into Bellevue, Idaho, from 1883 to 1884, to meet 
the Oregon Short Line. From 1878 to 1904, Mr. Hogan was engaged in 
railroad construction work. 

The greater part of the public improvements in Boonville, such as 
streets, sewerage, water works, etc., has been built by Mr. Hogan. He 
built the firts brick paving in Boonville in 1898. In fact he built all of 
the paving in the city excepting about one half mile and the work was 
done in a thoroughly workmanship manner which is enduring the stress 
of traffic in a way which compares most favorably with similar work in 
other cities. Mr. Hogan built all of the sewerage in the city, that is, the 
district sewers, built the Boonville Water Works basins and other work 
of importance in the city. At the outset of his successful career he made 
his headquarters in Springfield, Ohio, for two years and built some of the 



520 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

first rock roads in Pike County, Ohio. Mr. Hogan was the originator of 
the modern sewerage system in Boonville; he advocated the building of a 
sewerage system and led the agitation for its installation. During his 
career he has employed hundreds and thousands of men of all nationalities 
and his contracts have run into hundreds of thousands of dollars. At 
Carter, Ark., the tunnel project which he constructed cost a half million 
dollars to build. 

Mr. Hogan was married in 1892, at Boonville, Mo., to Miss Sarah 
Sharp, who was bom in 1869, reared in Cooper County and was a daugh- 
ter of Thomas and Margaret Sharp. Her parents were natives of Indiana 
and pioneers in this county. Mr. Sharp is deceased; Mrs. Sharp makes 
her home with Mr. and Mrs. Hogan. 

Mr. Hogan is a democrat and prominent in the affairs of his party. 
He was a member of the City Water Works Board, and was the originator 
of the present splendid water works system in Boonville, which is con- 
sidered to be one of the finest in this section of the country. Mr. Hogan 
is a member of the Catholic Church and is affiliated with the Knights of 
Columbus. 

Henry A. Renken, proprietor of "Willow Spring Farm," in Clarks 
Fork township, is one of Cooper County's "self-made" men, a leading agri- 
culturist and stockman, and a prominent citizen of his township. Mr. 
Renken was born June 26, 1853, in Bremen, Oldenburg, Germany, a son 
of Eilert G. and Sophia Dorothy (Addix) Renkin, who immigrated to 
America in 1882 and settled in Boonville, Mo. 

Eilert G. Renken was a tailor by trade. He died at the advanced age 
of 90 years, and his wife died at the age of 76 years. Both Mr. and Mrs. 
Renken died at the home of their son, Henry A., in Clarks Fork township. 
The children of E. G. and Sophia D. Renken are as follows: William 
Henry, who came to Cooper County, Mo, from Germany in 1875, and died 
in September of the same year; Henry A., the subject of this review; Ida, 
now deceased, the wife of Leonard Smith and the mother of one child, a 
son, John Henry, who is now living in Clarks Fork township. William 
Henry served in the German army prior to his coming to America. 

Henry A. Renken immigrated to America in 1872 and located at Bil- 
lingsville, Mo., where he was employed for four years, receiving §100 a 
year. He worked as a laborer for 12 years and saved his earnings. Mr. 
Renken resided at Big Lick for one year after his marriage, and he moved 
to his present country place in 1882, a farm comprising 185 acres of land. 
At the time of his purchase, an old log-cabin stood on the place. The 



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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 521 

present comfortable residence was built in 1892. It is a seven-room 
structure, well constructed, airy, and arranged with two halls. Prior to 
building the residence, Mr. Renken built two barns one in 1882, and the 
other in 1883. All buildings on the Renken farm are in excellent repair, 
including a garage, chicken houses, machinery shed, engine house, smoke 
house, shed for farm scales and granary. Mr. Renken has drilled two 
wells, one 212 feet in depth, the second 323 feet in depth. A third well 
is on the farm. In addition to the wells, there is an excellent spring on 
the farm and Clarks Fork Creek touches it. The Renken farm, widely 
known as "Willow Grove Farm," is located six miles from Boonville on 
the Jefferson road. Mr. Renken raises pure bred, but not registered, cat- 
tle and hogs. In former years, he was interested in raising trotting 
horses, and as a horseman he was unusually successful. He raised "Billy," 
and "Billy" was a high-stepper, a jumper, the sort used in England for 
fox chases. "Billy" was sold afterward for $15,000 and he was taken to 
England. 

In 1880, Henry A. Renken was united in marriage with Elizabeth C. 
Schnuck, of Saline township, a daughter of John and Catherine (Meyer) 
Schnuck. To Mr. and Mrs. Renken have been born the following chil- 
dren: Ida, now deceased, the wife of Herman Schmidt; Tillie, the wife of 
W. A. Farris, of Boonville; Florence, the wife of Walter Wamhoff, of 
Pilot Grove; William H., of Boonville; Leonora, the wife of John G. Henry, 
of Boonville; and Clara the wife of William G. Henry, of Boonville. Mr. 
and Mrs. Renken are the proud grandparents of four grandchildren: 
Walter M. Warnhoff, Alvina Elizabeth Henry, and George Henry Renken 
and Ralph Homer Warnhoff. 

Henry A. Renken came to Missouri when deer still abounded. When 
he purchased his farm it was still unimproved. He and his faithful wife 
have together labored long and persistently to make their country place 
one of the most attractive in the county, and they have succeeded. Mr. 
Renken has always taken a good citizen's interest in the public schools 
of the county and in the work of the late war he was very active. He 
assisted with all the Liberty Loans, the Red Cross work, and the sale of 
Thrift Stamps. Mr. and Mrs. Renken are industrious progressive, highly 
respected citizens. They are valued members of the Evangelical Church 
of Boonville. Recently Mr. Renken sold his farm to his son-in-law. 
William G. Henry, and he and Mrs. Renken will make their future home 
in Boonville. 



522 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

William E. Roeschel. — The late William E. Roesehel, former druggist 
of Boonville. was one of the best known citizens of Cooper County, who 
lived a life of usefulness and bore himself in such a manner as to place 
him in the front ranks of the leading and best respected citizens of Cooper 
County. He was born in Boonville. Oct. 7. 1859. lived practically all of 
his days in the city of his birth and died here. Nov. 12. 1916. 

Dr. Ernest Roeschel, his father, was born at Moerfelden. Dukedom 
of Hesen-Darmstadt. Germany. March 3. 1824. He was educated in his 
native land and became an expert chemist and apothecary. When _ - 
years of age he came to America, landing at New York City, and from 
there went to Belleville. 111. Six months later he came to Boonville. and 
was first employed in the drug store conducted by Dr. Kueckelhan. He 
remained there for three years and was then engaged by Thomas Allen 
who purchased the store. When Mr. Allen was succeeded in business by 
the firm of Allen, Speed & Co.. he remained with the firm for one year 
and then became a member of the firm of Speed i Roeschel. When the 
firm was dissolved upon the death of Mr. Speed, in 1S62. Mr. Roeschel 
became sole proprietor of the business which he conducted for many years 
until he turned it over to his son. William, of this review. 

During the Civil War. Dr. Ernest Roeschel was enrolled on the side 
of the Union and served in the Home Guards and the Missouri Militia. 
For several years he was a member of the Boonville School Board, and 
also served as a member of the Boonville City Council. 

Dr. Roeschel was married in Nov., 1853. in Boonville. to Miss Mary 
Haas. One child was born to this marriage. Mary, wife of W. A. Som- 
bart of this city. In 1855. after the death of his first wife. Dr. Roeschel 
was married to her sister. Miss Rosetta Haas. Four children were born 
of this marriage: William. Victor. Laura and Emma. Emma married 
William J. Courtney, a shoe merchant of Sedalia. She and two of her 
children were drowned in the Missouri River at Boonville in 1906. One 
child survives her. William, aged 18 years. Mrs. Ernest Roeschel resides 
in Boonville and is aged 87 years. 

Ernest Roeschel was a son of George Roeschel. a farmer and miller 
of Hessen-Darmstadt. Germany. His mother was Elenora Doerner Roes- 
chel. who died at the age of 72 years. 

William E. Roeschel. of this review, received his primary education 
in the public schools of Boonville and graduated from the local high school. 
He then studied at the University of St. Louis, and the Philadelphia Col- 
lege of Pharmacy. He was first engaged in the drug business at Carth- 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 523 

age, Mo., from 1882 to 1883. He then located permanently in Boonville 
and became associated with his father in the drug business. Soon after- 
wards he took entire charge of the Roeschel Drug Store and continued in 
business until failing health compelled him to dispose of the business to 
the present proprietor, William R. Miller, in 1914. 

September 25, 1883, William E. Roeschel and Miss Cora Holt were 
united in marriage. Three children blessed this union: Mabel, Ernest 
H., and William E. Roeschel. Mabel is the wife of Otto H. Cramer, a 
leading merchant of Bunceton, Mo. 

Ernest H. Roeschel was born in 1888. He enlisted in the National 
Army in June, 1917, trained at Fort Sheridan, was commissioned a second 
lieutenant, remained on duty at Camp Taylor for one year and was sent 
to France in Sept., 1918. He was a member of the 334th Infantry, trans- 
ferred to the 138th Regiment and was with the 35th Division. Lieu- 
tenant Roeschel took part in the last great drive on the western front in 
the fall of 1918. He was honorably discharged in May, 1919 and is now 
in Chicago with an engineering firm. 

William E. is a musician, at present traveling in his professional 
capacity, with headquarters in New York City. 

Mrs. Cora (Holt) Roeschel was born in Alton, 111., and is a daughter 
of Thomas and Jane Jemima (Four) Holt, the former of whom was a 
native of Tennessee, and the latter of Pennsylvania. Both parents, came 
of an old American stock. The Holt family moved from Alton, 111., to 
Richmond, Mo., and there the parents spent the remainder of their clays. 

Mr. Roeschel was successful in business and was interested financially 
in other enterprises in Boonville aside from his drug business. He was 
formerly a director of the Farmers Bank of Boonville, and was one of 
the substantial men of the city. He was a republican and was a member 
of the Knights of Pythias. 

Fred Dauwalter, secretary of the Boonville Building and Loan Asso- 
ciation, and also engaged in the writing of fire and live stock insurance, 
with offices in the Pythian Building, Boonville, Mo., was born in St. Louis, 
Mo. His parents were J. S. and Catherine (Haller) Dauwalter, both of 
whom were natives of Germany. J. S. Dauwalter was a tanner by trade 
and established a tanning business in Boonville in 1868 and remained in 
the tanning business until his death in 1913 at the age of 84 years. He 
also established a harness manufacturing business which was the leading 
concern of its kind in Boonville for many years, later being operated 
under the name of Dauwalter and Son. Catherine Dauwalter his wife. 



524 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

was born in 1833 and died in 1912. They were parents of the following 
children: Clara Dauwalter, in the offices of W. H. Trigg & Co., Boon- 
ville; Bertha and Kate, living in Boonville; Fred, of this review. 

Reared and educated in the public schools of Boonville, Fred Dau- 
walter became associated with his father in business and remained with 
the Dauwalter & Son firm until 1895 when he became cashier of the Com- 
mercial Bank of Boonville and served in this position for 18 years. In 
1913 he engaged in the insurance business. 

Mr. Dauwalter was married in 1887 to Miss Minnie Kratz of Boon- 
ville, who died in Oct., 1914, leaving three children: Schuyler, Kansas 
City, Mo., special agent for the Fidelity & Phoenix Fire Insurance Co., 
for the state of Missouri; Helen, physical training teacher in the Boon- 
ville High School, graduate of the Warrensburg Normal, and the Chicago 
University and was a candidate for the position of county superintendent 
of schools at the election held in April, 1919 ; Elizabeth, a student in Boon- 
ville High School. 

Mr. Dauwalter is a republican and is a member of the Knights of 
Pythias lodge. 

Powhatan C. Nuckols a well-known and respected farmer and stock- 
man of Boonville township, is a native of Virginia. Mr. Nuckols was born 
Feb. 1, 1849, a son of George P. and Martha B. (Crawford) Nuckols. 

George P. Nuckols was born in Goochland County, Va., in 1815. He 
was a plasterer, bricklayer and whitewasher. The whitewasher has been 
supplanted by the painter of today, but in the early part of the nineteenth 
century whitewashing was as much a vocation as painting is now It was 
said that George P. Nuckols was one of the most expert washers in his 
part of the country, as he could whitewash an entire room without drop- 
ping one bit of lime on the floor. He was wont to relate a story in regard 
to the coming of the railroads into his section of Virginia, and his son, 
Powhatan, recalls the tale. When the first train came puffing into Gor- 
donsville, Va., the entire countryside flocked into the village to see the 
sight. One old lady, completely overwhelmed with the novelty, exclaimed 
earnestly, "Law! that engine must be tired. See how the poor thing 
blows!" Martha B. (Crawford) Nuckols was a native of Louisa County, 
Va. The children of George P. and Martha B. Nuckols are as follows: 
Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth Nuckols, deceased; Mrs. Missouri Ann Perkins, de- 
ceased ; Charles Robert, who resides on a part of the Nuckols home place 
in Virginia; Powhatan C, the subject of this review; Mrs. Frances Wade, 
who resides on a part of the home place in Virginia ; Mrs. Susan Georgetta 
Isabel, deceased; Luther Robinson, deceased; Melvin Werllow, of Cody, 




POWHATAN C. NUCKOLS 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 525 

Wy. ; Napoleon and Benjamin, of Cody, Wy. ; and. three children, who died 
in infancy. Both father and mother are now deceased, and their remains 
rest in the family burial ground on the home farm in Virginia. The 
Nuckols family is of Scotch descent. 

Powhatan C. Nuckols attended a private school in his native State. 
He was with the Confederate army for a short time during the Civil War, 
but he was not a regularly enlisted man, as he was but 16 years of age at 
the time. Mr. Nuckols came to Missouri in 1869 and located at Overton, 
where he was employed by Kelly Ragland for three years, receiving as 
remuneration, $20 a month at first, and later $25 as foreman, and then 
received $30 per month. He saved his earnings and purchased of farm 
of 340 acres at Overton, Mo. The river took away from him about 200 
acres of the farm, and he sold the remainder and purchased his present 
country place in Boonville township, a farm of 230 acres, formerly owned 
by Lon Hickerson, known as the old Tucker place. There is a good resi- 
dence on the farm, and two barns, one of which Mr. Nuckols has added. 
There is a well, 163 feet in depth, on the Nuckols place, which well is 
pumped by a windmill, and always contains at least 86 feet of water. 
The previous owner of the farm thought no water could ever be found 
under the land. Mr. Nuckols raises whiteface and Durham cattle, and a 
cross between Duroc Red and Poland China hogs. 

Powhatan C. Nuckols and Zerilda J. Brushwood were united in mar- 
riage in December, 1873. Mrs. Nuckols is a native of Boone County, Mo. 
She was left an orphan when she was a very small child, and she was 
reared and educated by Mrs. Zerilda Farris. Mr. and Mrs. Nuckols have 
one daughter, Mattie Bell, who is the wife of M. C. Farris, and they reside 
in Texas. Mr. Farris is an engineer. Mr. Nuckols is a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mrs. Nuckols is a member of the Baptist 
Church. 

Mr. Nuckols is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons 
and the Woodmen of the World. He is numbered among the best and 
most progressive citizens of Cooper County. 

Benjamin F. Fredmeyer, proprietor of a flourishing dry cleaning, dye- 
ing and pressing establishment in Boonsville engaged in his present busi- 
ness on May 1, 1915. It is a pronounced success and the Fredmeyer 
establishment enjoys the trade and patronage of the best class of Boon- 
ville citizens. He was born in this city, April 13, 1886, and is a son of 
John Fredmeyer, an old citizen of Boonville. 

John Fredmeyer was born in St. Louis, Mo., Oct. 12, 1848 and is a 
son of Bernard and Sophia (Karnes) Fredmeyer, who were natives of 



526 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Germany, settled in St. Louis upon immigrating to America and in 1857, 
came to Cooper County, where they spent their remaining years engaged 
in farming. John Friedmeyer was reared in Cooper County and engaged 
in farming pursuits in the Lone Elm neighborhood until his removal to 
Boonville. He was married to Catherine Eder, at Gooch Mill. She was 
born in 1849 and died June 10, 1901. Nine children were born to John 
and Catherine Fredmeyer, six of whom are living as follow: Tillie, wife 
of J. W. Mitchell, Boonville, Mo. ; John, a painter and decorator, Boon- 
ville, Mo. ; William, a painter, Boonville, Mo. ; Mrs. Josie Harrison, Boon- 
ville, Mo.; Benjamin F., subject of this sketch. Those deceased are: 
Bettie, Caroline, Edward and Harry. 

B. F. Fredmeyer attended the public and high schools of Boonville 
and then pursued a course in Hill's Business College, Sedalia, Mo. For 
eight years he followed the profession of telegraph operator. For six 
and a half years he was manager of the Western Union office at Boonville 
and served as manager at Hannibal, Mo., for 18 months. In 1915 he 
established his present business. 

Mr. Fredmeyer was married on Nov. 25, 1914, to Miss Matilda Kopp, 
who was born in Boonville, Mo., June 2, 1893, and is a daughter of Philip 
Kopp (b. 1837, d. 1898). Philip Kopp was born in Germany and came 
to Boonville, Mo., with his parents who immigrated to America from 
Germany in 1843. He married Louise Bowler who was formerly engaged 
in the millinery and dressmaking business in Boonville with her sister 
for over 25 years. She was bom in 1857 and died June 22, 1917. Mrs. 
Louise Kopp was born on a farm west of Boonville and was a daughter 
of Gottfried Bowler who was killed by guerrillas during the Civil War. 
His father was also shot in the back while driving to the city. Philip A. 
Kopp conducted a barber shop in Boonville for a number of years and 
erected the building now occupied by the Fredmeyer business. He sold 
the lot upon which is built the McCurdy building. Philip A. Kopp was 
father of the following children : Philip E., Kansas City, Mo. ; Arthur 
W., a soldier in the National Army, stationed at Camp Hallburg, near 
Baltimore, Maryland. 

Mr. Fredmeyer is a republican. He is a member of the Evangelical 
Church and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of 
Pythias. 

Homer L. Chamberlain, proprietor of "Coal Spring Stock Farm," 
consisting of 192 acres of good land purchased Aug. 9, 1910. This farm 
is so called because a good part of the farm is underlaid with a vein of 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 527 

coal. Mr. Chamberlin is engaged in stock raising, sells no grain from the 
farm, and feeds everything raised on the place to live stock, and even 
buys grain and hay for his live stock. Mr. Chamberlin was born in the 
Bell Air neighborhood, Feb. 3, 1883. 

Lucien L. Chamberlin, his father, was born Jan. 22, 1838, and died 
Feb. 28, 1919. His birth occurred in Jefferson county, Va., and he died 
at Magnolia, Miss., at the age of 81 years, one month, and six days. He 
was a son of John W. and Eliza (Headwald) Chamberlin, mention of 
whom is made in connection with the sketch of A. L. and his father, 
Albert M. Chamberlin, in this volume. On the outbreak of the Civil War, 
L. L. Chamberlin enlisted in Co. B, 12th Virginia Regiment, Colonel Har- 
mon's regiment, in Ashby's brigade, afterward known as the "Laurel 
Brigade," and served with his command until the close of the war. "Ash- 
by's Brigade" covered itself with glory during the Civil War. This 
brigade participated in more hard fought battles than any other com- 
mand on either side during the war. It never surrendered, but at the 
close of the war disbanded, and what was left of its tattered and war- 
worn members, went home, to surrender, if at all, as individuals. L. L. 
Chamberlin took a part in all the battles in which his command partici- 
pated and passed through the entire struggle without a wound. He was 
under constant fire for 40 days during one of their most severe cam- 
paigns. He came to Cooper County, Mo., in 1865, and in 1882, he located 
on his farm of 349 acres, which he developed into a fine estate. In 189T 
he went to Texas, where he bought 1800 acres in Harris County. One 
year later he returned to Missouri and purchased the old McCurdy farm 
of over 300 acres. Two years later he made his home with his daughter, 
Mrs. L. M. Harriman, and also with his son, Homer L. 

L. L. Chamberlin was married Aug. 8, 1867, at Bell Air, to Miss Mary 
M. Robinson, a daughter of Rev. Jehu Robinson, of Johnson County, who 
removed to Cooper County and was a wealthy land owner, holding acre- 
age in three counties. Mrs. Mary or Mollie (Robinson) Chamberlin was 
born at Springfield, Mo., in 1847, and was one of 11 children born to her 
parents. She died in 1898, admired and loved for her good Christian 
works, all her life being a devout member of the Baptist Church. The 
children bora to L. L. and Mollie Chamberlin are: Magnus J., Homer L., 
Leonard M., Claybourne, Mrs. Wyatt Wyan, and Mrs. L. M. Harriman, of 
Magnolia, Miss. Magnus J. Chamberlin lives in St. Louis. Leonard M. 
Chamberlin lives in Mississippi and is a farmer and live stock dealer. 
Claybourne Chamberlin, the soldier of the family, enlisted in the National 



528 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Army early in May, 1917, sailed for France in April, 1918, after training 
with the 4th Regular Engineers at Vancouver, Wash., and Charlotte, N. C. 
In July, 1918, he took part in the battle of the Marne, participated in the 
St. Mihiel drive, and was in the battles of the Argonne Forest, from Sept. 
26 until the latter part of October. He was at the Vesle River, where he 
took part in some hot fighting. Mrs. Wyatt Wyan lives in Texas. Mrs. 
L. M. Harriman lives at Magnolia, Miss., and is a worker in the Red Cross. 

The late Lucien L. Chamberlin was a well educated man and came 
from a fine Virginia family. He was active in democratic politics in 
Cooper County and was one of the "Wheel horses" of his party during his 
active lifetime. He was an Odd Fellow and a member of the Baptist 
Church. 

Robert F. Wyan. — The oldest mercantile family in Cooper County is 
the Wyan's, beginning with Jacob Fortney Wyan, grandfather of Robert 
F. Wyan, retired merchant of Bunceton. Three generations of this fam- 
ily have been engaged in mercantile pursuits in this county since the 
advent of Jacob F. Wyan as the first merchant in Boonville in 1817. His 
son, Wesley J. Wyan, also became a merchant, as was the subject of this 
review. For over 100 years the grandfather, father, and Robert F. 
Wyan have been among the leaders in the business world of Cooper 
County, and the family is one of the most honored and respected in this 
section of Missouri. 

Jacob Fortney Wyan, the pioneer merchant of Boonville, was born 
in Hagerstown, Md., Oct. 14, 1772. He was a son of Dutch parents, and 
was left an orphan when but a child. He died in Boonville, April 20, 1842. 
He came to Boonville in 1817 and established the first store. Prior to 
coming here he had served as a soldier in the War of 1812, and had made 
a gallant record as a soldier. Mr. Wyan was the first Free Mason to 
reside in what is now Cooper County, and he gave to the city of Boon- 
ville the first cemetery in 1821. He brought to the town the first wool- 
carding machine and assisted in establishing the first woolen mill. 

Jacob F. Wyan was three times married. His first marriage was 
with Mary Gay, born Feb. 8, 1798, a daughter of Dr. Samuel Gay. His 
second marriage was with Mrs. Sallie (Gaines) Shanks, a daughter of 
John Shanks. His third marriage occurred at Crab Orchard, Ky., Jan. 16, 
1817, with Nancy Shanks. Seven children were born to this marriage, 
five of whom were reared to maturity: Sallie Gaines, who married Dr. 




ROBERT F. WYAX 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 529 

William H. Trigg, of Boonville; Margaret wife of the late James M. 
Nelson; Mary, wife of Thomas W. Nelson; Nancy, wife of William S. 
Myers; and Wesley J. Wyan, of this review. 

Wesley J. Wyan, father of Robert F. Wyan, was born in Boonville, 
June 8, 1825. He attended the public schools and studied for four years 
in the State University at Columbia. When he finished his course at 
Columbia, he returned home and followed merchandising in Boonville 
about 15 yeai-s. In 1868 he located at Bell Air and established a general 
merchandise business. Later, he engaged in the live stock business, but 
again resumed the mercantile business and resided at Bell Air until his 
death in 1898. Mr. Wyan won an enviable reputation as a thorough man 
of business, honest and upright in his dealings with his fellow men, and 
he was universally respected by all who knew him. He was a member 
of the M. E. Church South, and was a member of Wallace Lodge, No. 456, 
A. F. & A. M., Bunceton, Mo. 

Aug. 17, 1847, Wesley J. Wyan was married to Miss Catherine J. 
Menefee, bom in Virginia in 1838, and who was a daughter of Judge 
Henry R. Menefee, who came from Rappahannock County, Va., in the 
early forties. Mrs. Catherine Wyan departed this life in 1908. To Wes- 
ley J. and Catherine Wyan were born five sons: Robert F. subject of 
this review; W. F., deceased; Wyatt T, residing in Texas; Henry T., 
deceased ; Wesley J., died in Texas. 

Robert F. Wyan received his education in the Kemper School at Boon- 
ville, and when 16 years of age he joined his father in the mercantile busi- 
ness. In 1872 he engaged in business at Bell Aair, and succeeded his 
father at that place. For over 20 years he carried on a large and suc- 
cessful business enterprise at Bell Air. In 1911, he having located in 
Bunceton, he associated himself with others and erected the Bunceton 
Ice and Electric Plant which the corporation operated for a period of five 
years, and then sold the plant in 1918. Mr. Wyan erected the finest and 
most beautiful residence in Bunceton in 1912. This splendid home, the 
only strictly modern home in Bunceton, consists of 15 rooms, and is taste- 
fully decorated and arranged. 

Robert F. Wyan was married in 1894 to Miss Rosa Callahan, who was 
born in Cooper County in 1872, and is a daughter of C. C. Callahan. Four 
daughters and a son have blessed this union: Augusta, Florence, Jessie, 
Pauline, and Jacob F. Wyan, all of whom are at home. 
(34) 



530 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Mr. Wyan is a democrat, but has never sought political preferment. 
He is a member of Wallace Lodge, No. 456, Ancient Free and Accepted 
Masons, Bunceton, Mo., and comes of a family of Masons, his father, 
Wesley J. Wyan, having been one of the most prominent Masons in Mis- 
souri, attaining to a membership in the Grand Lodge. Mr. Wyan has the 
distinction of being the oldest Mason in the southern part of Cooper 
County in point of years of membership, having been 40 years a Mason, 
and is the only surviving charter member of the Bunceton Lodge. He is 
a past master of his lodge. Mr. Wyan is a pleasant, agreeable, well in- 
formed gentleman, whose friends are legion in Cooper County, and his 
family are prominent socially in the city and county. 

Henry Waterman. — This was a better world for having had the late 
Henry Waterman of Boonville for a denizen, even for his brief span of 
years as alloted to mankind ; lives were freshened, hearts were made glad, 
and thousands of people were entertained by his great musical talent 
during his lifetime. For many years Mr. Waterman was president of 
the Boonville Singing Society, which flourished in the days gone by; he 
was a founder of the original Turner Hall and was one of the most active 
citizens in Boonville when it came to promotion of civic enterprise or ar- 
ranging some entertainment which all the people could enjoy. 

Mr. Waterman was born in Roth, Bavaria, in 1818, and died April 
1, 1901. The same ship which carried him to America brought along his 
intended wife, Fannie Strauss, whom he married shortly after landing 
in New York City, in 1848. She was born in 1821 and died Dec. 13, 1907. 
Mr. Waterman first* located in Boston, Mass., and from that city located 
in Worcester, where he engaged in business. From there he came to St. 
Louis and established a clothing business. April 1, 1867, he came to 
Boonville, Mo., on the steamboat "Clara." He engaged in the clothing 
business in this city on the corner now occupied by the Victor Building 
and was successful in business for many years. Mr. Waterman built up 
a large trade and his name became familiar throughout this part of 
Missouri. 

Nine children were bom to Henry and Fannie Waterman, as follows: 
Hannah, deceased, wife of Henry Wolfert, Boonville, Mo.; John, a former 
merchant, born 1852, and died Feb. 15, 1896; Mrs. Henrietta Becker, 
Boonville, Mo.; Elizabeth, born, 1851, deceased wife of Philip Wolfert, a 
merchant of Belleville, 111.; Nannie, deceased wife of Joseph Rosenbaum, 
a former merchant of Fayette, Mo., and New York City; Belle, living in 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 531 

St. Louis, Mo. ; Mrs. Carrie Kohn, a widow, Maryanna, Ark., now of Boon- 
ville, Mo.; Alexander makes his home with Mrs. Becker. 

Dec. 26, 1898, the golden wedding anniversary of the marriage of 
Henry and Fannie Waterman was celebrated. The occasion was made 
practically a holiday in Boonville. Hundreds of friends gathered to wit- 
ness the wedding, which was performed by Rabbi Dr. Sale of St. Louis. 
Dr. William Mittelbach was master of ceremonies ; Prof. A. H. Sauter had 
charge of the music, and the late Hon. Jacob F. Gmelich gave a talk in 
a happy strain in the native speech of the worthy couple. Mr. Waterman 
sang his favorite song, "Brightest Eyes," and others well known in 
Boonville contributed to make an entertainment and celebration famous 
in the history of the old families of Boonville. It was the concensus of 
opinion that there had never been a more beautiful nor a more delightful 
ooccasion of a similar kind held in this city. The outpouring from friends, 
who loaded Mr. and Mrs. Waterman down with valuable and handsome 
presents, was a true and fitting testimonial of the very high regard in 
which they were held in their home city. 

The late Henry Waterman was a noted singer, who gave his services 
freely on public occasions. He sang at all of the churches in the city at 
various times when his services were desired, and he was the leading 
spirit in the musical society of Boonville. It was a regular occasion that 
when Mr. Waterman had a birthday anniversary, the singing society, 
which he organized, would visit him and celebrate the anniversary; when 
Mrs. Waterman had a birthday anniversary, the society would call and 
sing beneath her window and Mr. Waterman would sing a solo. He was 
a true American patriot, who loved his adopted country and its customs 
with heart and soul. He was an Odd Fellow for over 50 years and re- 
ceived the coveted gold medal awarded to members who belong to the 
society for a half century. He was a stanch democrat and took an active 
and influential part in the affairs of his party. 

Mrs. Henrietta (Waterman) Becker, of this review, was born in 
Boston, Mass., in 1853. She was married in 1874 in St. Louis, to Ferdi- 
nand Becker, who was born in Aldenstadt, Germany, in 1852, emigrated 
from Germany to America in 1870, located in Fayette. Mo., and clerked 
for Charles Rosebaum of that city. He died in 1893, while on a business 
and pleasure trip, death coming in Chicago as an operation was per- 
formed. He became a Mason at the age of 21 years. 

The children born to Ferdinand and Henrietta Becker are as follows : 



532 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Nettie, wife of Will Walters, Boonville, Mo. ; Harry died as a result of an 
operation in St. Louis, at the age of seven years; Fred met his death in 
a tragic automobile accident, May 10, 1914, when 19 years of age. 

Mrs. Becker inherited her father's musical gift and became a singer 
of more than local note. She received a thorough musical education and 
sang for the public for many years. She was a soloist at a famous masked 
ball held at Turner Hall and took first prize as "Pocahontas." Mrs. Will 
Walters, her daughter, was formerly a fine singer and talented musician, 
who received a splendid musical education. 

Chris Smith, retired farmer and justice of the peace, was born on 
a farm seven miles northeast of Bunceton, in Clarks Fork township, 
April 13, 1862. His first home was a log-cabin set in the midst of a clear- 
ing which his father Squire Nicholas Smith, made in the early fifties. 

Nicholas Smith was born Nov. 2 1837, and died July 5, 1914. He 
was a native of Germany and immigrated to America in 1854. One year 
later, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Adam Smith, joined him in Clarks Fork 
township, where Nicholas Smith had purchased 40 acres of virgin timber 
land. The first thing he did was to build his cabin of logs, cut and 
trimmed on the place, gradually enlarging his clearing, cutting cord-wood 
in winter and hauling it to Boonville for sale and trade in the summer sea- 
son. In 1866, he moved to a farm on the prairie, and bought 120 acres 
northeast of Lone Elm Store. He lived on this place for two years and 
then bought the old Fryer estate of 300 acres three miles east of Lone 
Elm. He resided on his farm until 1887 and then went to Boonville to 
make his home for the remainder of his days. Squire Nicholas Smith 
served in the State Guards during the Civil War, and served four years 
as justice of the peace in Clarks Fork township. After removing to 
Boonville he again filled the post of justice of the peace for four years. 
His wife was Margaret Dornhouser prior to her marriage, and was born 
in Moniteau County, in 1844, a daughter of pioneer parents. She now 
resides in Texas with her son, William Smith. The children born to 
Nicholas and Margaret Smith are as follows: Josephine lives in Texas; 
William, Texas; Sophia is the wife of William F. Johnmeyer, Boonville; 
Bettie is the wife of August Brickner, Boonville; and Chris, subject of 
this review. 

Chris Smith lived for 50 years on his farm in Clarks Fork township. 
He purchased this tract of 300 acres in 1887 and sold the place on March 
1, 1919, to his son, Benjamin. 




CHRIST SMITH AND WIFE 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 533 

Nov. 17, 1887, he was married to Miss Augusta Brandes, who was 
born in New Zealand, June 11, 1867. She is a daughter of Chris and Sarah 
(Wilshire) Brandes, natives respectively of Hanover and New Zealand. 
Chris Brandes went to New Zealand when a boy 16 years old as a mem- 
ber of a musical organization which was touring Australia and New Zea- 
land. He remained for five years in New Zealand, and was five years in 
Australia. The band of which he was a member was an adjunct to a cir- 
cus. In 1871, he came to Missouri and settled on a farm west of Prairie 
Home, later moving to a farm north of Lone Elm, where the mother of 
Mrs. Smith now resides. The children born to Chris and Augusta 
(Brandes) Smith are: Mrs. Mamie Langkop, whose husband is a mer- 
chant at Nelson, Mo. ; Benjamin Smith on the home place ; Pearl, wife of 
Arthur Smith, living on a farm seven miles east of Bunceton; Emily, wife 
of Ed Fricke, merchant at Lone Elm ; Lillian, wife of John Roehrs, Bunce- 
ton, Mo., married Jan. 1, 1919; Esther Smith is at home with her parents. 

Mr. Smith is a republican, and is prominent in the affairs of his party. 
When living on the farm he took a keen interest in educational matters, 
and served as school director of his district for 18 years. For four years 
he was road commissioner and took a commendable interest in having 
good roads. He was elected justice of the peace of Kelly township in 
November, 1918. For the past 12 years he has been a director of the 
Cooper County Bank, and for the past eight years he has been a director 
of the Farmers Elevator Company of Bunceton. He is a member of the 
Evangelical Church, and is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of Amer- 
ica and the Modern Brotherhood. Chris Smith is a useful and enterpris- 
ing and progressive citizen, who stands high in the esteem and regard 
of his fellow men and whose friends are legion. 

Dr. H. D. Quigg, eye, ear, nose and throat secialist, Boonville, Mo., 
has practiced his profession in Cooper County for nearly 30 years and 
during that time has filled one of the highest offices within the gift of the 
people. In the number of years of practice in this county he is one of 
the oldest physicians in the county. Dr. Quigg was born in Hickory 
County, Mo., March 5, 1863, and is a son of J. W. and Lucretia A. (Brad- 
ley) Quigg, the former was of Pennsylvania German stock and the latter 
of Scotch-Irish descent whose forbears settled in Tennessee. 

J. W. Quigg, Sr., came to Missouri in 1830 and developed a farm in 
Hickory County where he was a very prominent citizen. He served sev- 
eral terms as sheriff of the county and was widely and favorably known. 



534 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

He was born in 1819 and departed this life in 1894. He was twice mar- 
ried, three children being born to his first marriage and 11 children were 
born of his second marriage of whom Dr. Quigg is one. 

Reared in Hickory county, Dr. Quigg attended the district school and 
then went to the Southwest Baptist College in Polk County, Mo. He 
entered the Cincinnati Medical College and graduated from this institu- 
tion in 1890. He began practice in Hickory County and then located at 
Blackwater, Cooper County the same year. With the exception of four 
years spent as the superintendent of the Missouri Hospital for the Feeble 
Minded and Epileptics at Marshall, Mo., he has practiced continuously in 
Cooper County. He was appointed to the superintendency of the State 
Hospital at Marshall in 1910 and served until 1914. Soon after leaving 
the hospital he went to Chicago and pursued a course in the famous Chi- 
cago eye, ear, nose and throat hospital and prepared himself for this 
special practice. He then came to Boonville and established his offices 
where he devotes his time to special as well as general practice. 

Dr. Quigg was married twice. His first marriage took place in 
Hickory County in 1890 with Elizabeth Cully, a daughter of Joseph Cully. 
She died in 1906 leaving one child, Farrell C, a ranchman in Montana. 
Dr. Quiggs second marriage occurred in 1911 with Miss Elizabeth Craig, 
of Arrow Rock, Mo., a daughter of Hugh Craig. One child has blessed 
this marriage: H. D. Quigg, Jr., aged seven years. 

Dr. Quigg is a republican who served two years as coroner of Cooper 
County. He .was elected representative from Cooper County in 1902 and 
served until 1904 as a member of the Missouri State Legislature. He was 
again elected in 1904, serving two terms. He was a member of the Com- 
mittee on Ways and Means and was chairman of the Committee on Health 
and Scientific Institutes. He introduced and had passed a bill empower- 
ing the city of Boonville to build High street in this city. Dr. Quigg 
is affiliated with the Odd Fellows and the Masons. 

Henry Schrader, owner of a well improved farm of 73 acres situated 
just west of Boonville, is a native of the province of Schleswig-Holstein, 
and was born Sept. 18, 1869. His parents were Henry and Henrietta 
Schrader, who left their native country and came to Cooper County, Mo., 
in 1882. They settled in Boonville and Henry, the elder, operated a dairy 
in the vicinity for 17 years. The father died in 1907 at the age of 68 
years. The mother died in 1916 aged 73 years. There were three chil- 
dren in the Schrader family, as follows: Henry, subject of this sketch; 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 535 

Charles Schrader living at Wooldridge, this county; Lena, wife of Ed 
Thoma, Boonville, Mo. 

Henry Schrader was 13 years of age when the family settled in 
Boonville. He was reared in this city and began when a boy to assist his 
father in the operation of his dairy business. In 1899 he moved to the 
farm which he now owns, rented the land for a number of years and 
finally purchased the place in 1916. Mr. Schrader is a good farmer, 
industrious and a good business manager. 

Mr. Schrader was married in 1899 to Miss Kate Miller, a daughter 
of Taylor Miller. To Henry and Kate Schrader have been born four chil- 
dren, as follows : Rosa, Wilbur, Henry and Harold, all at home with their 
parents. 

Mr. Schrader is a republican and takes an interest in political and 
civic affairs. He is a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Wood- 
men of the World and is popular and well known in the community. 

John Clifford Barnhart, proprietor of a flourishing tire and vulcan- 
izing shop, established in Boonville, in the fall of 1916, is a native of 
Cooper County. Mr. Barnhart has a fully equipped tire repair and vul- 
canizing shop and handles such excellent lines of auto tires as the Fisk, 
Mohawk, Firestone and Mason makes and also makes a specialty of re- 
treading worn outer casings. 

Joseph Barnhart, his father was born Jan. 8, 1850, and died April 7, 
1906. He was a native of Washington County, Pa., and was a son of 
John Barnhart, who migrated to Indiana thence to Iowa and then moved 
to Schuyler County, Mo. He removed to Cooper County, Mo., in about 
1868. John Barnhart settled on a farm one mile south of Billingsville 
and later removed to a place south of Rankin's Mill. Joseph Barnhart 
was married in Cooper County to Mary Frances Jeffries, a daughter of 
Rev. John Jeffries, a minister and farmer of Cooper County, now deceased. 
Mary F. Barnhart was born in this county in 1853 and now resides in 
Boonville at 510 Third street. Joseph Barnhart developed a splendid 
farm of 158 acres one mile west of Prairie Lick. He was father of the 
following children: Mrs. Stella Helmrich, St. Louis, Mo.; Leona Barn- 
hart, a milliner living in St. Louis, Mo.; Alima Barnhart, at home with 
her mother ; and John C, of this review. 

J. C. Barnhart was born Dec. 19, 1888 on a farm six miles southwest 
of Boonville and was there reared to young manhood. He was educated 
at Prairie View District School and the Boonville High School, and after 



536 HISTORY OP COOPER COUNTY 

his fathers death he took charge of the home place. He came to Boon- 
ville in 1916 and has since been engaged in the tire business. His new 
bungalow residence is located on Third street across from the Kemper 
Military School. 

Mr. Barnhart was married on Oct. 4, 1910, to Miss Mabel Marshall, 
born on a farm two miles west of Blackwater, in Cooper County, and a 
daughter of William and Martha Marshall, the latter of whom is deceased. 
William Marshall still resides on the old Marshall homestead, one of the 
oldest settled farms in Cooper County. Mr. and Mrs. Barnhart have one 
child, Margaret Barnhart, born Jan. 2, 1919. 

Mr. Barnhart is a republican and is a thorough business man who is 
making a success. He is a member of the Baptist church, is progressive, 
intelligent and keenly alive to the project of building a greater and better 
Boonville. 

Ed Patterson, farmer and stockman, manager of the famous "Ra- 
venswood Stock Farm," Bunceton, Mo., is one of the best known and pop- 
ular citizens of Cooper County. Mr. Patterson is owner of 173 acres, 
two and a half miles northwest of Bunceton. The "Ravenswood Stock 
Farm" comprises 2,100 acres and is one of the largest individual farms in 
central Missouri. Most of the land is in grass, and the farm is devoted 
to the breeding of Shorthorn cattle. The oldest Shorthorn herd in the 
world was started on this farm in the year 1839 by Nathaniel Leonard, 
and the profession of breeding Shorthorns has been carried on with in- 
creasing success by his descendents. A herd of 125 purebred Shorthorns 
is maintained constantly on the farm, and the best of care is given this 
fine live stock. The majority of all Shorthorn cattle west of the Missis- 
sippi River are descendents from the famous Ravenswood herd. On this 
farm has been bred and sold the highest priced sire ever sold in the 
world, which brought $40,000 at the Royal Stock Sales in Argentine. 
This animal was grand champion for two years at the Royal Stock Shows. 
Through him and through the reputation of the cattle exported to South 
America from the "Ravenswood Stock Farm" has come the popularity of 
American Shorthorn cattle in Argentine and South American stock raising 
centers. This importation began in 1893 and marks the beginning of a 
ne wera in South America, and the way was opened for the exportation 
of American pure bred live stock to South America. Mr. Patterson has 
been manager of the "Ravenswood Stock Farm" for the past 34 years. 
Ten men are employed in the operations of the farm. 




ED PATTERSON 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 537 

Ed Patterson was born in Clarksburg, Ind., in 1852, Aug. 10. He is 
a son of Thompson and Rebecca (Day) Patterson both of whom were 
natives of Kentucky. Thompson Patterson was born in 1816, and died in 
1892. Rebecca, his wife, was born in 1820 and died in 1885. They set- 
tled in Indiana in 1852, and from there came to Missouri in 1870, settling 
on Lone Elm Prairie, where the elder Patterson bought a farm and re- 
sided until the end of his days. They were parents of seven children: 
Mrs. Maria Taylor, living in Louisville, Ky. ; Lovell, living at Tipton, Mo. ; 
Malinda died in Indiana; Thompson, Bunceton, Mo.; Darius, a farmer in 
Indiana ; Ed Patterson, of this review ; Rev. Henry C. Patterson, who died 
in Lexington, Ky., in 1909, and was a noted evangelist of the Christian 
denomination. 

Ed Patterson came to Missouri with his parents in 1870, and lived 
with his father until 1873 when he began farming on his own account. 
In 1885, he took charge of the "Ravenswood Stock Farm." Mr. Patterson 
was married in 1876 to Miss Emma Dills, a daughter of J. N Dills. To 
this marriage was born Gussie, wife of Bret Peters, proprietor of the 
moving picture theater, Bunceton, Mo., and they have two children, Emma 
Peyton and Coleta. 

Mr. Patterson bred the famous Shorthorn bull which sold for $10,000 
at the famous Red Cross sale held in 1918 at Birmingham, Ala. This 
was the grand champion of 100 bulls exhibited, and was sold to Woodrow 
Wilson for $1.00. The president donated the animal to be sold again. 
He was sold again on condition that the champion was to be quartered 
for 24 hours in the lobby of the luxurious and palatial Hotel Tutwiler in 
Birmingham. This was done, and the occasion was made a great event 
in the South. 

Mr. Patterson is a stanch democrat. He is a member of the Christian 
Church and is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He 
is one of the most skilled breeders in animal husbandry in Missouri, and 
is widely known among the stockmen of the country. Genial, friendly 
disposed, kind hearted, his friends are legion, and his standing as a citi- 
zen of Cooper County is high. 

Michael J. Felton, farmer and grain dealer, Prairie Lick, Mo., has a 
splendid country place embracing 300 acres and known as the "Harbor 
Farm". This place is improved by a large brick house erected by Michael 
Felton, the subject of this review. 

Hubert Felton was born in Germany, married Catherine Leswick, 



538 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

settled in Cooper County, Mo. and reared a family of children. For further 
particulars concerning- Hubert Felton, the reader is referred to the sketch 
of Frank J. Felton, of Boonville. 

M. J. Felton was born March 10, 1860 on a farm east of Boonville 
and removed with his parents to the present place where he now resides 
when but a boy. He attended the Hickory Grove School and when he 
became of age he began farming on his own account. He also operated a 
threshing outfit and has been financially interested in threshing machinery 
and the industry for a number of years. He embarked in the business of 
buying and shipping grain in 1900 and purchased the Prairie Lick Elevator 
from Mr. Rogers. The fine brick house which graces the Felton farm was 
erected in 1907. 

Mr. Felton was married in 1887 to Miss Gertrude Brummel, a daugh- 
ter of the late Peter Brummel and sister of Henry Brummel, a sketch of 
whom appears in this history. Mrs. Mary Gertrude Felton was born in 
1855 and died in Aug. ,1904, leaving eight children, as follows: Gertrude, 
wife of George Hayes, Boonville, Mo. ; Leo. H. Felton, grain dealer and 
shipper, Bunceton, Mo. ; Isabella, at home with her father ; Florence, Sister 
Emelda, in a convent at Clyde, Mo. ; Margaret, Clifton City, Mo. ; Mary, 
Kansas City, Mo.; Agnes, Sister Elfelda, Clyde, Mo.; Hubert, aged 18 
years, at home. 

Mr. Felton is a democrat, a member of the Catholic Church and the 
Knights of Columbus. 

Balthasar Lang. — The really remarkable success achieved by Balt- 
hasar Lang of the Prairie Lick neighborhood in the space of 33 years, 
could only have been accomplished by a man of energy, industry and of 
decided financial ability. Mr. Lang came to Cooper County in 1885, pur- 
chased his first land in 1891, went in debt for it, and is now the owner 
of 418 acres of good land, besides owning a half interest in 220 acres in 
Howard County. Mr. Langs home place of 132 acres is splendidly im- 
proved with a large, handsome frame house, and big barns with the 
fencing in excellent repair. Mr. Lang is a keen and shrewd farmer who 
knows how to retain and restore the fertility of soil. He favors the Here- 
ford breed of cattle for his farms. 

Balthasar Lang was bora in Germany in 1857 and is the son of George 
and Ottilior Lang, the former of whom died in Germany. Mr. Lang came 
to America in Dec, 1881 and was first employed in Lake County, Ind., 
where he remained for three years and then had occasion to make a visit 
to Germany on account of the death of his father. He then came to 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 539 

Cooper County, having just located here when he was called home to 
Germany. When he returned to America he was accompanied by his 
mother, his brother, George, and his sisters, Elizabeth, now deceased, 
Ortillia, Marguerite, and Anna, now deceased. At once he and his brother 
George established themselves and the family upon a farm which they 
bought. Mr. Lang's mother died at his home. His sister Ortillia, now 
Mrs. Day, lives at Pilot Grove, Mo. Marguerite Lang married Jos. F. 
Esser of Pilot Grove, Mo. 

Mr. Lang moved to his present home farm in 1891 and for some years 
lived in a log and box house. In 1900 he built his large six room house. 
He was married in 1890 to Miss Annie Day, born in the Rhine Province, 
Germany, and came to America in 1886. The children born to Balthasar 
and Annie Lang, are Mrs. Mary, wife of Frank Gross, living on the Lang 
farm land ; George at home ; Annie, wife of Fred Martin, Lamine town- 
ship; Rosa, wife of Joseph Lang, Boonville township; Bertha, twin of 
Rosa, Joseph, Henry, William, Magdalena and Frank, are at home. 

While Mr. Lang is a republican, he is inclined to vote independently 
for those candidates whom he deems best fitted. He and his family wor- 
ship at the Martinsville Catholic Church. Joseph and George are mem- 
bers of the Knights of Columbus. Mr. Lang is a good, all round Amer- 
ican citizen. 

Everett Hilden, late of Billingsville, was one of the successful citizens 
of Cooper County who not only made a success of his life in a material 
sense, but whose life as he lived it furnishes a lesson in good citizenship. 
Mr. Hilden was born Sept. 8, 1848, and died March 6, 1907. He was a 
native of Germany and came to America in 1853 with his parents, Adolph 
and Ursula (Reinfeldt) Hilden, who emigrated from the seat of the fam- 
ily at Ludrich, Cologne. They landed at New Orleans, after a long trip 
in a sailing vessel, and on Dec. 17, 1853, they arrived in St. Louis, Mo. 
In May, 1854, the family came to Boonville and then removed to a farm 
near Jewett's Mills. Later the father settled on a farm one-half mile 
north of Billingsville. 

Mr. Hilden conducted the general merchandise store at Billingsville 
for five years, but was primarily a farmer and stockman during his entire 
life. He became owner of a large estate of 400 acres, which is improved 
with substantial farm, home and other good buildings. 

He was married Sept. 9, 1879, to Miss Lena Esser, who bore him nine 
children: Henry died in 1895; Mrs. Annie Moore, Cape Girardeau, Mo.; 
Julia, Adolph, Bertram L., Evelyn, at home ; Patrick, William, and Barbara. 



540 HISTORY OF COOPEK COUNTY 

Patrick Hilden, the soldier of the Hilden family, was born May 3, 
1894, and enlisted in the National Army in June, 1918. He was trained 
for overseas service at Camp Pike, Ark., and in Aug., 1918, went to 
France as a member of General Headquarters Company No. 2, Co. G, 
Provisional Infantry Regiment. 

Mrs. Lena Esser Hilden was born in Cooper County, Mo., Jan. 25, 
1859, and is a daughter of Bertram and Agnes (Felton) Esser, natives of 
Germany, the latter of whom was a sister of the late Hubert Felton. 
Bertram Esser died in Cooper County in 1877. Mrs. Agnes Esser died in 
March, 1897. There were eight children born to Bertram and Agnes 
Esser, of whom seven are living: Mrs. Elizabeth Weitz, Marshall, Mo.; 
Joseph, Pilot Grove, Mo. ; Lawrence, Boonville, Mo. ; Mrs. Mary Brooks, 
Kansas City, Mo.; Mrs. Margaret Martin, deceased; Mrs. Catherine 
Dumalty, Billingsville, Mo. ; and Mrs. Lena Hilden, of this sketch ; John 
lives at Pilot Grove, Mo. 

The late Mr. Hilden was a member of Sts. Peter and Paul's Catholic 
Church of Boonville, as are all the members of his family. He was affili- 
ated fraternally with the Woodmen of the World, Boonville Camp No. 40, 
and the Catholic Knights of America. He was widely and favorably 
known and for a long period was closely identified with live stock and 
farming in Cooper County. 

H. D. Carlos and H. D. Carlos, Jr. — The Carlos family is one of the 
old pioneer families of Cooper County. H. D. Carlos, Jr., druggist of 
Bunceton, Mo., is descended from a Spanish immigrant, Don Carlos, who 
fought in the American Revolution in behalf of the American colonies. 
His son, C. M. Don Carlos, settled in Cooper County about 1825, and built 
up what was formerly known as the old Carlos homestead near Prairie 
Home. 

H. D. Carlos, father of H. D Carlos, Jr., was born on the Carlos home- 
stead in 1842, and was reared to maturity near Prairie Home. He fol- 
lowed agricultural pursuits for a number of years and established the 
first drug store at Prairie Home in 1882. Later, he removed to Boon- 
ville and served as assessor of Cooper County for two terms. He went 
to Texas in 1902 and located in Rock Island County, where he invested in 
a large tract of land. Eventually he engaged in the drug business in 
Dallas. In 1905, the Carlos Drug Store was established in Bunceton, in 
which both father and son are interested. 

H. D. Carlos was married to Elnora Simms who was born in 1855, 




H. D. CARLOS, si: 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 541 

and died in 1909. She was a sister of Clay Simms of Gooch's Mill, and 
was born in Cooper County, a daughter of pioneer parents. Eight chil- 
dren were born to H. D. and Elnora Carlos, as follows: Nellie, wife of 
T. H. Eayde, Tulsa, Okla. ; Anna, deceased wife of E. E. Carey ; Porter, 
deceased wife of A. H. Moore; Clay, wife of R. E. Maze, Rock Island, 
Texas ; Hattige, Kansas City ; Nora, wife of L. G. Smith, Kansas City, Mo. ; 
Fannie, deceased wife of John Waite. 

Hillard D. Carlos, Jr., was educated in the Bunceton public schools, 
and in the St. Louis Colloge of Pharmacy. He graduated in pharmacy in 
1914, and immediately engaged in the business at Bunceton. Mr. Carlos 
has been practically reared in the drug business and is familiar with every 
phase of it. He is operating one of the neatest, best stocked and best 
equipped drug stores in central Missouri. 

Hillard D. Carlos, Jr., was married Sept. 25, 1918, to Miss Bernardine 
English, born in Cooper County, a daughter of H. H. English, widely known 
stockman of Cooper County. 

H. D. Carlos and his son are stanch democrats. H. D. Carlos, Jr.. 
served as lieutenant in the Bunceton Home Guards during the World War. 
He is a member of the Baptist Church and is a past master of the Bunce- 
ton Lodge of Free Masons, and is a member of the Knights of Pythias. 
H. D. Carlos, Sr., is one of the oldest Masons in Cooper County, having 
become a member of the order when he was 21 years of age. 

Samuel Walker Roberts. — The late Samuel Walker Roberts was one 
of those citizens who, gifted beyond ordinary attainments, made a repu- 
tation as a scientific breeder of fine cattle that extended far beyond the 
borders of his home county. He was born in Camden County, Mo., June 
1, 1860, and died in Boonville, Sept. 25, 1916. At the time of his death, 
he held the post of farmer at the Missouri Training School. His parents 
were Hon. James Green and Ailcy (Walker) Roberts, the latter of whom 
was a member of an old and honored pioneer family of Cooper County. 

Hon. James Green Roberts was born in Knoxville, Tenn., Dec. 6, 
1826, and died in Cooper County, June 28, 1901. He settled in Camden 
County, Mo., in 1844. In 1849, James Green Roberts made the overland 
trip to the gold fields of California. He remained there for two years, 
and then went to Lima, Penn., where he remained for one year. He made 
the trip home to Missouri via Cape Horn and New York City. During the 
Civil War he made his home in Vernon County, Mo. Mr. Roberts en- 
listed in 1862, in Company I, under Capt. Jesse McCaliph, Colonel Bain- 



542 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

bridge's regiment, which was attached to General Mamiaduke's Division. 
He was later made a member of General Marmaduke's staff and was cap- 
tured at Nine Mile Creek, Kansas, and kept a prisoner by the Federals 
until the close of the war. Mr. Roberts had six brothers who fought in 
the Civil War. 

After the close of the war, James Green Roberts came to Cooper 
County, where he became a prominent and influential figure. He pur- 
chased the old Walker home place at Pleasant Glenn and became well 
to do as a farmer and stockman. In 1874 he was elected representative 
from Cooper County and served two terms in the Missouri Assembly of 
1874 and 1876. He was the father of five children, four of whom died in 
infancy: Samuel Walker Roberts, of this review, being the only child of 
his parents who grew to maturity. J. L. Roberts was married in 1856 
to Ailcy (Walker) Roberts, mother of the subject of this review. She 
was born in 1828 and departed this life in 1902. She was a daughter of 
Samuel Walker, who was one of the first pioneers of Cooper County, set- 
tling at what has since been known as Walker in this county. The wife 
of Samuel Walker was Miss Nancy Cockrell, a native of Virginia, whose 
father was a soldier of the Revolution. 

Samuel W. Roberts was reared to young manhood in Cooper County. 
He received an excellent education, graduating from Central College at 
Fayette, Mo., and the State University at Columbia. It had been Mr. 
Roberts' intention to prepare himself for the practice of law, but he be- 
came interested in the science of raising pure bred live stock and achieved 
a signal success in this departure. The advancing age of his parents 
caused him to relinquish his early ambitions and the care for the large 
farm and his parents. He was owner of nearly 400 acres of land, which 
was principally devoted to the breeding and raising of pure bred Short- 
horn cattle. His herd became widely known as the "Clear Creek Short- 
horn Herd," and won many ribbons and prizes when exhibited at the 
Royal and the principal live stock shows of the country. He resided on 
his farm until 1910, when he removed, with his family, to Boonville and 
took charge of the farming operations carried on in connection with the 
Missouri Training School. He was residing on the State Farm at the 
Training School and capably managing this farm when his death occurred. 

April 28, 1891, Samuel W. Roberts and Miss Frances Lyon Myrtle 
Rogers were united in marriage. One child was born to this union, — 
Ferda, wife of Dr. John R. Hall, a surgeon in the Regular Army, on duty 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 543 

in France. Dr. Hall is a graduate of the State University, from which 
institution he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and received his 
Medical Degree from Washington University. He enlisted in the Regular 
Army, was promoted to a captaincy and is now a major. Dr. Hall was 
married to Miss Ferda Roberts on Feb. 11, 1912. Two children were 
born to this marriage: John Randolph Hall, born June 20, 1913; and 
Sarah Hall, born Feb. 11, 1915. 

Mrs. Frances Lyon Myrtle (Rogers) Roberts was born in Bunceton, 
Mo., Jan. 23, 1871. She is a daughter of Capt. Ferdinand A. and Sallie 
(Lionberger) Rogers, the latter of whom was born in 1847 and died in 
1915, and was a daughter of Isaac H. Lionberger, a pioneer of Cooper 
County. Captain Rogers was born in 1832 and died in 1879. He had the 
honor of being the first sheriff of Cooper County elected on the democratic 
ticket after the close of the Civil War. He served in the Confederate 
Army as captain of a company, was made prisoner and confined on John- 
son's Island. He was married after the close of the war to Sallie Lion- 
berger, as stated in a preceding paragraph. Mrs. Sallie (Lionberger) 
Rogers was a descendant on the maternal side from Captain John Ashby, 
grandfather of her mother, Mary (Ashby) Lionberger, who served in the 
Revolution. The children born to Capt. F. A. and Sallie Rogers were as 
follows: Mrs. Frances L. M. Roberts, of this review; Mary died at the 
age of 18 years; and Chatte, wife of Frank Waltz, station agent of the 
M. K. and T. R. R. at Boonville. Captain Rogex*s was born in Ohio and 
descended from Virginian ancestry. After the close of the Civil War, he 
located in Bunceton, Mo., and served six years as sheriff of the county. 
He was filling the duties of this official position at the time of his death. 
Captain Rogers was an influential and commanding figure in Cooper 
County for many years. 

Samuel W. Roberts was a versatile and accomplished citizen, who 
was well educated, a great reader and student who kept himself well in- 
formed upon the events of the day. He was a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, South, and was prominent in Masonic circles. His 
father, James Green Roberts, was also a Mason, as were his six brothers. 
Samuel W. Roberts was a member of the Blue Lodge of Pilot Grove, a 
member of Olivet Commandery Knight Templars of Boonville, a Royal 
Arch Mason and a member of Centralia Council. In his day he was one 
of the best known and influential and useful citizens of Cooper County. 



544 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Charles C. Eldredge, a prominent and highly respected citizen of 
Boonville, is a native of Rhode Island. Mr. Eldredge was born Sept. 29, 
1839, in East Greenwich, Kent County, a son of Charles C and Sarah P. 
(Pierce) Eldredge, natives of Rhode Island. Charles C. Eldredge, Sr., 
was a son of Dr. Charles Eldredge, a leading practitioner in Rhode Island, 
who spent his life in that State. To Charles C, Sr., and Sarah P. El- 
dredge were born the following children: Ellen, of Providence, R. I.; 
James, who came to Cooper County in the fifties and joined the forces of 
the Confederates when they passed through Cooper County during the 
Civil War, took an important part in the battle of Lexington, resided in 
Cooper County for many years, and in his later years moved to Johnson 
County and died at Holden, Mo.; Charles C, the subject of this review; 
Lucy, of East Greenwich, R. I. ; and Henry, deceased. The father of 
Charles C. Eldredge died when his son was still a child. 

In private and public schools Charles C. Eldredge received his ele- 
mentary education. He mastered the machinist's trade at Beloit, Wis., 
and worked at his trade until the beginning of the Civil War in 1861, 
when he enlisted in Providence, R. I., with Company C, Marine Artillery, 
and served 90 days. He returned home at that time and re-enlisted later 
for three years. Mr. Eldredge was promoted to the rank of first lieu- 
tenant in the Rhode Island Infantry. He was wounded in the shoulder 
at the battle of Petersburg, Va., when he was forming his men for a 
charge. He recovered slowly from the wound, but he did not return to 
the army after his recovery. Mr. Eldredge had served three and one- 
half years. After the war had ended, he again took up his trade and fol- 
lowed it until he came to Missouri and settled in Cooper County in the late 
sixties. Mr. Eldredge, at first, rented a farm in Prairie Home township, 
and, later, purchased a country place, comprising 300 acres of the best 
land in the county, which was his residence until his removal to Boonville 
in 1904. 

In 1868, Charles C. Eldredge and Martha Ann Davis were united in 
marriage. Mrs. Eldredge was a daughter of N. E. and Martha (Johnson) 
Davis, honored pioneers of Missouri. To this union were born 10 chil- 
dren: Dr. James Shelton, of Kansas City, Mo.; Lucy, the wife of Rever- 
end Cunningham, of Texas; Elizabeth Dean, the wife of "Min" Cunning- 
ham, of Cooper County; Margaret Olive, the wife of Leslie Laws, of 
Camargo, Okla. ; Charles C, Jr., of Boonville; Anna Martha, the wife of 
Al Shannon, of Boonville township; Dorothy, the wife of Fred Bair, of 




CHAIU.ICS c. IOLDRIOIkiiO AND WIFE 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 545 

Vernon County, near Walker, Mo. ; Sarah Pierce, the wife of VV. Williams, 
of Santa Fe, N. M. ; Laura, the wife of David Hurt ; and Hemy P., who 
died in infancy. The mother died in 1897 and* her remains are interred 
in Walnut Grove Cemetery in Clark's Monument. 

Oct. 14, 1908, Charles C. Eldredge and Roberta Ella (Harris) Howlett 
were united in marriage. Mrs. Eldredge is a daughter of Robert and 
Nancy (Burger) Harris. She was bom at Prairie Home in 1845, and 
her father and mother were natives of Boone and Cooper Counties, re- 
spectively. Robert Harris died when the overflow of the Missouri River 
occurred in the early forties (1844). His death was due to exposure from 
working in the overflow, attempting to save the lives of people and stock. 
At the time of his death, Mr. Harris operated a tannery. Mrs. Eldredge 
was first married to James Archie Howlett in 1862, and by her first mar- 
riage she is the mother of six children : James A., deceased ; Mrs. Harriet 
Elizabeth Stemmons, deceased ; Logie Josephine, the wife of Edward 
Nance, of San Francisco, Calif. ; Lillian, the wife of Will Sperry, of St. 
Louis ; Athalena, the wife of Robert Fleming, of California ; and Robert 
Hatcher, of St. Louis. Mrs. Eldredge recalls that, in connection with the 
history of the early days in the county, her uncle and aunt, Joseph and 
Betsy Jane Burger, frequently rode on horseback to Boonville, a distance 
of 14 miles from their home, and carried to the market a large bucket of 
butter and a basket of eggs. The Burger family came from Holland, and 
Joseph Burger settled in Cooper County. Mr. and Mrs. Eldredge reside 
in a comfortable home south of the Kemper Military School. 

Mr. Eldredge has been a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted 
Masons for 50 years. He and Mrs. Eldredge are valued and consistent 
members of the Christian Church. They stand high in the respect and 
esteem of their fellow citizens and they are numbered among the county's 
best families. 

William George Robien, farmer and live stock dealer, residing at 
Prairie Lick, Mo., has a splendid farm of 245 acres, upon which he has 
resided since 1912. Mr. Robien was born in Cooper County Feb. 24, 1870. 

His father, Henry Robien, was born March 9, 1836, and died June 
11, 1872. He was a native of Germany, who immigrated to America in 
1859, married Marie Hoflander, who was born May 16, 1834, and died 
Jan. 15, 1917. She, Maine Robien, was born in Sachsen-Coburg, Germany, 
village of Grosgornstadt, and came to America, May 19, 1853. She was 
(35) 



546 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

first married to Christian Krohn Aug. 14, 1861. Mr. Krohn was killed 
by guerillas Aug. 31, 1863. Her next marriage was with Henry Robien, 
on Feb. 2, 1865, and to this marriage were born three children: William 
George Robien, of this review; Lena Robien resides with the other son, 
Henry P. Robien, who lives on a farm just south of Boonville. Henry 
Robien, the elder, served in the Union Army during the Civil War, with 
a Missouri regiment. He was badly wounded at the Battle of Arrow 
Rock, nine buckshot being taken from his body. He took part in the 
memorable chase after General Price's rebel army through Missouri and 
Arkansas, followed farming pursuits after the close of the war and died 
of pneumonia in 1872. 

May 11, 1876, Mrs. Marie Robien was married to Henry Zimmerman, 
who was born April 30, 1831, in Wertumburg, Germany, came to America 
in 1852 and died in Cooper County, Mo., July 22, 1913. Two children of 
Henry Zimmerman survive : Mary, wife of John E. Kirchner, near Boon- 
ville; Katie, deceased wife of Henry Wendleton, near Speed, Mo. 

W. G. Robien was reared in Cooper County and has always been a 
farmer and live stock man. He purchased his first farm in 1897. For 
the past 22 years he has been a large buyer and shipper of live stock and 
his shipments will aggregate many carloads yearly. The past season of 
1918 and 1919 has been exceptionally unfavorable to the live stock buyers 
and shippers, who, in many cases, have been merely turning over their 
money or losing on their deals because of the scarcity and high price of 
feed for the stock, and poor condition of the stock. 

Feb. 10, 1897, W. G. Robien and Miss Lizzie Oswald, a daughter of 
the late Herman Oswald, were united in marriage. The children born to 
this union are : Florence, Elmer, Frances, Mary, and Mabel. 

Mr. Robien is a member of the Martinsville Catholic Church and the 
Knights of Columbus. He is a well informed and progressive citizen who 
is usually found in the forefront of good movements for the betterment 
and progress of things in his native county. Genial and kindly disposed, 
he has many friends in Cooper County. 

John E. Kirchner, owner of 600 acres of fertile and productive Cooper 
County land began with a small tract of 12 acres when 23 years of age. 
At the time of his marriage he had 120 acres and has carefully followed 
out his well defined plan of continually adding to his acreage as he was 
able. Mr. Kirchner never had things easy in his life until of late years. 
If one were to ask how he came to be so well fixed he would answer, "by 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 547 

hard work, planning ahead and making the earnings of the farm count 
for the best, and not being extravagant". He began to work when he 
was nine years old, because necessity demanded that he go to work and 
help support his widowed mother and family. At the age of 10 he was 
doing the work of a plowman, cutting wood, and doing the hardest kind 
of work around the farm. When he was 22 years old he began renting 
land. Soon thereafter he purchased his first farm a modest 12 acres. 
Anyhow, it was a beginning, and there is no telling when this ambitious 
citizen will stop accumulating farms. Of the acreage held by the Kirch- 
ners, Mrs. Kirchner has 250 acres which came to her by inheritance. 

John E. Kirchner was born in Germany, Dec. 18, 1852. He was three 
weeks old when his parents, Nicholas and Eva Kirchner, emigrated from 
their native land to seek a home in America. Nicholas Kirchner located 
in Cooper County, Mo., in Jan., 1853, lived for two years in Boonville, and 
then bought a small farm of 20 acres just southeast of the city. He died 
of pneumonia in 1863. Four children were left fatherless and another 
child was born after the father's death. The children are: John E., sub-> 
ject of this review; Mrs. Mary Lowe, living southwest of Vermont, Mo.; 
Frank, a farmer southeast of Vermont, Mo. ; Louise, deceased ; Annie, the 
wife of Ed Melkelrsman, Boonville, Mo. The mother of these children 
nobly shouldered the task of rearing her family to maturity. She de- 
parted this life in 1907. 

Mr. Kirchner's home place, whereon he has resided for the past 12 
years, is well improved, with a handsome farm residence, which sets on 
an elevation overlooking the surrounding country. The greater part of 
the Kirchner land cost $20 an acre at the time of purchase, and it is now 
easily worth from $150 to $200 an acre. 

John E. Kirchner was married in 1884 to Mary B. Zimmerman, a 
daughter of Henry and Sophie (Beck) Zimmerman, Mrs. Mary B. Kirch- 
ner was born in Ohio, in April, 1857, and one month later her parents 
came to Cooper County, where she was reared. Her mother was born in 
1830 and died in 1874. She had a sister, Mrs. Henry Wendleton, deceased. 

The children born to John E. and Mary B. Kirchner are as follows: 
Emery Korchner, born Jan. 29, 1886, owner of a farm of 100 acres; 
Katie is the wife of William Boggemeier, near Boonville, Mo. ; Flora, at 
home with her parents. 

Mr. Kirchner is a republican and is a member of the Evangelical 
Church. 



548 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Dr. O. W. Cochran, one of Cooper County's most prominent and best- 
known citizens, is a native of Boone County. Dr. Cochran was born 
March 5, 1860, near Rocheport, a son of Samuel D. and Amanda (Boggs) 
Cochran, honored pioneers of Missouri. 

Samuel D. Cochran was a son of John Cochran, an early settler of 
Boone County, who came west in 1811. Amanda (Boggs) Cochran was a 
daughter of John Boggs, who came to Missouri in 1812. Both the Coch- 
ran and the Boggs families came from Kentucky. Mrs. Cochran died in 
1880, at the age of 50 years. Samuel D. Cochran died in 1915, at the age 
of 82 years. Both mother and father are interred in Sugar Creek Ceme- 
tery in Boone County. The children of Samuel D. and Amanda Cochran 
are as follows: Mrs. Mary D. Baldwin, who died in 1916; Mrs. Thomas 
T. Lowrey, Perkins, Okla. ; Mrs. George L. Williamson, Columbia, Mo.; 
and Dr. 0. W., the subject of this sketch. 

Dr. 0. W. Cochran received his elementary education in the public 
schools of Boone County. James Cooney, who later became congressman 
from the Seventh District, was his teacher. Dr. Cochran attended the 
State University of Missouri at Columbia for three years. He is a grad- 
uate of the Louisville Medical College, a member of the class of 1885. 
March 4, 1887, he came to Gooch's Mill, and he has been located here for 
the past 32 years. Dr. Cochran is the owner of a farm, comprising 375 
acres of valuable land in Saline township. He is perhaps the oldest prac- 
titioner in Cooper County, and he has established an unusually fine prac- 
tice. 

In December, 1887, Dr. 0. W. Cochran was united in marriage with 
Octavia V. Quarles, a daughter of Charles Quarles, of Prairie Home town- 
ship. Both the father and the mother of Mrs. Cochran were natives of 
Virginia, and both are now deceased and their remains are interred in 
Ellis Cemetery near Prairie Home. To Dr. and Mrs. Cochran "have been 
born the following children: William Owen, who was born Dec. 7, 1888, 
and died July 11, 1916; Nellie, the wife of Frank Bornhauser, of Prairie 
Home township; Anna Gray, the wife of Ernest C. Oerly, of Saline town- 
ship; and Samuel Victor, a student in the Boonville High School. Dr. 
and Mrs. Cochran have five grandchildren ; Virginia, Margaret, B. 0., and 
Willie Gray, and an infant. All the children of Dr. Cochran and wife are 
graduates of the Boonville High School. The doctor and Mrs. Cochran 
are worthy and valued members of the Baptist Church. 

Dr. Cochran was in charge of the war work in Saline township, man- 
againg the Liberty Loans, Red Cross work, United War work campaign, 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 549 

the Armenian Relief, and he was chairman of the .township Council of 
Defense. For eight years he has been chairman of the democratic cen- 
tral committee of Cooper County. Dr. Cochran is affiliated with the 
Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fel- 
lows the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Woodmen of the World, 
and the Modern Woodmen of America. Dr. Cochran made the race for 
tke State senatorship in 1909 and was defeated by one vote by Sam C. 
Major, now congressman from the Seventh District of Missouri. Dr. 
Cochran is a good citizen, and a man of high ideals. He commands the 
respect and admiration of all with whom he comes in contact. 

Dr. Ace Overton Donahew, veterinarian, with offices at 803 East 
Morgan street, Boonville, Mo. ; has during the 17 years he has been prac- 
ticing his profession, made a reputation as a skilled and competent veter- 
inarian, which is second to none in Central Missouri. Dr. Donahew's 
practice extends over Cooper, Howard, Moniteau, Pettis, and Saline 
Counties and part of Boone County, Mo. He was born Aug. 17, 1865, in 
Mount Sterling, Ky. His father was John Donahew (b. 1820, d. 1888), 
born in Kentucky and a son of John Donahew, a Kentucky pioneer. John 
Donahew migrated with his family to Missouri in the fall of 1870, bring- 
ing his movable possessions to this county in wagons. He settled on the 
prairie near La Monte, Mo., and in the fall of 1874, removed to a farm 
in Saline County. His first few years in Missouri were disastrous ones, 
facing total crop failures through the dry years of the early seventies. 
The panic of 1873 had its effect, also, with the dropping of prices of farm 
products ot their lowest level in many years. The grasshopper pest of 
1872-73 also cleaned out the crops on the prairies. Mr. Donahew man- 
aged to make a new start in Saline County, prospering and was making 
plans to purchase a farm of his own when he was stricken down with 
typhoid fever and died in 1888. The entire family was attacked, and the 
father succumbed. John Donahew married Mary Pettit, who was. born 
in Stanton, Ky., in 1840 and died in 1909. She bore him five sons: 
Andrew, died in 1916; Ace Overton, of this review; James F., Redding, 
California; Edward, Slater, Mo.; Austin, Kansas City. Mrs. Donahew, 
faced with the task of keeping her family together and rearing them to 
maturity. She succeeded and all of her sons, now living are excellent 
citizens in their respective localities. For three years the family lived 
on the old Ben Derrick farm near Orearville, Mo. In 1891 they removed 
to Slater, Mo. and resided there for seven years. Mrs. Donahew then 
moved to Kansas City. 



550 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Dr. Ace 0. Donahew was educated in the Kansas City Veterinary 
College and studied his profession for three years, 1888-1889-1900. He 
first practiced for three years at Slater, Mo. He was then located at 
Fayette, Mo. for four months prior to coming to Boonville on May 15, 
1903. 

Combined with Sr. Donahew's knowledge of the science of his pro- 
fession is a profound understanding of animals, and an expert insight into 
the characteristics of the horse. For a period of 15 years prior to taking 
up the study of his profession he was one of the best known horse break- 
ers and trainers in this section of the West. He studied the art of horse 
training under Prof. Gleason of Kansas City, and then made a business of 
training and breaking track horses. Regularly each season he would 
make the circuit and would be at all the racing meets when trotting and 
running races were in the heyday of popularity with the western people. 
Dr. Donahew trained "Jim Ramey" of Sedalia and broke and trained sev- 
eral track animals for John R. Gentry of Sedalia, who produced "John R. 
Gentry" and "Theodore Shelton" the greatest two-year-olds of their day. 
He trained "Sam Fuller" of Fayette, and was the trainer of "King 
Herod" and "Telegram", two of the noted pacers and trotters of this sec- 
tion of the country. 

Dr. Ace O. Donahew was married in 1906 to Miss Theresa German 
of Hermann, Mo., a daughter of Capt. Henry German. This marriage 
has been blessed with three children: Garmon Frederick, Frances Louise, 
and Dorothy May. 

Dr. Donahew is a democrat and takes quite an interest in political 
matters. He is fraternally affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and the 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows. 

George Hutchin Moore, proprietor of "Truesdale Stock Farm," is a 
descendant of one of the first pioneer families of Cooper County, mem- 
bers of which have been prominent in the affairs of this county for over a 
century. His great grandfather was Maj. William Moore, a native of 
North Carolina, who settled in Cooper County in 1816, soon after the close 
of the War of 1812, during which struggle he served as major in an 
American regiment. George Moore, son of Major Moore, married a Miss 
Stephens of the old Stephens family of Cooper County, who settled here 
as early as 1817. 

Charles F. Moore, father of George H. Moore, of this review, was 
born in Cooper County in 1829 and died in 1913. He married Martha 
Inglish, a daughter of Hutchin Inglish, a pioneer settler of Moniteau 
County, and who was a native of Kentucky. Charles F. Moore conducted 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 551 

a store at the old town of Palestine and was an extensive grain buyer and 
shipper for a number of years. He was a citizen of versatile attainments, 
well educated, and proficient in many lines. He was a veterinary sur- 
geon. He was one of those neighborhood geniuses who could turn a deft 
hand and brain to almost anything in the line of a farmer's necessity and 
do it well. He speculated largely in Missouri land and bought and sold 
farms in Cooper County, becoming a large land owner on his own account. 
During the last 20 years of his life he made his home in Boonville. 
Charles F. Moore was father of six children: George Hutchin, subject 
of this review; Return L., for 25 years local agent for the Missouri Pacific 
Railroad Co. at Boonville, now living in Georgia; Cornelia is the wife of 
R. L. Windsor, Clarks Fork township; Mrs. Florence Eller lives near 
Fayette, Howard County, Mo. ; Gillis Moore lives in Kansas City ; Ger- 
trude is the wife of Ben Curtis, Poteau, Okla. 

G. Hutchin Moore was bom July 26, 1852. He was educated in the 
district school and attended Professors Cullough and Simpson's Institute, 
near Concord Church. He began upon a rented farm on his own account 
near Billingsville in 1873. In 1877 he removed to Johnson County, Mo., 
and after farming in that county for four years he returned to Cooper 
County in 1882 and purchased part of his father's home place in June of 
that year. For the past 31 years Mr. Moore has resided on his farm and 
is the owner of 240 acres, upon which he has practically placed all of the 
existing improvements. The Truesdale Stock Farm is noted for the fine 
horses produced and raised on the place. The sons of Mr. Moore are 
breeders of saddle horses and jacks. They sold "Missouri King," a three- 
year-old, to P. Hawkins, who later sold him to a California man for $5,000. 
The strain of the Moore horses is the "Rex McDonald" breed. "Missouri 
King' was awarded the grand championship prize at the Royal Stock 
Show in Kansas City. Mammoth jacks are bred on the Moore farm, 
which has had as high as a dozen or more head of fine thoroughbreds at 
one time in the stables. 

G. Hutchin Moore was married in 1873 to Miss Lucretia Eller, born 
in Cooper County in 1854, a daughter of David and Martha (Oglesby) 
Eller, natives of Kentucky, who were pioneers in this county. The chil- 
dren born of this union are : Mrs. Claudia Gosnold, Los Angeles, Calif. ; 
Mrs. Daisy Dean Rutherford, living near Otterville, Mo.; Mrs. Bessie 
Coleman, Bunceton, Mo.; Marvin, a resident of Los Angeles, Calif.; 
Trevor H., on the home place ; Delia, at home with her parents. 

Mr. Moore is a democrat and is a member of the Bapitst Church. 



552 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Frank N. Blank, proprietor of "Grove Place," a valuable farm of 240 
acres in Prairie Home township, is one of the most successful cattle breed- 
ers in that section. Mr. Blank was born May 24, 1876, son and only child 
of Jacob and Emma (Hofferberg) Blank, the former of whom was born on 
that same place, son of Nicholas Blank, a native of Germany, and one of 
the pioneers of that section of Cooper County. Nicholas Blank and wife 
were among the first members of the Evangelical Church at Pleasant 
Grove, and are buried in the churchyard there. Jacob Blank died in 
1878, at the age of 32 years, and his widow survived him but two years, 
her death occurring in 1880, she then being 26 years of age. 

Frank N. Blank, early orphaned, was reared in the household of his 
uncle, Ernest Kirschman, and upon coming into his majority took over 
the fine farm which had come to him through his father and his grand- 
father. He grew up on that place, completed his schooling in the old 
Prairie Home Insitute and from the days of his boyhood has given his 
attention to agricultural pursuits, a vocation which is returning him 
ample rewards. "Grove Place Farm" is an admirably improved place of 
240 acres which was "entered" from the Government by one Murphy in 
the days of the Van Buren administration, and was purchased from the 
patentee by Mr. Blank's grandfather, Nicholas Blank. The place is well 
situated three and one-half miles northeast of Prairie Home, and is well 
watered, a good pond and springs being supplemented by a driven well 
214 feet deep. Since taking over the management of the property, Mr. 
Blank has made numerous substantial improvements on the same, these 
including the erection of a new farm house in 1899, and the building of 
three barns, one in that same year, another in 1902, and another in 1912, 
besides garage, machine shop and such other buildings as required. Since 
1901 Mr. Blank has been engaged in the breeding of registered Hereford 
cattle in partnership with his brother-in-law, Henry Spieler, their present 
herd of about 40 head being headed by "Excelsior VI" and "Free Lance," 
and in this connection has done much to improve the strain of Hereford 
throughout tnis section, the products of "Grove Place" herd being in wide 
demand. As one of the means of exploiting this herd Mr. Blank, who is 
a highly-skilled amateur photographer, maintains a well-equipped photo- 
graph "gallery" on his place. 

In 1899, Frank N. Blank was united in marriage to Bertha Spieler, 
who was born in this county, and to this union one child has been born, 
Lucille, who is at home. Mrs. Blank is a daughter of Otto and Margaret 
(Young) Spieler, the latter of whom is still living making her home on 




FRANK N. BLANK 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 553 

the home place. Otto Spieler and wife were the parents of eight chil- 
dren, Mrs. Blank having three brothers, Ernest, of Wooldridge; Otto, of 
St. Louis ; and Henry Spieler, of Wooldridge, who is a partner of Mr. 
Blank ; Mrs. Charles Oerly, deceased ; Mrs. Lon S. Swanstone, near Gooch's 
Mills ; Laura and Minnie, at home. 

Mr. Blank is a member of the Herford Breeders' Association. He is 
a republican, and a member of Pleasant Grove Evangelical Church, and is 
affiliated with the Odd Fellows and Modern Woodmen. 

Lon V. Wendleton. — The most complete farm plant in the central 
part of Cooper County is that of Lon V. Wendleton, in Palestine township. 
The Wendleton farm is improved with a handsome, modern farm resi- 
dence, large barns, shops and a planing mill so as to make the place inde- 
pendent of outside assistance. The saw mill and planing mill was erected 
by Mr. Wendleton so as to prepare the lumber for his new home, which is 
practically built of hardwood lumber, cut from the timber on the farm of 
543.5 acres, which he is managing. The house consists of ten rooms, 
finished in oak, cherry, walnut, and red elm, all of which was cut, sawed, 
and finished for use on the farm. The planing mill has been in operation 
since 1915 and has already paid for itself and done work far above in 
value of the original cost. Mr. Wendleton does some custom work 
merely for the accommodation of his neighbors. This fine home is lighted 
by gas, and heated by a hot water heating plant. The modem day, 
progressive farmer of the class to which Mr. Wendleton belongs, has come 
into his own and is fast seeing the light of better days. 

Mr. Wendleton is owner of 137.5 acres, the rest of the large tract 
which he is farming being the property of his uncle, Henry Wendleton. 
Considerable live stock is produced on the Wendleton farms; one carload 
of thoroughbred Shorthorn cattle is fed each year and fattened for the 
market; from one to two carloads of hogs are sold on the markets; 60 
sheep are maintained the year round. 

Lon V. Wendleton was born Dec. 22, 1886, on a farm three miles 
west of his present home. He is a son of David Wendleton. He has 
resided with his uncle, Henry Wendleton, since he was 10 years of age 
and has had the management of his uncle's large farm for several years. 

Mr. Wendleton was married Sept. 29, 1908, to Miss Grace Hendrick, 
who was born in the Indian Territory, May 12, 1888, and is a daughter 
of James P. and Eva (Turner) Hendrick, natives of Missouri. James B. 
Hendrick resided for a few years in the Indian Territory, and after his 
return to Missouri, settled in Lafayette county, where he resided until 



554 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

his removal to Boone County, where he is now residing. Three children 
have blessed this marriage: Mildred, born Oct. 5, 1909; Ruth, born Jan. 
20, 1911; Earl, born March 12, 1915. 

Mr. Wendleton is a democrat. He and Mrs. Wendleton are members 
of the Christian Church. He is a member of the Masons. Both Mr. and 
Mrs. Wendleton are well informed and well educated people, who are hos- 
pitably inclined and of the true Missouri, progressive type. Both have 
had the advantages of study in the State University and the Normal 
Academy, and endeavor to keep abreast of the times. 

Henry Wendleton was born in Cooper County in 1854, and was a son 
of David Wendleton, a native of Holland, who left his native land, came 
to America, and located permanently in Cooper County, Mo., in 1833. 
Further details of the history of the Wendleton family will be found in 
the sketch of David Wendleton. Mr. Wendleton has been twice married ; 
his first wife having been a Miss Catherine Barbara Zimmerman, who 
died in 1903. His second marriage, in 1906, was with Sophia Muntzel, 
who died two and a half years after her marriage. 

J. Louis Staebler. — A rich and fertile farm, well improved and 
located advantageously, such as the farm of J. Louis Staebler, of Billings- 
ville, is a possession of which any man can well be proud. The Staebler 
place consists of 200 acres and has a handsome residence of 11 rooms 
erected in 1907 and modern in every respect. This home is equipped with 
a gas lighting system, water system, furnace and was one of the first 
modern homes built in this section of Cooper County. Mr. Staebler is 
a producer of hogs and raises and feeds about 150 head of animals yearly 
for the markets. He was born in Champaign County, Ohio, June 6, 1856. 

J. Louis Staebler, Sr., his father, was born in Germany in 1820, and 
died in Cooper County, Mo., in 1903. The ancestral seat of the Staebler 
family is at or near Stuttgart, Wurtemburg, Germany. Mr. Staebler im- 
migrated to America in 1853 and settled near Urbana, Ohio. This section 
of Ohio, at that time, was in a more or less wooded condition and the 
forests in process of clearing. The soil was wet and malaria was pre- 
valent among the settlers and residents. Mr. Staebler became afflicted 
with malaria and was advised by his family doctor to come west, entirely 
out of the malaria-ridden country. He had friends in Missouri and learned 
through them of the excellence of the climate in the Cooper County 
neighborhood. Accordingly, he disposed of his property in Ohio, and 
drove across country in company with two other families, their belong- 
ings being carried in six wagons. In 1859, Mr. Staebler brought his be- 
longings to Missouri with two teams and lived for the first two years on 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 555 

a farm south of Boonville. J. Louis Staebler, .Sr., served in the State 
Militia during the Civil War. When General Rice's Army raided Boon- 
ville and Cooper County in 1863, the Confederates raided the Staebler 
farm, stripped the farm and home of provisions and live stock and feed, 
and robbed him of his money and all his possessions. A battle was fought 
near the Staebler place between the Union forces under General Kratz 
Brown and Price's men. In 1873 he located on the farm owned by his 
son, J. Louis Staebler, Jr. His wife was Christina Grauer. She was bora 
near Stuttgart, Wurtemburg, Germany, in 1833 and departed this life 
Jan. 20, 1917. J. Louis Staebler was the only child of his parents. 

Nov. 7, 1889, J. Louis Staebler was married to Elizabeth J. Dueschle, 
born in 1867, near Pleasant Green, Mo., a daughter of Adam, Sr., and 
Catherine (Shook) Dueschle, natives of Germany and early settlers in 
Cooper County. Mr. and Mrs. Staebler have two children: Esther O., 
a graduate of the business college at Boonville; Edith, at home with her 
parents. 

Mr. Staebler is a republican. He is a member of the Billingsville 
Evangelical Church and is a member of the Woodmen of the World. He 
is an intelligent, well posted citizen, who has made a success of his life 
work and has arrived at the point in life where he can live in comfortable 
circumstances. 

Henry P. Robien. — Success in farming and stock raising seems to be 
characteristic of the members of the Robien family in Cooper County, 
and Henry P. Robien, who has a splendid farm of 180 acres just south of 
Boonville, is no exception — rather, he is one of the most successful of the 
family, inasmuch as he is owner of 450 acres of land in addition to his 
home farm, situated south of Billingsville. Mr. Robien has resided on his 
home place for the past 18 years and it is well improved with a large brick 
house and other substantial farm buildings, there being two sets of im- 
provements on his land. Mr. Robien is a large feeder of cattle and hogs, 
fattening two carloads each of these animals each year. 

Mr. Robien was born near Speed, Mo., Sept. 25, 1872, and is a son of 
Henry and Mary (Hof lander) Robien, a sketch of whom appears in this 
volume in connection with the biography of William G. Robien of Prairie 
Lick. When Henry P. Robien was three years old, his parents moved to 
a farm just south of Boonville. Here he was reared to young manhood 
and attended the district school. He remained at home until he was 28 
years old and then began doing for himself. 

Mr. Robien was married in 1901 to Henrietta Zimmerman, born on 
the farm near Billingsville, in 1879, a daughter of George and Helena 



556 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

(Renken) Zimmerman, natives of Wurtemburg, Germany. George Zim- 
merman was born in 1834 and died on April 5, 1905. His wife, Helena, 
was born in Germany in 1838, and died Jan. 17, 1907. George Zimmer- 
man came to America and settled in Cooper County in 1852. Helen 
(Renkin) Zimmerman came to America with her parents in 1843, and was 
reared and married in Cooper County. The Zimmermans settled on the 
farm now owned by Henry P. Robien in 1891. They were pai-ents of five 
children: Henry, Emma, Frederick, and Catherine, all deceased; Hen- 
rietta, wife of H. P. Robien, is the only living child. 

H. P. and Henrietta Robien have two children, namely: Helen Marie 
Robien, age 14 years; and George Henry Robien, aged 17 years. 

Mr. Robien is a republican, but has little time for political matters. 
He and his family are members of the Evangelical Church. He is popular, 
well and favorably known and is one of the young hustlers in Cooper 
County. 

George W. Carey, of "Maple Grove Farm," a mile north of the town 
of Prairie Home, is not only the oldest native born pioneer in this section 
of Missouri, but is a member of the first families of Missouri. His grand- 
father settled here in territorial days. Mr. Carey was born on a place 
four miles north of the place on which he is now living on Jan. 14, 1833. 
Among the names of the pioneers who were prominent in affairs here in 
the days of his boyhood, Mr. Carey recalls James McLain, Andrew Wells, 
Robert Johnston, James Adair, and William Smith. 

John Carey, a Tennesseean, who came here and entered a tract of 
land, now a part of Frank Kirschman's farm in Prairie Home township, 
100 years or more ago, was the founder of the Carey family in this sec- 
tion. His son, Evans Carey, father of George W. Carey, entered two 
tracts of land at the same time, a quarter section on Cave Creek in Saline 
township, now owned by James Cartner, and the tract now included in 
"Maple Grove Farm," owned by his grandson, Robert A. Carey, and for 
many years the home of the venerable George W. Carey. In time, Calvin 
M. Carey, one of Evans Carey's sons, and an elder brother of George W. 
Carey, bought the interests of the other heirs in this latter piece of prop- 
erty, and in the succeeding generation his youngest son, Robert A., the 
present owner, bought the undivided interests of his brothers and sisters, 
"Maple Grove Farm" thus having been held in the Carey name since the 
day the original patent was granted. George W. Carey has been twice 
married. His first wife, Polly Woods, died many years ago, and is buried 



a 

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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 557 

in Providence Cemetery. By that union he has two daughters, Mrs. Clara 
Adair, of Prairie Home township, and Mrs. T. F. Hale, of California, Mo. 
Feb. 2, 1885, Mr. Carey married Mrs. Matilda T. (Miller) Carey, widow 
of his deceased brother, Calvin M. Carey. This union is without issue. 

Calvin M. Carey was born in Saline township in 1825, and died in 
1879, and is buried in the Salem Cemetery in Prairie Home township. 
Dec. 2, 1862, at Tipton, he was united in marriage to Matilda T. Miller, 
and to that union were born seven children all of whom are living, save 
George Calvin, who died at the age of three years, the others being as 
follows: Prof. Estill Carey, now principal of the high school at Malta 
Bend, Mo. ; Harriet, wife of L. P. Stark, St. Louis ; Anna, wife of R. W. 
Payne, Fayette; Maud, wife of R. L. Meredith, Joplin; Sarah, wife of 
Starke Koontz, Boonville, and Robert A., proprietor of "Maple Grove 
Farm." 

Mrs. Matilda T. (Miller) Carey was born on a farm near Richmond, 
Ky., June 6, 1840, and was but six years of age when in 1846 her parents, 
James E. and Harriet F. (Tevis) Miller, came to Missouri with their fam- 
ily, and located in Howard County. A year later they moved to Moniteau 
County and settled on a farm a mile south of Tipton, where James E. Mil- 
ler died shortly afterward in 1847. His widow died in 1867. Of the 11 
children born to James E. Miller and wife, Mrs. Carey is the only survivor. 
She was educated in the district school and in a boarding school or sem- 
inary, which then was being conducted in the settlement which was the 
forerunner of the present city of Sedalia, that having been in the days 
before the Sedalia townsite was platted, and was living at Tipton at the 
time of her marriage to Calvin M. Carey in 1862. Mrs. Carey has an 
unusually well cultivated memory and her recollection of social conditions 
here in the days of her girlhood form a most interesting chain of remin- 
iscence. She has one great-grandson, Robert Miller Payne, and 20 grand- 
children, namely: Matilda, Anna Maud and Robert E. Carey; Edna, 
Estill, Helen and Lenore Stark; Francis and David Koontz; Lee. Carey, 
Lillian, Harriet, and Guy Meredith ; Robert, Martha, and William Richard 
Payne, and Virginia Lee and Robert A. Carey. 

Robert Arthur Carey, proprietor of "Maple Grove Farm," one mile 
north of Prairie Home, was born on that farm and has lived there all his 
life. He was born Sept. 9, 1873, son of Calvin M. and Matilda T. (Miller) 
Carey, the latter of whom is still living, making her home at "Maple 
Grove," as she has done for many years. Calvin M. Carey died in 1879 



558 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

and his widow in 1885 married his younger brother, George W. Carey, 
who also is still living at "Maple Grove.'" 

Robert A. Carey completed his schooling in the old Prairie Home 
Institute and in the high school at Boonville, and from the days of his 
boyhood has devoted his attention to the cultivation of the farm. Some 
time ago he became owner of the place, with his mother, by purchase' of 
the interests of his brother and sisters. Since then he has made numer- 
ous substantial improvements to the place, including a remodeling of the 
residence, the erection of two barns, one 38x54 and the other 36x60, and 
other essential farm buildings. Mr. Carey has long given considerable 
attention to the raising of live stock and for the past five years has main- 
tained an excellent herd of registered Aberdeen-Angus cattle, with which 
he has had much success. He also has a good bunch of Duroc Jersey hogs 
and a flock of 60 or more sheep. 

Dec. 27, 1909, Robert A. Carey was united in marriage to Catherine 
Niederwimer, who also was born in this county, and to this union two 
children have been born, Virginia Lee and Robert Arthur, Jr. Mrs. Carey 
is a daughter of Frank Niederwimer and wife, who are now living at 
Fayette. She received her schooling at the Oak Grove School in Saline 
township. Mr. and Mrs. Carey are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church at Prairie Home. Mr. Carey gives a good citizen's attention to 
local civic affairs, and has served as clerk and director of the Providence 
School District several terms. "Maple Grove Farm" is an attractive and 
well kept place. 

Thomas Francis Grathwohl, of the Billingsville neighborhood, has a 
splendid farm of 260 acres, which is well improved with a modern resi- 
dence erected in 1907, two large barns, a silo 40 feet in height, and 14 
feet in width and everything about his place is kept in first-class shape. 
Two tracts, one of 80 acres and the other of 108 acres, lay in Boonville 
township, the rest of his land is in Palestine township. 

Thomas F. Grathwohl was born in Logansport, Ind., Oct. 4, 1866. 
His father was Timothy Grathwohl, a native of Germany, who immi- 
grated to America when a young man, married Margeretha Barbara Hol- 
lander, and settled in Cooper County about 1866. He died in this county, 
Oct. 7, 1871. 

Margaretha Barbara (Hoflander) Grathwohl was bora Aug. 9, 1836, 
in Germany, and accompanied her parents, Johann Ernst and Kunigunda 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 559 

(Stegner) Hoflander to America in 1854. She died Dec. 29, 1913. The 
children born to Timothy and Margaretha Barbara Grathwohl are as fol- 
lows: Charles Timothy, born Sept. 3, 1860; Conrad Ansell, born in La- 
fayette, Ind., April 3, 1862, died Feb. 18, 1914; Maria Anna, born July 
25, 1864, died Aug. 14, 1885; Thomas Francis, born Oct. 4, 1866; Mag- 
dalena Barbara, born Dec. 11, 1869; Joseph Caspar, born Aug. 24, 1871, 
died in 1873. 

After the death of Timothy Grathwohl, the widow and children went 
to her father's home at Billingsville and she kept house for her brother 
until the children were able to work for their own support. The widow 
eventually bought a small farm and assisted by her brothers Paul and 
George and her growing sons, the family eventually became possessed of 
the place of 108 acres, where Thomas F. Grathwohl now lives. Here the 
mother lived until two years prior to her death, when she made her home 
with her son Charles. 

Thomas F. Grathwohl lived at the homes of his uncles, Paul and 
George Hoflander, until he became of age. He and his two brothers, 
Charles and Conrad, then pooled their possessions and strength and 
bought the Charles Grathwohl farm together. They kept up a partner- 
ship for 10 years and prospered. In 1904 the brothers divided their land 
holdings. Thomas F. Grathwohl received 117 acres of land and Charles 
and Conrad, his brothers, took the original farm bought by the brothers, 
and the partnership was dissolved. Mr. Grathwohl keeps good live stock 
and has a thoroughbred male Hereford leader for his herd of cattle. He 
keeps thoroughbred Duroc Jersey and Poland China hogs. Industry, wise 
management, and close application have made him one of the well to do 
and influential citizens of Cooper County. 

Mr. Grathwold was married on Nov. 8, 1896, to Miss Amelia Muntzel, 
who was born May 10, 1877, in Cooper County, a daughter of the late 
Fritz Muntzel, a sketch of whom appears in connection with that of F. H. 
Muntzel in this history. The children born to Thomas F. and Amelia 
Grathwohl are as follows: Henry, a senior in the Boonville High School; 
Corinne, Joseph, Marie, Carl, and Elsie, at home. 

Mr. Grathwohl is a republican. He is a member of the Evangelical 
Church of Billingsville and is superintendent of the Billingsville Sunday 
school. He is a director of the Bank of Speed, Mo., and is a director of 
the Clarks Fork Mutual Fire Insurance Company. 



560 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Judge Thomas Alvin Harris, of Prairie Home, is one of the highly 
respected citizens and interesting men of the older generation of Cooper 
County's native sons. He was born in Prairie Home township in 1839, 
a son of Thomas and Nancy (Edwards) Harris, both natives of Kentucky. 
Thomas Harris came here with his father, William Harris, and settled in 
Cooper County in 1820. They settled in Prairie Home township, and 
William Harris died a few years after coming here, and was the first per- 
son to be buried in the Harris private cemetery. Nancy (Edwards) Har- 
ris, mother of Judge Harris, died in 1864. 

Judge Harris is the only survivor of 10 children born to his parents. 
The others were : Stanton P. ; Mrs. Margaret Johnston ; Mrs. Elizabeth 
Read ; William ; Mrs. Lucinda McDuff ee ; John ; Mrs. Eliza Son ; Mrs. Cath- 
erine Son; and George all of whom are deceased. 

Judge Harris was reared in Prairie Home township and received such 
education as the local schools of his time afforded. In the early part of 
the Civil War he enlisted in the Confederate Army at Boonville, under 
General Marmaduke, and took part in a number of battles, among which 
were the engagements at Independence, Big Blue, Mine Creek, Newtonia, 
being in the campaigns through Missouri, Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana. 
He was at Shreveport, La., when the war closed, there surrendering, and 
returned home by way of the Mississippi River to St. Louis, and from 
there to Jefferson City by rail. After the close of the war he resumed 
farming and stock raising in Prairie Home township, and met with well- 
merited success. He raised cattle, hogs and sheep and attained quite a 
reputation as a breeder of Oxford sheep. He lived on the place of 120 
acres where he was born, except the time he was in the army, for 80 years, 
or until 1919, when he bought a pleasant home in the town of Prairie 
Home, where he and his wife are enjoying well-earned peaceful retirement. 

During the course of his caree, Judge Harris has always taken a deep 
and abiding interest in matters affecting the public welfare, and has been 
prominently identified with Cooper County in a political way. He was 
elected one of the judges of the County Court from the eastern district 
in 1891, and re-elected by a larger majority than the first time to succeed 
himself. Many improvements were made of a character which came 
within the scope of the jurisdiction of the County Court during his two 
terms of office. Among the more important, which might be here men- 
tioned, was the building of the Jewett bridge over Clarks Creek, and a 
number of other bridges in the county. 

Judge Harris was first married in 1859 to Miss Rachel Hall, of North 
Moniteau township, a daughter of John and Elizabeth Hall. The follow- 




JUDGE T. A. HAKIMS 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 561 

ing children were born to this union: Letitia, married Henry Carpenter, 
Prairie Home township; Lulu, who married D. W. Hunt, who is now de- 
ceased, and she lives at Pisgah, and George W., died at the age of 23. 
The mother of these children died in 1883. In 1890, Judge Harris was 
united in marriage with Miss Bessie Apperson, daughter of Gilbert and 
Martha (Berkley) Apperson. The former a native of North Carolina, 
and the latter of Virginia. They were pioneers of North Moniteau town- 
ship. They were the parents of the following children: Bessie, the wife 
of Judge Harris, born May 10, 1846 ; William F. ; Robert W. ; Thomas F. ; 
George P. ; Nancy P. The last three mentioned are deceased. 

Judge and Mrs. Harris are members of the Baptist Church of Prairie 
Home, and he has served as clerk of the Pisgah Baptist Church for 22 
years. The Harris family are numbered among Cooper County's most 
valued and highly respected citizens, and Judge Harris and his wife have 
a host of friends. 

Walter L. Coleman of the firm of Coleman and Lee, general mer- 
chandise, Bunceton, Mo., has been a resident of Bunceton since 1887 and 
has been engaged in the mercantile business since 1910. This store is 
well stocked with groceries, dry goods and general merchandise and has 
an excellent and substantial trade. 

Walter L. Coleman was born June 13, 1873, in Lees Summit, Mo., 
and is a son of John Coleman, a sketch of whom appears in this history. 
W. L. Coleman attended the Bunceton, Mo., schools and for ten years he 
traveled over the country, and was a baseball player for some years in 
various parts of the country. Mr. Coleman returned to Bunceton in 1902 
and engaged in the grain business with his father and brothers. He was 
next engaged in the hardware business and in 1910, in partnership with 
Mr. Lee, the firm of Coleman & Lee Merc. Co. was established. 

Mr. Coleman was married on May 30, 1902 to Miss Huldah Lee of 
Bunceton, a daughter of Caleb A. Lee, partner in the business. Mr. and 
Mrs. Coleman have one child: John Lee Coleman, aged 15 years. 

Caleb Atkinson Lee, father of Mrs. Coleman, was born Jan. 4, 1851, 
in Howard County. He is a son of Atkinson Hill and Susan (Wilcox) Lee, 
natives of Kentucky. The ancestry of this branch of the Lee family 
traces back to the Lees of Virginia and thence to Ireland. Col. Phil Lee, 
an uncle of C. A. Lee, fought in the Confederate Army during the Civil 
War. A. H. Lee, father of C. A. Lee, was born in 1808 and died on April 
5, 1863. He came to Missouri from Kentucky in 1830, and drove a freight- 
ing outfit from St. Louis to Old Franklin for a number of years and later 
(36) 



562 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

engaged in farming. He was father of nine children, of whom C. A. 
Lee is the only one living. 

Caleb Atkinson Lee was married in 1876 to Mattie M., a daughter 
of William R. George; she was born in 1855 in Cooper County. Mr. and 
Mrs. Lee have two children : Mrs. Walter L. Coleman and William Atkin- 
son Lee, of St. Louis, Mo. 

Sept. 5, 1881, Mr. Lee moved to Cooper County, and located on a 
farm one mile east of Bunceton where he followed fanning for 18 years. 
He then engaged in business with Mr. Coleman. 

Mr. Coleman is a democrat, a member of the Presbyterian church 
and the Knights of Pythias. Mr. Lee is a democrat, a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church South and is a Mason. 

Joseph Popper. — The largest mercantile establishment in central 
Missouri, is the department store on Joseph Popper and Company, Bunce- 
ton, Mo., established in 1893. Mr. Popper began business on an ordinary 
scale in that year on a side street of Bunceton, in a room 18x60 feet and 
carried a stock of goods value at about $8,000. His business soon out- 
grew its quarters and he moved to his present location in 1894. The 
Popper Store occupies a floor space of over 4,000 square feet besides a 
ware room of the same size. The business occupies two floors of the 
largest building in Bunceton. The clothing department occupies a space 
30x65 feet; the grocery department occupies a space 40x50 feet; the dry 
goods and notions department occupied 28x80 feet; the shoe department 
is situated along one entire side of the building 80 feet ; and the goods 
are arranged on the departmental plan with every modern facility for the 
rapid transaction of the large volume of business. Six sales people are 
employed in this store and the extensive trade covers southern Cooper 
County and Moniteau County. 

Joseph Popper was born in Austria, Feb. 12, 1863. He is a son of 
Adelbert and Johanna Popper, the former of whom was a merchant and 
farmer in his native land and who gave his son Joseph a good education 
to fit him for his career. Mr. Popper came to America in 1883 and located 
at Versailles, Mo., where he was employed by William Mendel, a merchant 
of that city, for ten and a half years. He then came to Bunceton and 
began his successful business career. 

Mr. Popper has been twice married. His first marriage was with 
Miss Johanna Winter, who died in 1905 leaving one son: Herman Popper, 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 563 

an ex-soldier in the National Army. Herman Popper was bora in 1896. 
He enlisted in the aviation department of the National Army early in 
1918, was trained at the New York Aviation School and was then trans- 
ferred to the training station, Kelly Field, at San Antonio, Texas, and 
received an honorable discharge in Feb., 1919. Mr. Popper was again 
married in 1907 to Bettie Nassauer, of St. Louis, a daughter of Mr. and 
Mrs. Sigmund Nassauer, of that city. 

Mr. Popper is a republican. He was born and reared in the Jewish 
religious faith. He is a member of the Masons, the Chapter at Boonville, 
the Knights of Pythias, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Per- 
sonally, Mr. Popper is a pleasant, genial, likable citizen who is liberal in 
his support of all public enterprises. 

Herbert L. Hawkins. — The Hawkins Hardware Co., Bunceton, Mo., 
of which Herbert L. Hawkins is president and treasurer, was organized 
in 1916 with a capital of $7,000. This capital has since been increased to 
830,000, the demands of the growth of the business making necessary an 
increase in the capitalization. L. H. Moore is the vice-president and 
secretary of the company. Two floors, 60x100 feet are occupied by a 
splendid stock of hardware, harness and implements. Three warehouses 
are used in addition to the store room, and six people are given employ- 
ment in conducting this large business. A plumbing and electrical de- 
partment is maintained as well as a tin shop, and a wagon and automobile 
repair shop. A line of wagons, buggies and automobiles is car- 
ried, such substantial makes as the Studebaker, Maxwell and Scripps- 
Booth automobiles being sold and in addition the firm handles the famous 
"Titan Tractors". 

Herbert L. Hawkins was born in 1883 at Mohawk, Tenn. He is a 
son of J. K. and Sarah C. (Lotspeich) Hawkins. J. K. Hawkins has been 
during his whole active life, a promoter and organizer whose profession 
took him in various parts of the country while he made his headquarters 
at Morristown, Tenn. H. L. Hawkins was educated in the public schools 
and the seminary at Bowling Green, Ky. For several years he was en- 
gaged in the paint manufacturing business at Louisville, Ky., following 
which he was engaged in the real estate business at Versailles, Mo. Mr. 
Hawkins came to Bunceton in 1914 and embarked in the hardware and 
implement business as previously stated. Mr. Hawkins is president of 
the Bunceton Ice, Electric Light and Fuel Company. 



564 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

He was married in 1910 to Miss Sallie Burger of Bunceton, a daugh- 
ter of John G. Burger. One child has been born of this union, Helen 
Hawkins, aged four years. 

Mr. Hawkins is a democrat of the old school. He is a member of the 
Baptist Church and the Masons of Bunceton, the Chapter of Boonville, 
Knights of Pythias, Modern Woodmen of America, Independent Order of 
Red Men and Independent Order of Odd Fellows. 

Samuel L. Hickam, a substantial land-owner and retired farmer of 
Cooper County, now living in a historic old house on the corporation line 
of the city of Boonville, is a native Missourian, and has lived in this State 
all his life. He was born in Moniteau County in 1852, son of Joseph and 
Susan (Teeters) Hickam. 

Joseph Hickam was born in Illinois, and was eight years of age when 
he came to Missouri with his parents in 1824, the family landing at 
Marion, Cole County, going from there to Moniteau County, where they 
settled. He thus grew up in Moniteau County, where, after his marriage 
to Susan Teeters, who was born in Boone County, he located on a farm, 
remaining there until 1876, when he moved to Cooper County, where he 
and his wife spent the rest of their lives. Joseph Hickam died Feb. 23, 
1889, and his wife died two days later. By an astonishing coincidental 
train of sorrow in the Hickam family at that time, Samuel L. Hickam's 
first wife died Feb. 22, the day prior to her father-in-law's death, and two 
of the funerals were held together in the Hickam Cemetery in Moniteau 
County. To Joseph Hickam and wife were born 17 children, 10 of whom 
grew to maturity, namely: Squire William, deceased; John T., who was 
killed while serving under Gen. Sterling Price at the battle of Little. Blue ; 
Jasper, deceased; Mrs. Nancy Lamm, who died Jan. 31, 1889; Mrs. Susan 
Stevens, deceased ; Samuel L., subject of this sketch ; Mrs. Henrietta Tee- 
ters, deceased ; S. H. Hickam, living in Moniteau County ; Joseph, de- 
ceased ; and James T., near Boonville. 

Samuel L. Hickam was reared in Moniteau, County where he received 
his schooling, and where he began farming, later coming to Cooper County, 
where for 21 years he was engaged in farming near Wooldridge, the owner 
there of a fine farm of 1,100 acres, which he sold in 1917. Prior to that 
he was for four years engaged in farming in Howard County, whei-e he 
owned a farm of 360 acres. In 1907, upon his retirement from the active 
labors of the farm, Mr. Hickam bought the historic old house on the 
Jefferson City road, at the city limits of Boonville, and has since made his 



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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 565 

home there. Surrounding this house Mr. Hickam has 63 acres of land, 28 
acres of which are in the city limits. He also owns- 202 acres in Saline 
township. The house in which the Hickams live has 20 rooms, and stands 
right on the city corporation line, the house being thus divided that the 
family take their meals in the city but sleep in the suburbs. The house 
was erected in the thirties or early forties by the original owner, Mr. 
Morton, and was constructed from bricks burned on the place. The next 
owner was Mr. Isaac Lionberger, who built an addition to the house, ex- 
tending it to its present capacious dimensions. Mr. Hickam is a democrat, 
and he is affiliated with the Woodmen of the World. 

Mr. Hickam has been thrice married. On March 15, 1877, he was 
united in marriage to Nannie Stone, who was born in Boone County, and 
who died Feb. 22, 1889. To that union five children were born, four of 
whom died in infancy, the survivor being Mary, wife of Henry Lachner, 
of Clarksburg. June 25, 1891, Mr. Hickam married Dora Wiggins, who 
was born in Boone County, and who died in May, 1896, and is also buried 
in the Hickam Cemetery. To that union was born four children, one child 
living, Mildred, wife of John McDaniel, of Saline township. July 8, 1897, 
Mr. Hickam married Myrtle Sumner, who was born up in Audrain County. 
This union has been without issue, but Mr. and Mrs. Hickam have reared 
the following children: Clarence Dietz, Joe Jones (a colored boy), Fred 
Teeters, John Earnhardt, Harry Vots, Ollie Thomas and Nannie Hickam. 
Mrs. Hickam has a sister, Mrs. J. A. Benham, living in East St. Louis, 111. 
Her parents, Joseph Thomas and Martha Elizabeth (Clement) Sumner, 
were both members of pioneer families in Missouri, the former born in 
St. Louis County in 1844, and the latter in 1839. Joseph Thomas Sumner 
was a soldier of the Confederacy during the Civil War and spent his 18th 
birthday in a Federal prison, having been taken a prisoner of war. He 
died in 1902, and his widow died in 1912. Both are buried at Santa Fe, 
Monroe County. Mr. Hickam has seven grandchildren, namely: Nannie 
Hickam, Anna Leona, Mildred Jewel and Clara Louise Lachner and 
and Samuel L. McDaniel, and two step-grandchildren, William and 
Henry Lachner and Minnie Lachner. Sergeant William Lachner, one of 
the grandchildren served 18 months with the American Expeditionary 
Forces in France, a member of the 140th Infantry 35th Division. On his 
birthday, Sept. 26, he was slightly wounded in the battle in the Argonne 
Forest, and was for some time thereafter confined to hospital, but recov- 
ered and was returned to his command, and is now at home in Boonville. 



566 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 



His brother, Henry Lachner, was also in service of the United States 
Navy. One of Mr. Hickam's cousins, Capt. John T. Hickam, was an officer 
of the 35th Division, A. E. F., in France. 

August Stegner. — For 66 years August Stegner, well to do retired 
farmer, living at 1006 Seventh Street, Boonville, Mo., has been a resident 
of Cooper County, and for 55 years prior to his removal to Boonville, he 
resided on one farm, reared a splendid family and has well earned a 
place in the history of his home county. 

Mr. Stegner was born in Sachsen-Coburg, Germany, Aug. 24, 1843, 
and immigrated with his parents, John Peter and Margaret Barbara 
(Hertte) Stegner in 1853. The parents were accompanied by their four 
children, as follows: August, of this review; Mrs. Mary Rentchler, now 
deceased; Mrs. Christina Engen, who died in Howard County, Mo., in 
March, 1919; Feodor, a farmer, living at Billingsville, Mo.; and Mrs. 
Hildegarde Diehl, who died in this county. 

John Peter Stegner settled on a farm near Billingsville, now owned 
by Feodor Stegner, and which was purchased in June, 1853. 

August Stegner was 10 years old when he accompanied his parents 
to America. He enlisted in the Missouri State Guards in 1863, under 
Capt. Tom George and Colonel Pope and served for six months. His next 
service for another six months was under the command of Captain Shoe- 
maker. He was tak,en prisoner by Shelby's raiders in 1864 and held for 
two days in the Cooper County court house. 

Mr. Stegner built his home in 1873 and settled on the farm at Bill- 
ingsville now owned by his son, Fred C. Stegner. He resided there until 
1908 and then came to Boonville. He became owner of 280 acres in three 
farms, which he has sold to his sons at different times, and is one of the 
well to do citizens of Cooper County. 

Jan. 3, 1871, August Stegner was married to Anna Engemann, who 
was born in Sachsen-Coburg, in 1852, and came to America with her par- 
ents in 1864. Seven children were born to this marriage, of whom five 
are living : Laura is deceased ; Otto is a farmer in Palestine township ; 
Benjamin is a farmer in Cooper County; Frederick Carl, owner of the 
home place ; August Gottlieb is deceased ; Mrs. Augusta Twillman lives at 
Lone Elm, Mo.; Mrs. Anna, wife of Fred Dueschle, lives near Speed, Mo. 

Mr. Stegner is a republican and is a member of John A. Hayne Post, 
Grand Army of the Republic, of Boonville, Mo. He is a member of and 
was one of the builders of the Billingsville Evangelical Church. Mr. Steg- 
ner is one of the fine "old timers" of Cooper County, who has a good rec- 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 567 

ollection of the early pioneer days of Cooper County's development. Dur- 
ing his boyhood days there was only one man in the neighborhood who 
had a team of horses, everybody using oxen for work and for travel. 
Mr. Stegner recalls that he paid $140 for a wagon after the close of the 
Civil War and did all of his plowing and farm work with oxen. Horses 
were used only for riding and corn plowing, and no one was rich enough 
to own a carriage. His wagon had no sideboards and no springs and rid- 
ing in a wagon was a rough, jolting experience over the nondescript roads 
of that day. Everybody used big, clumsy wagons when it was necessary 
to transport produce or carry the family to church or on a visiting trip. 

Otto H. Cramer, proprietor of the Cramer Mercantile Company, 
Bunceton, Mo., is conducting the oldest business enterprise in Bunceton. 
This store was established in 1867 by Edward Cramer, and is one of the 
best in Cooper County, retailing general merchandise and dry goods. 
Two generations of patrons have dealt with this store and it is now 
practically old enough for the third generation of patrons. 

Edward Cramer, father of Otto H. Cramer, was born at Harmon, 
Mo., March 12, 1844 and died Dec. 31, 1914. He was a son of Dr. Edward 
Cramer, the first physician who practiced in Gasconade County. Dr. 
Cramer was a native of Prussia, and received his medical education in 
one of the universities of his native country. Soon after his graduation 
in medicine he came to America, and located in Gasconade County, Mo. 
Here he was married to Margaret Knocker, who was born in Philadelphia, 
Pa. After practicing medicine for a number of years, Dr. Cramer en- 

» 

gaged in merchandising until his death on Jan. 3, 1878. 

Edward Cramer was educated in St. Louis University and for about 
six months he was connected with Judge Heim, at Boonville in the mer- 
cantile business, prior to locating in Bunceton, in 1867. In the fall of 
1862 he went to St. Louis and was employed in a hardware store in that 
city for some years. He then established his business at Bunceton. In 
1878 his store was burned and he rebuilt and began anew. Mr. Cramer 
took a deep interest in educational matters and was secretary and treas- 
urer of the old Parrish Institute at Bunceton. Oct. 7, 1875, he was 
married to Miss Louisa Henley, a daughter of Capt. Samuel Henley, born 
and reared in Boone County. She died in April, 1913. The children bom 
to Edward and Louisa Cramer are: Catherine M., living in Bunceton; 
Otto H., of this review; and Walker, a merchant at Sedalia, Mo. 

Otto H. Cramer attended the school of his native town and entered 
his father's store when a boy. He became thoroughly grounded in busi- 



568 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

ness management and business principles and succeeded his father in the 
store. Mr. Cramer was married in 1907 to Miss Mabel Roeschel, a daugh- 
ter of the late W. E. Roeschel of Boonville. Mr. Cramer is an independent 
voter. He is a member of the Christian Church and is a Mason, holding 
a membership in the Knights Templar and Chapter at Boonville. 

Christ Ohlendorf, proprietor of "Evergreen Stock Farm," a valuable 
place of 224 acres in Clarks Fork township, 11 miles southeast of Boon- 
ville, is a native son of Cooper County. He was born on a farm in Clarks 
Fork township, Nov. 19, 1863, sone of Ferdinand and Wilhelmina (Linda- 
man) Ohlendorf, natives of Germany. 

Ferdinand Ohlendorf left his native land in young manhood and came 
to America, locating in Cooper County, where he married Mrs. Wilhelmina 
(Lindaman) Fricke, a widow, and settled in Clarks Fork township, becom- 
ing a substantial farmer and a leading man of affairs. He died on that 
farm about 1909. His wife died about 1904, and both are buried in the 
cemetery of the Clarks Fork Lutheran Church. By her first marriage, 
Mrs. Ohlendorf was the mother of two children, Henry Fricke, of Prairie 
Home township, and William, now deceased. Mrs. Ohlendorf had been 
a resident of Missouri since she was eight years of age having at that 
age accompanied her parents to this country from Germany, the family 
first locating in St. Loais, and later coming to Cooper County. By her 
marrige to Ferdinand Ohlendorf she was the mother of seven children, 
as follows : Ferdinand, deceased ; Minnie, wife of Herman Schnack, Boon- 
Ville ; Sophia, wife of William Bewie, Beecher, 111. ; Christ Herman, propri- 
etor of "Wintergreen Farm," in Clarks Fork township; Emma, Clarks 
Fork township, who is the widow of John Schmalfeldt, who died in 1904, 
and Caroline, Boonville. 

Christ Ohlendorf was reared on the home farm in Clarks Fork town- 
ship, and received his schooling in the Lutheran parochial school. As a 
young man assumed the management of the home place, relieving his 
father of much of the responsibility, and at the same time for some sea- 
sons operated a threshing rig until about 1889, when he bought from the 
Nicholson heirs the farm of 224 acres, on which he is now living, and 
which he has very appropriately named "Evergreen Farm." After his 
marriage in the fall of 1890, Mr. Ohlendorf established his home on that 
place, and has ever since resided there, during that time having made a 
complete new set of improvements, including farm house and barns. 
The first barn he built was destroyed by lightning, but he now has three 
barns, the largest being 48x44, with metal roof and concrete floor. Mr. 




CHRIST OHLBNDORF 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 569 

Ohlendorf gives a good deal of attention to his live stock, and keeps regis- 
tered pure-bred Shorthorn cattle, and registered Mulefoot hogs, these 
latter having had their origin in the Hawaiian Islands and said to be 
cholera proof. There also is a fine flock of Rosecomb white Leghorn 
chickens at "Evergreen Farm." By careful treatment of the soil and 
equally careful sifting of seeds, Mr. Ohlendorf has gained a reputation 
as one of the most successful prize winners at neighboring agricultural 
exhibits, having a record of more than 50 premiums awarded his exhibits 
at the State Fair at Sedalia and at the county fairs in Cooper County, 
His entry at the State Fair in 1910 netted him more than $400 in premi- 
ums on products of his farm, corn, clover, oats, etc., and in 1912 at Sedalia 
he won sweepstakes on the best 10 ears of corn, this premium being $40. 
With this record it is not to be wondered at that he is constantly answer- 
ing inquiries for seeds, and he has sold seed corn, especially, in all parts 
of the State. Mr. Ohlendorf also takes an active interest in general local 
affairs. He and Horace Windsor and Elza B. Shannon were the first 
commissioners for the first special road district in Cooper County, the 
road thus indicated being the road from Rankin's Mill to a point a half 
mile south of "Evergreen Farm." With the exception of the Meyers hill 
this road was constructed on a four and one-half per cent grade. Mr. 
and Mrs. Ohlendorf are members of the Clarks Fork Lutheran Church. 

Oct. 23, 1890, Christ Ohlendorf was united in marriage with Anna 
Barbara Honerbrink, who also was born in this county, daughter of E. F. 
and Barbara (Aeisle) Honerbrink, pioneers of Prairie Home township, 
and the former of whom is still living on the home place there. Mrs. 
Honerbrink died in 1914. To Mr. and Mrs. Ohlendorf have been born five 
children, namely: Henry, who served with the American Expeditionary 
Forces in Europe ; George, at home ; William, who died at the age of eight 
years; and Alma and Lenora, at home. Henry Ohlendorf, the soldier son, 
entered the service of the United States Army in September, 1917, and 
was sent to France in May, 1918. He was at the front from July 5 until 
wounded, Sept. 27. He then was in a hospital until Nov. 14, when he was 
returned to his command in France, a member of Company I, 138th In- 
fantry, 35th Division, until his honorable discharge, May 12, 1919, and is 
now at home. On Sept. 26, 1918, Private Ohlendorf, with 40 of his com- 
pany, became lost from their company, and fought alone for an entire 
day, and when relieved they had captured 40 Huns He was wounded on 
the next day when holding the line. Gunner Ohlendorf raised up and 
was shot through the right arm. As a result he is yet badly crippled. 



570 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Col. Albert Gallatin Blakey. — For several years past the people of 
this country have been greatly interested in the humane manner in which 
many of the reform institutions of the United States are being conducted. 
A new profession has sprung into being; different and better methods 
based upon the teachings of Jesus Christ have been applied to the man- 
agement of the penal and reformatory institutions where those who have 
fallen into ways of transgression against the laws of the country have 
been placed as a punishment for alleged wrong doing. The harsh dis- 
ciplinarians in the State penal institutions have been replaced in many 
instances by men of broader outlook, endowed with humane sentiments, 
and imbued with beliefs that there is some good in every boy or man 
if the individual is handled properly. Harsh and unrestrained discipline 
with its ironclad rules of dire punishments for infraction of petty rules 
governing the conduct of inmates have given place to a kinder, juster, 
more lovable method which places the unfortunate one upon his honor 
and gently leads him to better ways of living and is more inclined to 
assist him to attain true manhood in the end. 

Since July, 1917, when Col. A. G. Blakey, superintendent of the Mis- 
souri Training School, took charge of this important State institution, a 
marked and pleasing change has taken place, not only in the management 
of the school, but in the well being and comfort of the unfortunate youths 
who have been sent to the school from all parts of the State. Colonel 
Blakey has surrounded himself with officers who were alike in their ideas 
of management and believe that there is in every boy some latent good 
which can be developed if he is handled rightly. 

The precepts of the Great Teacher are taken as the basis in handling 
the youths who are inmates of the school. It is the avowed object of 
the superintendent and his capable assistants to teach the boys who are 
sent to the school that they must live, act, think and conduct them- 
selves as the Master would have them do. Actuated by such a laudable 
and moral idea, it is not to be marveled that during the past two years 
a wonderful change has taken place in the conditions as they existed 
at the training school when Colonel Blakey took charge. The boys have 
been taught the dignity of labor and instructors are at hand to teach 
them the trade for which they seem best adapted and for which they 
have an inclination. 

At the time Colonel Blakey took charge many of the buildings were 
in a deplorable condition, plastering had fallen from the walls and ceil- 
ings, the sanitary conditions were bad, vermin were plentiful in the dor- 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 571 

mitories and buildings, the heating arrangements were inadequate and 
practically everything was in a run down condition. 

His first duty was to place the school in a condition which would 
result in more livable conditions for the erring youths placed in his 
charge. Handicapped as he was by lack of funds to accomplish the ends 
sought, he cast about for ways and means to add to the income which 
the State of Missouri and the counties from whence came the boys 
allowed him. The past two seasons have been a time of labor shortage. 
Many of the boys were capable of earning money by assisting the farmers 
in the vicinity and others who were in need of labor. Hundreds were 
hired out; a certain portion of their earnings, by law, goes to the upkeep 
of the institution. By the use of the labor of the boys themselves and 
the earnings of those who were thus "farmed" out, the run down condi- 
tion of the buildings was remedied, the noxious vermin were eradicated 
and precautions taken to prevent their return, the sanitary conditions 
were made better and bad odors have been absent from the dormitories 
and toilets, better heating arrangements were installed and an era of 
well being inaugurated in the training school which has been the marvel 
of all observers. An entirely new heating plant was placed in the main 
building. All these things were brought about by the willing co-operation 
of the officers and boys of the school. The writer was privileged to ob- 
serve on several occasions diu-ing the early spring the splendid team work 
of the officers and boys in the performance of work about the buildings 
and grounds. Instead of sullen and vengeful appearing youngsters as 
are often seen at similar institutions he observed polite and well mannered 
youths who appeared well fed, contented, and willingly performing their 
tasks. On different occasions he witnessed the active work of rock road 
building on the grounds and was told by the officer in charge that the 
stone had been quarried and crushed by the boys themselves and that 
the work of building these splendid macadamized drives would be done 
at little expense to the State. The moral tone of the school is likewise 
a marvel; little or no restraint is placed upon the boys who are placed 
upon their honor and taught the precepts of Christianity. For half the 
day the boys attend school under competent instructors. The other half 
is devoted to useful employment and recreation. A fine band furnishes 
music to enliven the hours of the day and evening. 

The State Farm in connection with the school was found to be in a 
run down condition. Gullies were worn on the hillsides and the soil fer- 
tility was depleted to such an extent that careful methods of conserva- 



572 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

tion and restoring its productivity were necessary. All this has been 
remedied to a considerable extent. In 1918 there was farmed in addition 
to the 540 acres owned by the State, an additional 350 acres which were 
rented on a crop basis. During the season of 1919 there is being farmed 
nearly 1,000 acres. 

Corporal punishments have decreased more than 50 per cent but 
discipline is enforced as usual and the boys are required to be obedient, 
clean, courteous, and industrious. Kindness has taken the place of force 
to a considerable extent and, whereas, in former times the buildings of 
the school had the appearance of a jail owing to the windows being 
covered with heavy steel screens, now, the screens have been removed 
and have been made into corn cribs. Loyalty, faith, and honor in mankind 
have taken the place of the unbending, blind requirements of past years, 
and a wholesome, happy atmosphere pervades the entire institution. 

Albert Gallatin Blakey was born at Pleasant Hill, Feb. 3, 1874. At 
the early age of three years he was left an orphan by the death of his 
father, Col. A. G. Blakey, and was reared to young manhood in Cooper 
County. 

Col. A. G. Blakey, the elder, was one of the noted personages and 
a striking character of the earlier period of Missouri history. He was 
born in Warren County, Ky., July 4, 1825, and died July 28, 1877. His 
father was a son of Scotch-English parents and emigrated from England 
to America and settled in Ketucky, where A. G. Blakey, the elder, was 
reared, until 1836. He was a man gifted with the power of leadership 
and his entire career was a distinguished one such as comes to a soldier, 
editor, and diplomat. He was well educated. He served his country in 
the Mexican War and fought with Colonel Doniphan's command. He 
first enlisted as a captain in the army in 1846 and at the close of the 
war was a major general of volunteers. He accompanied his parents to 
Missouri in 1836, and was here reared to manhood. His first business 
venture was in 1856 when he and a brother settled in Benton County, Mo., 
establishing a trading post at Cole Camp. He became owner of the land 
upon which the town of Cole Camp was built, but after leaving that local- 
ity some years later he paid little attention to his holdings, having the 
early pioneer's disregard of the eventual rise in the value of lands. Of 
recent years his son has, in numberless instances, freely given a quit- 
claim deed to property in Cole Camp and vicinity because of the fact that 
the original owner was his father. Colonel Blakey served two terms as 
a member of the Missouri Legislature, in 1858 and again in 1860. Dur- 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 573 

ing the administration of James Buchanan he was appointed minister to 
Chili and served in this capacity prior to the Civil War. 

When the Civil War broke out he was elected colonel of the Third 
Regiment of Missouri, but declined to serve, because of the fact that he 
still held an affection for the Southland and desired to 'be loyal to the 
Union. He spent the war period in Europe and at the close of the war 
he returned home and located at Pleasant Hill, Mo., where he engaged in 
the newspaper business. He published the "Pleasant Hill Review" for 
a number of years prior to his death, took a considerable and influential 
interest in local and State politics and served three terms as mayor of 
his home city. During the Crimean War he was again sent to Europe 
on a diplomatic mission. He was married in 1867 to Miss Sue Tompkins, 
of Cooper County. She was born in Marion County, Mo., Aug. 3, 1849, 
and departed this life Feb. 8, 1880. She was a daughter of Hiram A. 
Tompkins, a native of Virginia, who was one of the early settlers of 
Missouri and Cooper County. Two children were born to this marriage: 
Mrs. Fred H. Hams, Eldorado Springs, Mo.; and A. G. Blakey, of this 
review. 

A. G. Blakey of this review, after the death of his parents, was 
reared in the home of his uncle, William D. Adams, who lived on a farm 
four and a half miles east of Boonville. He received a good education in 
the public schools, Kemper Military Academy, Boonville, and Westmin- 
ster College, Fulton, Mo. For three years after leaving college he worked 
on the farm of W. D. Haas and then came to Boonville to engage in the 
real estate business. For seven years he was an officer in the Missouri 
Training School and while serving in this under capacity he developed 
the ideas which his present position have permitted him to place in force. 
In 1898 he became a traveling salesman in the employ of the McCormick 
Harvester Machine Company. He was next in the employ of the John 
Deere Plow Company and his last employment as salesman was with the 
Delker Brothers Carriage Company and while with this concern he had 
entire charge of the Missouri territory. In July, 1917, Colonel Blakey 
took charge of the Missouri Training School at Boonville as superintendent. 

December 31, 1897, A. G. Blakey and Miss Edith Ells were united 
in marriage. Mrs. Edith (Ells) Blakey was born in Boonville and is a 
daughter of William and Clemence Ells, who are residents of this city. 

Five children have been born to A. G. and Edith Blakey, as follows: 
Florence, wife of Robert Jewett, a farmer living east of Boonville; Albert, 
at home, served six months as an enlisted man in the United States Navy, 



574 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

at Seattle, during the World War; Mary, Clemence and William are at 
home. 

The democratic party has always had the allegiance of Colonel Blakey 
and the only political office that he has ever held was that of chief clerk 
in the office of State Auditor John Gordon for a period of six months. 
He had charge of John Gordon's campaign for the office, a task in which 
his wide acquaintance throughout the State came into good play. Colonel 
Blakey organized the State Drummers Association which held its first 
meeting in 1906, and he served as the first president of the association. 
Through his energy and organizing ability the membership of the associa- 
tion attained the large total of 1,300 and this membership is now around 
600. Colonel Blakey is a member of the Presbyterian church and is 
affiliated fraternally with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the 
Knights of Pythias and the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. Prob- 
ably no Cooper County citizen has a wider or more favorable acquaintance 
throughout the State than Colonel Blakey and his splendid success in 
placing the Missouri Training School in the front ranks of schools of this 
character is destined to bring him a nation wide renown. 

Lorenzo H. Moore, vice-president and secretary of the Hawkins Hard- 
ware Company, Bunceton, Mo., is a member of one of the oldest Cooper 
County pioneer families. He was born April 15, 1853 in Palestine town- 
ship. 

J. Henderson Moore, his father was born in Cooper County, in 1821 
and was a son of George H. Moore, of Kentucky, who settled in Palestine 
township in 1817. J. H. Moore died in 1890. He followed farming dur- 
ing his entire life and was a splendid horseman who bred fine horses. He 
died in Clinton, Mo., where he had moved in 1888. Mr. Moore became 
owner of several hundred acres of rich Cooper County land and gave each 
of his children a farm, owning 220 acres at the time of his death. He was 
father of three children: Lorenzo H., of this review; J. Warren Moore, 
with a manufacturing concern, Omaha, Neb.; Hattie, wife of O. N. Dills, 
retired, Bunceton, Mo. The mother of these children, Mary A. (Mc- 
Carthy) Moore, was born in Cooper County, in 1823 and departed this life 
in 1891. 

Reared on his father's farm, L. H. Moore received an outright gift 
of 130 acres of good land from his father when he became of age. He 
added to this acreage until he owned 183 acres upon which he resided 
until 1899, when he came to Bunceton. During 1900 he was in the employ 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 575 

of the International Harvester Company as salesman and then embarked 
in the hardware and implement business. 

Mr. Moore was married in 1873 to Miss Josie Tevis, a native of John- 
son County, Mo., and daughter of Silas Tevis, of a Missouri pioneer family. 
Two children blessed this union : Bessie, wife of C. D. Corum, of St. Louis, 
Mo. ; Hattie, wife of A. J. Nelson, of Kelly township. 

Over 100 years have elapsed since the Moore family came to Cooper 
County. J. Henderson Moore was one of the "Forty-Niners" who made 
the long trip to the Pacific coast with a wagon train, hauled by oxen. 

L. H. Moore is a democrat and a member of the Presbyterian Church. 

Albert S. Chamberlin, farmer and stockman, secretary of the Bell 
Air Special Road Commission, clerk of the district school board, is owner 
of a nicely improved farm of 95 acres in Palestine township. His farm 
is part of the old Chamberlin place upon which his grandfather, John W. 
Chamberlin, settled in 1858. Near this farm and bridging the Petit Saline 
creek flowing nearby is one of the few remaining wooden covered bridges 
in central Missouri, erected in 1856, and still in a good state of repair. 

John W. Chamberlin was born in Virginia in 1802 and died in Cooper 
County, in 1882. He came to Cooper County, Mo., in 1858. His son, 
Albert M. Chamberlin, father of Albert S. Chamberlin, of this review, 
was born in 1844, served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War 
and died in Cooper County, in 1890. He came to this county in 1865, 
married Bettie A. Barnett, who was born in St. Louis County, Mo., in 
1856 later moved to Polk County, and departed this life in 1907. She 
was a daughter of W. F. Barnett, who married Minerva Thurston of Mor- 
gan County. The children born to Albert N. and Battie A. Chamberlin 
are as follows: Grace, wife of Charles Shirley, living three miles east of 
Speed, Mo.; Albert S.; Clara, deceased; Kellie, wife of Ernest Aldridge, 
living three miles east of Speed; Barnett G., deceased; George W., living 
west of Speed; Leonidas H. resides with his brother George. 

Leonidas H. Chamberlin was born March 14, 1890, was inducted into 
the National Army, July 26, 1918, training at Camp Funston became a 
member of the 28th Field Artillery, Tenth Division, and received his hon- 
orable discharge from the service Feb. 2, 1919. 

John W. Chamberlin accumulated a large estate of 500 acres. His 
son, Albert M. Chamberlin, had a large farm of 320 acres and both were 
rated among the well-to-do and substantial citizens of Cooper County. 

Albert S. Chamberlin was born March 9, 1875, attended the Billings- 



576 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

ville School and the Clarksburg College, afterwards becoming a student 
in the Pilot Grove College. He has always followed farming and has been 
successful. He erected his pretty cottage home in 1897. He was mar- 
ried Nov. 27, 1895 to Miss Florence Shirley, born in Cooper County, Mo., 
March 7, 1876, a daughter of the late William Shirley. Mr. and Mrs. 
Chamberlin have one child: Mildred, born March 3, 1897, a graduate of 
Boonville High School, class of 1918. 

Mr. Chamberlin is a democrat. For the past 20 years he has served 
as school director and clerk of the district school board. He was ap- 
pointed road commissioner for the Bell Air Special Road District in 1911 
and is secretary of this commission. He is a member of Concord Baptist 
Church and is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, 
Boonville Lodge, No. 36. 

Theodore Brandes, a prosperous farmer and stockman of Clarks Fork 
township, was born in Germany in 1850. He is a son of Christian and 
Sophie (Vent) Brandes, both natives of Germany. The Brandes family 
immigrated to America when Theodore was five years years old. They 
settled in Iowa, where they remained about a year and a half, when they 
came to Cooper County, and settled in Clarks Fork township, where the 
father bought an unimproved farm of 80 acres, for which he paid $5.00 
per acre. Here he built a log cabin which was the family home for 
many years, until the present Brandes residence was erected in 1880, but 
the old log house still stands on the place. Christian Brandes was an 
industrious man and a good citizen He died at the age of 74 years, and 
his wife departed this life in 1897, aged 86 years, and their remains are 
buried in Clarks Fork Cemetery. They were charter members of the 
Clarks Fork Evangelical Lutheran Church. 

Theodore Brandes was educated in the Pleasant Grove parochial and 
the public schools of Clarks Fork, and has spent his life in Clarks Fork 
township, with the exception of about two years. At the death of his 
father he succeeded to the home place, to which he has added 162 acres, 
and now owns 282 acres. The place is well improved and one of the valu- 
able farms of Clarks Fork township. The residence, which was built in 
1880, was remodeled and modernized in 1911, and is now one of the fine 
residences of Clarks Fork township. There are three good barns on the 
place. Mr. Brandes raises cattle, hogs and sheep, and is an extensive 
feeder. He has met with success and is one of the progressive citizens of 
the county. He was formerly an extensive dealer in mules. 




THEODORE BRANDES AND WIKK 



578 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

in Cooper County until 1873 and they then settled on the place now owned 
by George Oak. The following children were born to John and Margaret 
Oak : Mrs. Kate Heim ; George ; Henry, and John, deceased ; William, liv- 
ing on a farm two miles west; Charles, a rice grower in Arkansas; Eliza- 
beth, deceased wife of James Gault; Catherine, deceased wife of Frank 
Heim ; Margaret, living in Arkansas. The mother of these children died 
in 1898. 

George Oak was born in Jefferson County, Va., Feb. 10, 1843. He 
accompanied his parents to Cooper County, Mo., in 1858, and has always 
followed farming and operating threshing outfits. Mr. Oak has resided 
on the land which he owns since 1873 and settled on the place in 1880. 
All improvement was placed thereon by himself or under his direction, 
excepting the house and barn, which were built by William Sombart. The 
Oak estate consists of 256 acres of good land a few miles south of Boon- 
ville. In years past Mr. Oak operated a saw mill, grist mill or feed 
grinder, and threshing outfits, work which has now been taken up by his 
sons and son-in-law, who are also managing his large farm. 

Mr. Oak was married in 1865 to Miss Mary Gault, who was born in 
Belfast, Ireland, and died in 1918, at the age of 73 years. Eight children 
were born to George and Mary Oak, as follows: Robert and Edward, de- 
ceased ; Frank lives on the home place ; George, died Feb. 2, 1919 ; Alice, 
the deceased wife of Alex Hoefer, her death occurring in 1903 ; Annie is 
the second wife of Alex Hoefer of Boonville; Margaret is the wife of 
George Lacey, living on the Oak home place ; Bessie is at home. 

Mrs. Alice Hoefer was accidentally shot while killing sparrows. 

George White Lacey was born in Virginia in 1888, was inducted into 
the National Army on Sept. 1, 1918, was in training for military service 
at Camp Jackson, Columbia, S. C, and was honorably discharged from 
the service Jan. 5, 1919. 

Mr. Oak has been a lifelong republican, although his son Frank is a 
pronounced democrat. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church and 
is one of Cooper County's best and most substantial citizens. 

Viet C. Eppstein. — The Eppstein family is an old and honored family 
of Boonville and Cooper County whose members have been prominently 
identified with Cooper County over four score years. Viet C. Eppstein, 
traveling salesman of Boonville, is worthy representative of this fine old 
family. Mr. Eppstein was born in Boonville, April 26, 1862. 

The history of the Eppstein family in America begins with Joseph 
Eppstein, a native of Germany, who with his wife, formerly Barbara 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 579 

Reitz, together with their family of seven children, came to America, 
disembarking at Baltimore, Md. From there they came west on the 
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad as far as it ran — about 100 miles — after 
which they boarded a canal boat which took them to Pittsburg, and thence 
by the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to St. Louis. Mr. Eppstein left his 
family in St. Louis, came up the Missouri to Boonville, and located on a 
farm near Pisgah. Later he moved to Boonville and died in this city of 
measles in 1858. Joseph Eppstein was a German of the better class in 
his native land, where he was a manufacturer of coaches and wagons, 
and also had other important interests. His wife, Barbara, survived him 
over 30 years, and died in Boonville, in 1882. There were reared a family 
of five sons and three daughters as follows : Col. Joseph Eppstein, Henry, 
Viet, George, Frank, Barbara, Katie or Kittie, and Frances, all of whom 
are deceased. 

Col. Joseph A. Eppstein made a record as a citizen and soldier which 
any American can read with pride and satisfaction. He was born in 
Germany, Jan. 1, 1824, and was 14 years of age when the family came to 
America. In 1843 he went to St. Louis and was employed in a store in 
that city until 1847. In February of that year he enlisted in Company 
C, 3rd Missouri Mounted Rifles, in which he was made sergeant, and 
served for nearly two years, until Oct., 1848. After the expiration of 
his ware service which led him to Mexico City with General Scott's con- 
quering forces, he returned to St. Louis and in Aug., 1840, was given 
charge of a store, which he conducted until 1850, and then returned to 
Boonville. He engaged in the mercantile business with his brother Viet 
Eppstein until 1860. when he purchased his brother's interest. When the 
Civil War broke out in 1861, he at once organized a company of 135, every 
one of whom with a single exception was of German birth or ancestry. 
This company was known as the "Boonville Corps". He then organized 
a battalion and a company of cavalary, but these were only for local 
service. He later organized the 6th Battalion Missouri State Guards, and 
after that a number of companies, both cavalry and infantry. From 
March 24, 1862 to Jan., 1863, he was lieutenant-colonel of the 13th Cavalry, 
Missouri State Guards, and then by consolidation of troops, he became the 
commander of the Missouri State Militia and served until the close of 
the war. He followed merchandising after the war until 1878, when he 
was appointed postmaster of Boonville and served until his death in 1885. 
In 1867 and 1868 he represented Cooper County in the Legislature. June 
14, 1846, he was married to Theresa Bertrand of St. Louis. He was 



580 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

father of seven children: Joseph M., William H., Emil M., Louis B., Alex- 
ander, Charles A., and Theresa G. 

Viet Eppstein, father of V. C. Eppstein, whose name heads this 
review, was born Feb. 12, 1827, and died March 7, 1901. He was born 
at Mainz, Germany, and was 14 years of age when he left home and 
became a clerk in the store of Davy Jones at Pisgah, he then went to New 
Orleans and remained for a time. Upon his return to Boonville he engaged 
in partnership with his brother Joseph in the mercantile business, in 
1850. He continued actively in business until 1869, when he made a trip 
to Europe where he remained for a year. Returning in 1871, he purchased 
the store of his brother and when he had attained the age of 60 years 
(1887) he retired from active business, while retaining an interest in 
the Eppstein store which was conducted then by his son, Viet C. Eppstein, 
having as partner George Hain, under which management the store con- 
tinued in operation until 1900. In that year V. C. Eppstein sold his inter- 
est in the business to his father. Upon the elder Eppstein's death in 
1901, the widow sold the business to George Hain in 190G. 

Mr. Eppstein was public administrator of Cooper County from 1872 
to 1876, and was reelected in 1880 and served until the latter part of 
1884. He served several terms as a member of the City Council of Boon- 
ville and was known as a public spirited citizen. Mr. Eppstein was a man 
of broadness and culture who reared a splendid family of sons and daugh- 
ters. He was married on Nov. 20, 1851 to Miss Fannie, daughter of 
Anthony Fox who came to this country in 1835. Anthony Fox was a 
native of Herbelsheim near Strasbourg. He first settled in New Orleans, 
and in 1835 accompanied by his wife, Rosalie, he came to Boonville and 
established a brewery which he operated for a number of years. The 
children of Charles and Rosalie Fox were: Frank, Charles, Rosa, Amelia, 
and Mrs. Fannie Eppstein, deceased; and Mrs. Sophia (Sombart) Miller, 
one of the oldest pioneer women of Boonville. Mrs. Fannie (Fox) Epp- 
stein was born in 1835 and died in 1908. The children born to Viet C. 
and Fannie Eppstein were: Louise, Rose, Mary, Viet C, Fannie, Sallie, 
Lollie. 

Louise is the wife of Daniel Wooldridge, who formerly operated 
"Dan's Drug Store", was known as Mr. Dan, was a fine musician and a 
town character. Both Dan and Louise Wooldridge are deceased. , 

Rose married George Sahm, who for many years with his father 
George Sahm, Sr., conducted a very successful shoe business in Boonville, 
and died in 1896. She has one daughter, Corinne Frances, wife of H. M. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 581 

Herzog, an interior decorator. Mrs. Herzog is mother of a son, Herman 
Theodore Maximilian Herzog. Mary is the wife of George Hain, retired 
merchant of Boonville. Fannie married M. A. Eisen, druggist of Hot 
Springs, Ark. Sallie is wife of C. H. Weaver, of Hot Springs, Ark. Lollie 
is the wife of John Tillman, superintendent of the Jefferson Hotel, St. 
Louis, Mo. 

Viet C. Epstein was educated in Prof. Merrill's Seminary, where he 
studied for three years. He spent four in the Boonville public schools. 
He then studied for four years in Mentzker's Business College and re- 
ceived a thorough ground work in business preparation. He entered the 
Eppstein store in 1879 and remained in the business until 1900. In Nov., 
1901, he began traveling for the Swofford Brothers Dry Goods Company 
of Kansas City and was in the employ of this firm for four years. He 
was then in the employ of the Ferguson-McKinney Company of St. Louis 
for 10 years. Aug. 1, 1916, he became a member of the traveling sales 
force of the Richardson Dry Goods Company, of St. Joseph, covering west- 
ern and central Missouri. 

Mr. Eppstein was married Nov. 15, 1887 to Miss Belle Gentry, of 
Louisiana, Mo., a daughter of Capt. Jesse and Susan Gentry, natives of 
Virginia. Captain Gentry served with the Union Army during the Civil 
War and was with Sherman on his famous march to the sea." Mr. Epp- 
stein has one son, Viet Gentry Eppstein, born May 4, 1889. He is engaged 
in the publishing business and is president of Rogers and Hall Publishing 
Company, of Chicago. V. G. Eppstein is a born newspaper man and pub- 
lisher. At the age of 13 years he edited and published the "Boonville 
Success", and at that time was said to have been the youngest editor in 
the country. He graduated from the Kemper Military Academy in 1907, 
studied for two years at the State University, and two years at the Uni- 
versity of Chicago. This talented young man has worked his way upward 
to the presidency of the Rogers and Hall Publishing Company from a 
subordinate position paying $15 per week. He married Miss Peggy Zim- 
merman of Chicago. 

Mrs. Belle (Gentry) Eppstein was born Feb. 28, 1869 and died Aug. 
6, 1918. She was a talented, popular and well loved woman of Boonville 
who has been sadly missed from the best social circles of the city. 

Mr. Eppstein is a democrat. He is a member of the Catholic Church, 
and is affiliated with the United Commercial Travelers, the Travelers 
Health Association, the Travelers Protective Association, and the Knights 
of Columbus. Mr. Eppstein made a trip to Europe in 1881 and traveled 



582 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

over the continent for more than a year. He visited Mainz, the ancestral 
seat of the Eppstein family and found that from records which dated back 
200 years, that his ancestors had originally come from Vienna, Austria, 
in 1681. His original ancestor who came from Vienna, was a tanner by 
trade, but most of his lineal descendants were farmers. 

Frank Klekamp. — One of the prettiest farms in this section of Mis- 
souri is that of Frank Klekamp, in Clarks Fork township, Cooper County. 
The Klekamp holdings consist of 160 acres, 120 acres of which is com- 
prised in the home place, where Mr. Klekamp and his family have resided 
since June 20, 1916. Forty acres of the farm is pasture and timber land. 
The Klekamp tract is improved with a beautiful, modern bungalow, and 
is one of the prettiest homes on Lone Elm Prairie. 

Mr. Klekamp was born in Germany, July 4, 1859, and is a son of 
William and Charlotte Klekamp, who lived and died in their native land. 
When 22 years of age, Frank Klekamp immigrated to America, and after 
a residence of one year in St. Louis, where he worked as a common la- 
borer, he came to Cooper County. From Aug., 1883, he was in the employ 
of the late John King, as farm laborer, until 1884. Te then worked for 
Mr. Hockenberry for one year and after his marriage in 1885, he worked 
for Mr. Hockenberry for two years more. With his savings he became 
possessed of a team of horses, and carefully saving his earnings, he bought 
100 acres of land in 1888, improved it and then bought his 40 acre tract. 
In June, 1918, he sold his former homestead to his son, and purchased his 
present place. 

Mr. Klekamp was married in 1885 to Minnie Menzpeter, who was 
born in Germany, March 18, 1862, and came to America with an uncle 
in 1882. 

Three children were born to Frank and Minnie Klekamp, one of whom 
died in infancy. The others are Emma and Albert. Emma Klekamp was 
born in 1890 and is the wife of Augustan Toellner of Clarks Fork town- 
ship. Albert Klekamp was born Oct. 23, 1891, and married Ilda, daugh- 
ter of H. P. Muntzel. They were married on April 30, 1916, and have one 
child, Irene Klekamp. 

Mr. Klekamp is a republican, and he and his family worship at the 
Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lone Elm. 

George C. Harness. — Seventy-two years of residence in one vicinity 
and practically on one farm is a record for George C. Harness of Pales- 
tine township, one of the most interesting of the pioneer residents of 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 583 

Cooper County, and owner of a beautiful country estate of 186 acres. 
All of the improvements on this attractive place have been built by the 
owner. A driveway leads up to the handsome farm residence and the 
big red barns. One of the landmarks on the place, which marks the spot 
where an old time log cabin stood years ago, is a large cedar tree, planted 
in the early forties. George C. Harness was born on the place, June 29, 
1847. Conrad Harness, his father, was a native of Virginia, and was 
born March 27, 1811. He died March 20, 1898. The Harness family is 
of Holland Dutch descent. Conrad Harness was a son of Adam Harness, 
whose father was Peter Harness, a native of Holland, who first settled 
in Pennsylvania. Adam Harness was a soldier in the War of 1812. Con- 
rad Harness was married April 19, 1835, to Ann Tucker, who was born 
April 13, 1817, and died March 3, 1897. She was a daughter of Josephus 
and Sarah (Hutton) Tucker, who were Cooper County pioneers. The 
father of Sarah (Hutton) Tucker was a quartermaster in the American 
Army in the War of 1812. In 1841, Conrad Harness left the old Har- 
ness home in "Virginia and made the long overland trip to Cooper County, 
driving two six-horse teams, with all of his movable possessions. He 
located on the farm now owned by the subject of this review. The first 
home of the family was a two-story log house; later the family moved to 
a new one-and-a-half story log house, which was a comfortable abode. 
Conrad Harness settled on what was known for years as the Harness 
homestead in 1850 and accumulated a large estate of over 600 acres prior 
to his death. The children born to Conrad and Ann (Tucker) Harness 
are as follows: Jacob T., deceased; John Josephus, deceased; William T. 
died at Lexington, Okla. ; Henry C, and Charles C, deceased ; George 
Conrad, of this sketch ; Isaac H., a ranchman at Chickasha, Okla. ; Sarah 
Elizabeth Hurst, deceased; Edwin B., deceased; Mrs. Henry Crawford, 
Palestine township. 

George Conrad Harness attended school in a little old log school 
house, where the pupils had to chop the wood to keep the big stove filled 
with chunks of wood. Two boys were detailed each week for this job 
and they managed to spend most of their time keeping up the fire, car- 
rying wood for a distance of about one-fourth mile. The pupils sat on 
rough slab benches. An old fashioned pine desk ran clear around the 
room, with a shelf beneath for books and slates. The bench on which the 
small youngsters sat had no backs and they were continually tumbling 
off to the floor. When the teacher called the class, the boys would jerk 



584 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

the big bench up. The room was eventually heated by a little wood stove, 
the pipe of which ran through a hole in the middle of the roof. As a re- 
sult, the log house caught fire and burned to the ground one day, and 
George Harness felt "blue" about it for a time. 

Cooper County was a hunter's paradise in the forties and wild ducks 
and geese were plentiful. Prairie chickens and pigeons swarmed over 
the land in untold numbers and George Harness became a good shot. The 
most fun was the hunting of wild turkeys at night in the timber. Conrad 
Harness, his father, killed many deer around Bunceton, but the deer were 
all gone when George was big enough to hunt deer. The children of those 
old days lived under primitive conditions, but were happy and contented, 
more so than the children now-a-days, who have every convenience and 
luxury at their disposal. 

George Conrad Harness was married in 1872 to Martha Dills, who 
was bom in Indiana, July 10, 1855, and died in Cooper County, Mo., May 
10, 1910. She was a daughter of John Dills, a Kentuckian, who first 
migrated to Indiana and then came to Missouri. Two children blessed 
this union: George Irving, born March 4, 1881; and Nellie Gertrude, her 
father's capable housekeeper, born Aug. 26, 1885. 

Mr. Harness is a democrat and a Baptist, a good and stable and reli- 
able combination, which indicates that he comes of the old reliable 
Southern stock. 

It is worthy of record that in 1863, Conrad Harness crossed the plains 
with an ox team outfit, driving three yokes of cattle hitched to a heavy 
freight wagon through Iowa and thence to Idaho and Montana, where he 
followed freighting for three years, until his return to Missouri in 1867. 

Walter Wade Iteavis is owner of a fine farm of 240 acres in Clarks 
Fork township. He was born on what is now the George A. Carpenter 
farm, Clark's Fork township, on Aug. 1, 1867, son of Henry Joseph and 
Lucy A. (Gentry) Reavis, the former of whom was born on that same 
farm. Henry J. Reavis was born in 1839, his parents having been among 
the early residents of that part of Cooper County, and continued to make 
his home on the farm on which he was born until 1872, when he moved 
to the Meyer place near the store at Clarks Fork. He later moved to 
what is the farm now owned by his son, Forest, and there died on March 
22, 1914. He is buried in the old family cemetery on the farm on which 
he was born. His widow is living with her son, the subject of this sketch. 
She was born in Madison County, Ky., in 1849, and came with her parents 
to Missouri, locating first in Howard County, and in 1877 coming to Cooper 
County, where, at Bunceton, on Nov. 15, 1866, she was married to Henry 




W. W. REAVIS 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 585 

J. Reavis. Her father died in this county and is buried at Walnut Grove 
Cemetery. Her mother died in Howard County, where she was born. 
To Henry J. and Lucy A. (Gentry) Reavis were born three children: 
Walter Wade ; E. Forest Reavis, who is living on his mother's farm in 
Clarks Fork township, and Stella W., who died at the age of 10 years. 

W. W. Reavis has followed fanning all his life. He received his 
schooling in the Fairview, Jefferson and Ellis district schools and as a 
young man assisted his father on the farm. In time he became owner of 
the place on which he and his mother are now living. This farm was 
owned many years ago by Mrs. Fulkerson, who with her husband is buried 
on the place. Abraham Weight later bought the place and he and his 
wife also are buried there. Among other graves in this plot is that of 
Daniel Davis, a friend of Abraham Weight, who died Nov. 4, 1881. The 
headstone at Mrs. Fulkerson's grave gives the date of her death as Sept. 
11, 1854. Abraham J. Weight's gravestone gives the date of his birth 
as Nov. 27, 1822; his death, Feb. 3, 1894. Julia A., his wife, born Jan. 
25, 1834 ; died on Feb. 1, 1906. Among the graves are those of an infant 
son and an infant daughter of the Weights. 

Mr. Reavis is one of the best known huntsmen in Cooper County and 
his home is adorned with numerous trophies of the chase, including a half 
dozen handsomely mounted deer antlers. He has about 30 deer to his 
credit. The Reavis family tradition has it that the Reavises were ever 
great hunters and from the days of his boyhood this present representative 
of the family has found much pleasure with his dogs and guns. Mr. 
Reavis also has a valuable collection of Indian relics, arrow points and 
the like, as well as an interesting collection of pioneer relics, hdusehold 
articles, hunting paraphernalia and the like, formerly used by his grand- 
father. Henry Johnson Reavis. 

Lafayette Montgomery Moore. — One hundred and three years have 
elapsed since the first of the Moore family settled in Cooper County. 
Prior to this time there were not white people in this section, excepting 
roving bands of hunters or trappers.. The Indians roamed at will over 
the land and camped beside the flowing waters; wild animals were plen- 
tiful and great forests stretched along the streams and on the hill and 
valley lands. 

The Moore farm in Palestine township, along the valley of the Petit 
Saline River, known as "Idylhour Place," and formerly owned by the late 
Lafayette Montgomery Moore, is one of the historic places of interest in 
Cooper County. This land has been settled for over a century ; during the 
Civil War a battle was fought thereon between a roving band of Con- 



586 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

federates and Union forces. Some men were killed and many wounded; 
the wounded and dying were taken to the old Moore house on the hill, a 
landmark in Cooper County. Several soldiers died and were buried near 
the old house, later to be taken up and removed to the Moore Cemetery. 
This old brick house was, in bygone days, a station on the overland stage 
route between Boonville and Versailles, and is situated eight miles south 
of Boonville. Lafayette Montgomery Moore, of this review, was born in 
Cooper County, Jan. 16, 1838, and died April 17, 1902, on the farm which 
his grandfather entered in 1816. 

Maj. William Hamilton Moore, grandfather of L. M. Moore, was born 
in North Carolina in 1777, and died in Cooper County in 1861. He was 
descended from the distinguished Moore family which numbers among 
its progenitors, Tom Moore, the songster, and Gen. Wade Hampton Moore, 
of Revolutionary War fame. Maj. William Moore commanded a battalion 
of American troops in the War of 1812. He married Anne Cathey, born 
in Haywood County, N. C. She had five sisters, all of whom were re- 
markable and talented women. Major Moore became owner of over 3000 
acres of land in Cooper County, his land holdings extending as far as the 
present site of Bunceton, Mo. He tilled his large acreage with slaves, 
whom he brought from the South. Before his death he freed two of his 
oldest slaves — the first negro slaves ever set free in Cooper County. 
Major Moore reared ten sons and three daughters: Dr. William H., An- 
drew, Robert, John, Thomas, James, deceased; Sarah is wife of John 
Hutchinson, left a daughter, Mrs. John Elliot; Margaret married Hon. 
Lawrence V. Stephens, former member of Missouri Legislature and father 
of Joseph L. Stephens; Mary married Harvey Bunce, for 11 years sheriff 
of Cooper County and after whom Bunceton was named. 

Dr. William H. Moore (II) was born in North Carolina, in 1802, and 
died in Cooper County in 1867. He was a physician and practiced in 
Cooper County many years. Dr. Moore also taught school and compiled 
some of the early textbooks used in the schools of the early days. He 
was one of the first physicians to practice in Cooper County and at the 
same time he followed the pursuit of agriculture with considerable suc- 
cess. He married Edith Trammel of Arkansas and was father of the fol- 
lowing children: Lafayette Montgomery, of this review; William H. 
died in Windsor, Mo.; Margaret, wife of James Harris; Martha, wife of 
Joshua C. Berry, now living at Speed, Mo. 

Lafayette Montgomery Moore was educated in the common schools 
and followed farming and stock raising during his entire life. He built 
a home upon his farm of 120 acres which was burned and then supplanted 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 587 

by the present neat, attractive cottage known as "Idylhour Place." He 
was married on March 2, 1865, to Matilda Morton, who bore him children 
as follows: Lee, died in infancy in 1867; Allen B., born 1867, died 1888; 
Judge B. L. Moore of Boonville; Harvey Bunce, Gibson Stephens, Edith 
Grace, and Erastus Beverley Moore. 

Harvey Bunce Moore, who resides with his mother on the Moore 
homestead, was born Jan. 26, 1872. He was educated in Central Busi- 
ness College, Sedalia, Mo., and the Chillicothe Normal School, and the 
State University at Columbia, Mo. For five years he taught school in 
Cooper County and at the same time operated the home farm. Mr. Moore 
is conducting a business of his own, as manufacturer and salesman of 
the Kill Germ Disinfectant Company. He is an intelligent, courteous and 
progressive citizen, who stands high in the estimation of the people of his 
home county. Mr. Moore, like his ancestors, is a thorough democrat. He 
is a Baptist. He is affiliated with the Mason's Lodge of Bunceton. Judge 
B. L. Moore is also a Mason. 

Edith Grace Moore is wife of Edgar Rudolph, assessor of Cooper 
County and is mother of one child, James William Randolph. Prof. E. 
Beverley Moore was born in 1880, educated at Central Business College of 
Sedalia and the Kirksville Normal School. He has taught school for the 
past 17 years. He is also a farmer and owns a farm, one mile east of the 
Moore farm. 

Mrs. Matilda Morton Moore was born in Tennessee, Nov. 14, 1840, 
and is a daughter of Isaiah and Matilda (Tate) Morton, both natives of 
Tennessee. Isaiah H. Norton was born in 1803 and died in 1899. 

The history of the Morton family in America begins with John Mor- 
ton, a native of England, who immigrated to America late in the 17th 
century. John Morton, his grandson, was a signer of the Declaration of 
Independence. The father of Isaiah H. Morton was John Morton, who 
fought in the War of 1812 under Gen. Andrew Jackson, and who disap- 
peared during Jackson's last campaign. Matilda Tate Morton was a 
daughter of Maj. John Tate, an officer in the American Army during the 
War of 1812. 

I. H. Morton migrated to Cooper County in 1844, landed at Boonville 
from a Missouri River steamboat, made his way to the Pilot Grove neigh- 
borhood and cleared a farm from the virgin forest upon which he resided 
until his death. His children were as follows: Adaline, wife of Capt. 
Lee Bohannon, who served in the Federal Army in command of a com- 
pany of volunteers and died in 1915; Andrew Jackson, deceased, was an 
extensive farmer and stock man of Prairie Lick; Jefferson Gaines died 



588 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

in Saline County, Mo. ; Mrs. L. H. Moore, of this review ; John D. lives in 
Oklahoma, a fine citizen and great religious student. 

Lafayette Montgomery Moore was a fine citizen; content to lead a 
useful and studious existence in his home and attend to his duties around 
the farm and oversee the rearing and educating of his family. Inasmuch 
as he provided well for his family, gave his children the necessary ad- 
vantages to fit themselves properly for their individual careers, lived ac- 
cording to the teachings of the Great Preceptor as nearly as possible for 
mortal man to do, he was a success in this life. His widow is well in- 
formed, hospitable, kindly, with a mind stored with reminiscences of the 
old days. "Aunt Mattie," as she is affectionately known to her numerous 
relatives and hundreds of friends in Cooper County, is the last and most 
authentic authority to be consulted upon family history in her locality. 

Charles R. Cartner, Union veteran and retired farmer, Clarks Fork 
township, has lived practically all of the 75 years of his life on the farm 
which he now owns. The Cartner farm consists of 153 acres, well im- 
proved, with a large house and farm buildings setting on a hill overlook- 
ing the rich meadow land which comprises the greater part of the tract. 
Mr. Cartner was born Jan. 19, 1845. William Cartner, his father, was 
born in this country and his father was a Scotchman, who was among the 
early pioneers of Cooper County. The grandfather of Charles Cartner 
entered the land which he now owns. Owing to the fact that a fire de- 
stroyed the Cartner home, its contents, the family and land records, in- 
formation concerning this pioneer grandfather is necessarily meager. 
William Cartner married Keziah Robinson, who bore him seven children: 
Mary, deceased; Charles R., of this review; Julia, deceased; John N., 
Boonville, Mo. ; Mrs. Fannie Anderson, lives in Arkansas ; Elizabeth, wife 
of T. Edward Bonn, lives in Virginia; Mrs. Laura Runkle lives in Boon- 
ville. William Cartner died in 1852 and his wife, Keziah, died in 1859. 

Feb. 2, 1862, Charles R. Cartner enlisted in Co. B, 13th Missouri 
Infantry regiment, and served until 1865, under the Union flag. His war 
service was practically all in Missouri and his command was constantly 
waging war against the bushwhackers and guerillas which infested the 
state. He also participated in the rout of General Price's Army until it 
was driven out of Missouri. After the close of his war service, Mr. Cart- 
ner returned to the home place in Cooper County and settled down to the 
peaceful life of an agriculturist. Fire destroyed his old home in 1872 and 
he rebuilt the present large house which stands on the hillside overlook- 
ing the valley of the Petit Saline River. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 589 

Mr. Cartner was married on Dec. 22, 1880, ' to Miss Annie Louise 
Haley, who was born April 13, 1858, and departed this life on Dec. 12, 
1892. She was bora and reared in Cooper County and was a daughter of 
Thomas Haley, a Cooper County pioneer. Mr. Cartner has an only daugh- 
ter, Emma Jane, born April 13, 1883, married James T. Case, and has 
children as follows : Bernice Miller, born Feb. 27, 1904 ; Charles Edmond, 
born March 1, 1905; Helen Frances, born Dec. 3, 1906; James Herbert, 
born Sept. 22, 1909; James Thornton, born Oct. 20, 1911; Robert Earl, 
born April 6, 1918. James T. Case is managing the home farm, in addi- 
tion to tilling his own acreage. He was born at Monroe, Wis., Dec. 23, 
1860, is a son of Samuel and Bessie (Miller) Case, who came to Cooper 
County in 1870. 

Mr. Cartner has been a lifelong republican. He is a member of the 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is affiliated with Col. John A. 
Hayne Post, Grand Army of the Republic, of Boonville. 

Marion Stegner, owner of a fine farm of 138 acres in Palestine town- 
ship, was born on the place which he now owns, Feb. 18, 1876. His father, 
Nicholas Stegner, was born in Saxe-Coburg, Germany, March 17, 1840, 
and departed this life in Cooper County, Mo., June 27, 1918. He was a 
son of Paul and Catherine Stegner, who immigrated to America in 1853 
and settled in Cooper County. Nicholas Stegner was reared to young 
manhood in Cooper County and was married in 1865 to Margaret Ellen 
Brown, who was born in Cooper County, Sept. 15, 1839, and died Feb. 
25, 1914. The children born of this marriage were: Mollie Jane, living 
with her brother on the Stegner home place ; John, a farmer in Moniteau 
County, Mo. ; Sarah, wife of Charles C. Cook, a sketch of whom appears 
in this volume; Marion, proprietor of the home place; George Stegner, a 
farmer in Palestine township ; and Mrs. Julia Girchner, living in Cooper 
County. During the Civil War, Nicholas Stegner served under the Union 
flag in the Missouri State Guards and did guard duty throughout the war. 

The Stegner home place, owned and operated by Marion Stegner, for- 
merly belonged to his mother's parents, and is one of the old pioneer 
farms of Cooper County, upon which his mother was born and reared. 

Mr. Stegner is a republican and is a member of the Baptist Church. 
He is a good, progressive citizen, a successful farmer, hospitable and is 
well informed. 

Henry H. English. — Every man to his specialty. The individual 
who early in life begins to follow his natural inclination — which if it is 
along a productive and useful line of endeavor, is destined to success. 



590 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

H. H. English, when a boy, had a fondness for mules and horses; he in- 
dulged his hobby in this direction ; for years has followed horse breeding 
and mule dealing as a vocation; has made a pronounced success of his 
business and is known far and wide as the best mule man in 'central Mis- 
souri. He is also widely known as a breeder of fine horses. Mr. English 
first began as a mule dealer with Green Walker, one of the old settlers 
of Cooper County. His operations run to the handling of from 500 to 700 
mules annually. Mr. English's business calls for the buying, handling, 
and shipping of this many mules each year. His custom is to buy, put 
the animals in first class condition and then sell them. He conditioned 
and exhibited the grand champion mule at the Missouri State Fair held 
in Sedalia in 1916. He has taken many ribbons, and first prizes won by 
the fine animals which he has exhibited, and is known as an expert mule 
man in Missouri. His son, Forrest English, is owned of a splendid show 
horse and he is also an exhibitor. Mr. English is the first mule fancier in 
central Missouri who ever paid as high as $150 for a mule and he has 
never been behind the prize money in any show ring where he has ex- 
hibited his stock. He is owner of 540 acres of rich Cooper County land, 
380 acres of which is comprised in his home place, which is improved 
with a modern residence. He has an improved farm of 160 acres east of 
Bunceton. His home place is situated in Palestine township, northeast 
of Bunceton. Mr. English formerly owned more land, but sold 100 acres 
in 1918. 

H. H. English was born Oct. 20, 1852, in Boone County, Mo. He is 
a son of Howard English (born Dec. 12, 1806 — is now deceased) a 
native of Madison County, Ky. Howard English was reared in Kentucky 
and came to this county when a young man. He was here manned to 
Martha Tucker, a native of Hampshire County, Va., bom Dec. 1, 1814, 
and died June 6, 1897. She was a daughter of Josephus and Sarah 
Tucker of Virginia. Her father died in Virginia, and the widow came to 
Cooper County in about 1840 with her four sons and settled here. Four 
children were born to Howard and Martha English, as follows: Mrs. 
Emma Drecker, of Kansas City, Mo. ; Mrs. Anna Day, living in Colorado ; 
John T. English, somewhere in the West; and H. H., subject of this re- 
view. To a first marriage with a Miss Crockett, five children were born, 
only one of whom is living, Mrs. Mollie Hickman. 

Mr. English was married on March 16, 1887, to Miss Kellie Virginia 
Henderson, bora and reared in Cooper County. Two children have 
blessed this union: E. Forrest, and Bernardine. 

E. Forrest English was born March 18, 1890, and is operating his 
own farm. He is a horseman and a breeder of more than a local reputa- 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 591 

tion and is owner of "Rex McDonald," a famous saddle mare. "Rex Mc- 
Donald" has taken more prizes at the State and county fairs than any 
competitor. Forrest English's first animal was a white pony and he has 
taken a keen interest in fine horses since a boy. He has won many prizes 
and ribbons at the State and county stock shows. He is a breeder, also, 
of thoroughbred Duroc Jersey hogs. 

Bernadine is the wife of Hillard D. Carlos, Jr., druggist, Bunceton, Mo. 

Mrs. Kellie English is a daughter of James Newberiy Henderson, who 
was born at Wittfield, Va., in 1837, and died in 1884. He was married in 
Cooper County, Mo., in 1863, to Miss Julia R. Chamberlin, who was born 
July 17, 1837, at Cabelltown, Jefferson County, Va. She was a daughter of 
John W. and Eliza (Headwalt) Chamberlin, who came to Cooper County in 
1861. John W. Chamberlin was born in 1808 and died in 1883. Eliza, his 
wife, was born in 1808 and died in 1886. Their children were: Lucien C, 
deceased ; Alfred M., Eugene, and Frank, deceased ; Mrs. Anna Good lives at 
Pilot Grove ; Mrs. Margaret Chamberlin lives on the Bell Air road ; and Mrs. 
Julia R. Henderson. Five children were born to James N. and Julia R. Hen- 
derson, as follows: Mrs. Kellie Virginia English; Mrs. Eva Lee Grooms, 
Bunceton, Mo. ; Mrs. R. W. Corum, Boonville ; Mrs. 0. C. Berry, near Speed, 
Mo. ; John J., somewhere in the West. 

At the time of Mr. Henderson's death, he was superintendent of the 
County Farm. After his death, Mrs. Henderson took up the duties of the 
position and conducted the County Farm from 1870 to March, 1892. 

Mr. English is a democrat. He is one of the best known men of 
Cooper County, substantial, well liked, and enterprising. 

Ernest W. Torbeck. — The career of Ernest W. Torbeck since he came 
to America from his boyhood home in Germany, 36 years ago, has been 
a successful one. Mr. Torbeck was eight years old when he accompanied 
his father, William Torbeck, to this country. All that he has and all that 
he owns has been earned in Cooper County. When he grew to manhood, 
he and his brother, Henry F. Torbeck, formed a partnership and worked 
harmoniously together for a number of years, with profit to themselves, 
until the marriage of Henry F. in 1910. Since that time he has added to 
his possessions until he owns a total of 182 acres, including the Torbeck 
h^me place of 82 acres, which he recently bought from his father. Mr. 
Torbeck moved from his other farm to the home place in Oct., 1918. He 
was born in Germany, Jan. 23, 1875. 

Ernest W. Torbeck was married in 1901 to Miss Amelia Hasemeier, 
who was born in Cooper County, Mo., in 1886. She is a daughter of 



592 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

George and Dorothy Hasemeier, natives of Germany, the latter of whom 
is deceased. 

Six children have been born to Ernest W. and Amelia Torbeck, as 
follows: Freddie W., aged 14 years; Dora, aged nine; Wilhelmina, seven 
years old; Marie, five years of age; Alice, aged three years; and Rosa, 
just a year old. 

Mr. Torbeck is a republican. He is a member of the Evangelical 
Church of Billingsville and is fraternally allied with the Woodmen of the 
World Lodge of Boonville. 

George Homer Wear, owner of the "Hazel Dell Farm" in Prairie Home 
township, is a native of Cooper County, born on the farm where he now 
resides Nov. 1, 1880, and is a descendant of one of the early pioneer fam- 
ilies of Missouri. He is a son of George N. Wear, who was also born in 
Cooper County, near Otterville, Aug. 21, 1842. George N. Wear is a son 
of George Finis Wear, a native of Tennessee, who came to Missouri at a 
very early date and first settled at St. Louis, and later came to Cooper 
County, settling near Otterville. He was twice married. His first wife 
bore the maiden name of Oglesby. She died while on a trip to Texas with 
her husband, who had large land holdings near Houston. They were the 
parents of the following children: Elizabeth, deceased; Mrs. Thomas 
Potter, deceased ; Mrs. Martin deceased ; Mrs. Levina McFarland, Boonville, 
and George N. After the death of his first wife George Finis Wear mar- 
ried a Miss Burns. George Finis Wear was killed while crossing the 
plains in 1849. 

George N. Wear was married Feb. 10, 1874, to Miss Francas Ophelia 
George, a daughter of Houston and Francis George, pioneer settlers of 
Prairie Home township. Mrs. Wear died Dec. 30, 1907, and her remains 
are buried in the Boonville cemetery. George N. Wear and wife were 
the parents of the following children: Elmer Emmett, farmer Prairie 
Home township; Truman Clement died in 1904, aged 30 years; George H., 
the subject of this sketch. 

George Homer Wear was educated in the public schools and Central 
College at Fayette, Mo. He has made farming and stock raising his life 
occupation and is meeting with more than ordinary success. He has 
established an extensive reputation as a successful breeder of Aberdeen 
Angus cattle, and at this writing has a herd of about 40 head of these 
cattle. He is also an extensive cattle feeder. "Hazel Dell Farm" consists 
of 435 acres, 190 of which belongs to George H. Wear. It is one of the 
nicely improved farms of Cooper County with a good residence, and barns 




GEO. N. WEAR AND WIFE 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 593 

and also silo. The place has an ample supply of water and is well adapted 
to the stock business as well as general farming. ' 

Oct. 9, 1905, George H. Wear was married to Eva Teel a daughter of 
Dr. S. N. and Nettie (Williams) Teel, the former a native of Virginia, born 
Jan. 4, 1846. He came to Missouri when he was about 25 years of age 
and located at Prairie Home, where he was engaged in the practice of 
medicine until his death. His widow now resides at Prairie Home. They 
were the parents of the following children: Agnes, married Dr. A. L. 
Meredith, Prairie Home; Polly, married L E. George, Prairie Home town- 
ship ; Mrs. Logan Spahr Oakland, Cal. ; Eva, wife of George H. Wear, sub- 
ject of this sketch ; Willie, married Dr. Dorsey E. Hooper, Warsaw, Mo. ; 
Kelly, married Roy Hanley, California, Mo. ; Pearl, assistant cashier of 
Prairie Home Bank; Mrs. Newell Teel, Prairie Home; Burk now in U. S. 
navy, having enlisted in Aug., 1917, and has crossed the Atlantic ocean 
three times on the U. S. transport Huron ; Garth, resides at home and 
Samuel Victor, died at the age of three years. To Mr. and Mrs. George 
Wear have been born four children as follows: Frances Annette; Eliza- 
beth, died at the age of three years ; Mary Evaline and George H., Jr. 

Mr. Wear is a member of the Masonic Lodge at Prairie Home and also 
holds membership in the Woodmen of the World. He is one of the pro- 
gressive citizens of Cooper County and the Wear family stand high in the 
community. 

Benjamin Franklin Layne. — Eighty years have elapsed since the 
father of Benjamin F. Layne, retired farmer and stockman of Bunceton, 
Mo., came to Cooper County from Kentucky and made a home for his 
family in Lebanon township. The Laynes have been prominent in the 
affairs of Cooper County since 1840 and are among the honored and sub- 
stantial pioneer families of this section of Missouri. B. F. Layne was 
born on the Layne homestead in Lebanon township, March 9, 1867. He 
was the son of John Wilson and Catherine (Robinson) Layne. 

John Wilson Layne was born in Buckingham, Va., April 9, 1810, and 
died in Cooper County, Feb. 27, 1905. He accompanied his parents to 
Kentucky in 1822, there grew to manhood and was married. In 1839 he 
made his first trip to Cooper County, acquired land and returned for his 
family whom he moved overland to the new home in the following year. 
His first trip was made on horseback, the second was made with wagons 
which carried his family and his movable possessions. He brought a 
number of slaves with him who tilled the soil of the new farm which he 



594 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

created from the undeveloped wilderness country in southern Cooper 
County. His retinue of slaves consisted of five males and one female 
slave. His first house was a cabin, built of logs hewn and trimmed from 
his land. This was in due time supplanted by a more pretentious struc- 
ture, built on the prairie. Mr. Layne took up a timber tract on the Lamine 
River from which he cut rails with which to fence his acreage. These 
rails were hauled a distance of five miles. He planted hedges which in 
time grew to be suitable for girding in the fields. He accumulated 920 
acres of land and was quite wealthy at the time of the Civil War. Like 
many others who were slave owners at the time of the war he suffered 
misfortunes ; he was robbed of his money, his live stock was taken away 
and the premises were stipped of everything of value and he was impover- 
ished. In spite of the fact that he maintained a neturality during the 
war, his life was many times in danger and on one or two occasions he 
was saved only by the intereference of a girl whom he had reared as 
a daughter in his household. He spent his last days with his sons. To 
John Wilson and Catherine Layne were born nine children, five of whom 
were reared, as follows: Belle, wife of Nathan Harris, died in 1889; 
Dora, wife of Shaw Roe, lives at Oakland, Cal.; Alexander resides on a 
farm adjoining the home place in Lebanon township ; Edward is engaged 
in the lumber business at Otterville, Mo.; Benjamin Franklin, subject of 
this review. 

The family of which John Wilson Layne was a member, was a very 
large one, consisting of 13 sons and one daughter. 

B. F. Layne attended the district school located one and three-fourths 
miles from the Layne homestead, and which was known as the West Fork 
School. When he became of age his father gave him a tract of 80 acres 
which he improved. He resided on this farm for four years and then 
traded it, eventually taking charge of the homestead. When the elder 
Layne died he and his brother purchased the interests of the other heirs 
and B. F. Layne made his home on this farm of 373 acres until June 17, 
1916, when he removed to Bunceton. Mr. Layne served as president of 
the Syracuse Bank for four years and is now a director of the Clifton 
City Bank. He was one of the organizers of the Bank of Syracuse, Mo. 

Nov. 28, 1886, B. F. Layne was married to Lottie Lander Bailey. 
This marriage has been blessed with the following children: William, 
John Wilson, Sarah Catherine, and Lottie Franklin. William is cashier 
of the bank at Clifton City. He married Emma Belle Graves and has 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 595 

one child, Dorothy. Dr. John Wilson Layne, was born Feb. 21, 1892, 
studied dentistry and was practicing his profession in Bunceton when he 
was inducted into the National Army in Sept.,- 1918. He received a com- 
mission as first lieutenant in the dental corps of the army, Eighth Cavalry 
Regiment and was stationed at Camp Cody, Deming, N. M., and is at 
Marfa, Texas, at present. Sarah Catherine, aged 16 years, is a junior in 
Bunceton High School. Lottie Franklin, aged 11 years, is attending 
school. 

Mr. Layne is a democrat. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias. 
He and Mrs. Layne are members of the Baptist Church and are pleasant, 
progressive, and hospitable people who have a host of friends in Cooper 
County. 

Henry John Niebruegge. — When Henry John Niebruegge came to 
America from his native Germany in 1881, he was possessed of about $50 
in cash. He hired out as farm laborer until 1886, when his marriage de- 
manded that he secure a home for himself and his wife. For the next 
five years he rented land in the neighborhood of Lone Elm and in 1891 
he decided that it was time for him to begin to accumulate some prop- 
perty. He invested his savings in 114 acres of land, and naturally, be- 
cause he had not been able to save enough money to pay for this land he 
went in debt for the greater part of the amount of the value of the farm. 
An old log house on the place sufficed as the first home of Mr. and Mrs. 
Niebruegge for the next 10 years. In the meantime they scrimped and 
saved, worked from early mora till late at night so as to get out of debt 
and get the means wherewith to build a comfortable home. This they 
built in 1901 — in fact, every rod of fence, every tree and shrub around 
the residence, every building, barn, outhouse, and shelter for stock, has 
been built by Mr. Niebruegge and the farm near Lone Elm is one of the 
best improved in Cooper County. Mr. Niebruegge is now the owner of 
389.5 acres, in three tracts, one farm of which is at Lone Elm. 

Henry John Niebruegge was born in Germany, Jan. 28, 1855, and is 
the son of Henry and Blanche Niebrugge who lived all of their days in 
Germany. Mr. Niebruegge emigrated from Germany in 1881 and came 
directly to Cooper County where he has become one of the prosperous 
citizens of the county. He was married Feb. 9, 1886 to Maria Katharina 
Schluetter, born in 1854, in Germany. The children born to this mar- 
riage are: William, Henry, Oscar, and Emma. One child died in infancy. 

Oscar Niebruegge is the soldier of the family and his parents have 



596 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

good and just right to be proud of the fact that they sent one of their 
sons to fight in behalf of the principles of liberty for which America, 
their adopted country, joined in the great World War. Oscar Niebruegge 
was born July 27, 1892. He was inducted into the National Army, in 
Oct., 1917 and was trained at Camp Funston. He was then sent to Camp 
Doniphan and in April, 1918, crossed the Atlantic to fight on the Western 
front in France with the famous 35th Division, 139th Infantry, Company 
H. Private Niebruegge took part in the terrific fighting in the Argonne 
Forest. So great were the hardships that he endured that he lay sick 
in a hospital for 30 days after the fight and was then transferred to the 
Headquarters Company. He received his honorable discharge May 8, 
1919 and is now at home. 

Mr. Niebruegge is a republican. He and his family are members of 
the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Lone Elm and are liberal supporters 
of this denomination. Mr. and Mrs. Niebruegge are intelligent, hospitable 
folks and have a fine family. 

Peter Smith, living retired at Lone Elm, Cooper County, is one of 
the highly respected 'old settlers' of this county whose advent into the 
county dates back over 50 years. Successful as a farmer, having reared 
a fine family, now in his old age, he is taking life easy. Mr. Smith 
formerly owned two farms, one of 126 acres and another of 170 acres, 
totalling 296 acres in all which he sold in 1917 and 1918 and has since 
made his home at Lone Elm. 

He was born in Holstein, Germany, Jan. 1, 1846, and is a son of 
Claus and Margaret Smith, the latter of whom died in 1866. Claus 
Smith and his six children, Peter, Henry, Annie, Margaret, Joseph and 
John Heinrich, emigrated from Germany to America in 1868 and located 
in Cooper county where Claus Smith spent the remainder of his days. 
Henry Smith resides on a farm in Clarks Fork township. Mrs. Margaret 
Nauman lives in Clarks Fork township. John Smith resides in California. 
Heinrich is a resident of Petersburg, Mo. 

Peter Smith of this review worked out as farm laborer for five years 
after coming to Cooper County. After his marriage in 1875 he bought 
63 acres of land in Clarks Fork township .agreed to pay $25 an acre 
for the land, improved it, added to it until it was 126 acres and disposed 
of this farm in 1917. This farm brought $100 an acre when sold. In 
the meantime he had purchased 170 acres near Bunceton, for $36 an acre. 
He placed all of the existing improvements on this farm and sold it for 
$100 an acre. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 597 

• 

Jan. 19, 1875, Peter Smith and Mrs. Polly Arnold Schmalfeld were 
united in marriage. Two children blessed this union: Maggie C, born 
Feb. 26, 1876, is wife of George Friedmeyer, of California, Mo.; Martin 
D., born June 19, 1878, is farming in Clarks Fork township. 

The mother of these children was born in Holmes County, Ohio, Dec. 
18, 1850, and is a daughter of Daniel and Keziah (Williams) Arnold, 
natives of Pennsylvania and Tuscarawas County, Ohio, respectively. The 
Arnolds migrated to Missouri in 1867 and settled in Clarks Fork town- 
ship, Cooper County, near the Clarks Fork Evangelical Church. The par- 
ents spent the remainder of their lives here. Daniel and Keziah Arnold 
were parents of 12 children, 10 of whom came to Missouri: John died 
while serving in the Union army ; Levi died in 1916 ; Margaret died in 
1917 ; Sarah died in 1906 ; William died in 1915 ; Joseph resides on a farm 
six miles west of Sedalia ; Mrs. Cynthia Kelly lives at Ozark, Mo. ; Henry 
lives on a farm south of Pisgah, Mo. Polly Arnold was first married to 
Otto Schmalfeld in 1869. Mr. Schmalfeld died in December, 1873. To 
Otto and Polly Schmalfeld were born children as follows: John H., born 
Dec. 20, 1869, died April 1, 1905; William F., born Sept. 9, 1871, is a 
farmer living east of Clarks Fork Church ; Christena, born Aug. 26, 1873, 
is wife of George Frieling, and lives in Palestine township. 

Mr. Smith is a republican. He and Mrs. Smith are members of the 
Evangelical Church and are excellent, honest, well to do citizens of Cooper 
County. 

Dan G. Davis, dairyman, Boonville, Mo., was born May 8, 1843, in 
Cooper County and is a son of pioneer parents in this county. His father 
was Daniel G. Davis and his mother was Ruth Breredon, prior to her 
marriage. Further and more extended mention of this pioneer couple 
will be found in the sketch of Jeff L. Davis, of Boonville. 

After receiving his education in the public schools of Boonville, Dan 
G. Davis engaged in farming. For the past 11 years he has been engaged 
in the dairy business upon a farm of 95 acres just on the south edge of 
Boonville. In addition to the dairy farm, Mr. Davis has a tract of 140 
acres one mile west of the home place. He has 50 head of pure bred 
Jersey cows and two splendid registered males. Mr. Davis sells the out- 
put of his dairy to the local ice cream factory and is making a success of 
his business. He erected one of the first silos in Cooper County in 1912. 

Mr. Davis was married in 1906 to Mabel M. Gallagher, of Tipton, 
Mo., who is a daughter of Peyton Gallagher. Five children were born 



598 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

to this union of whom four are living: Elizabeth, Louise, Jefferson Lee, 
Kathryn, deceased, and Daniel Grosvenor. 

Mr. Davis is a democrat. He was reared in the Episcopalian faith. 
Personally, he is a likable, genial and whole hearted citizen who takes 
life as he finds it and is liked by those who know him best. 

Thomas Alpheus Nelson, is one of the oldest of the native born 
pioneers of Cooper County, now living, retired, in Bunceton, Mo., and 
owner of "Eminence Stock Farm," situated a few miles northeast of 
Bunceton. Mr. Nelson was born Aug. 23, 1848, on a farm four miles 
northeast of Bunceton, and resided for 70 years within sight of his birth- 
place. He is a son of James 0. Nelson, one of the early pioneers of this 
section of Missouri. 

James 0. Nelson was born in Virginia in 1802 and died in Cooper 
County, Mo., in 1861. He immigrated to Cooper County in about 1833, 
entered government land and improved a farm, upon which he reared 
his family of 11 children, as follows: A. M. Nelson, Boonville, Mo.; E. D., 
deceased; Mrs. T. B. Stephens, deceased; Mrs. Nora Reavis, deceased; 
John Albert, and T. A. Nelson, twins, the former deceased ; Addie died at 
the age of 21 years; two children, Henrietta and Maryetta, died young; 
James 0. Nelson resides in Bunceton. The mother of these children was 
Mary E. (Hirst) Nelson, who was born in 1809 and departed this life 
Dec. 25, 1891. 

In the beginning there were seven Nelson brothers who located in 
Cooper County in pioneer days. Of these, Thomas W. Nelson became a 
merchant in Boonville. James 0. and John B. Nelson were farmers, the 
former becoming a large land owner. Henry and Addison Nelson were 
bachelors. Alexander Nelson located in California, Mo., and George 
Nelson. 

Thomas A. Nelson was married Dec. 24, 1868, to Sarah A. Tucker, 
who bore him children as follows : Walter died in infancy ; Louis 0. Nel- 
son lives in Bunceton, Mo. ; W. L. Nelson is the present member of Con- 
gress from this district and resides in Columbia, Mo.; Albert J. and Al- 
pheus J. are farmers in Cooper County; Edgar C. editor and publisher of 
the Bunceton Eagle; Clyde T. Nelson is managing "Eminence Stock 
Farm. 

The mother of the foregoing children was born in Cooper County, 
April 6, 1849, within sight of "Eminence Stock Farm." She is a daughter 
of Thomas and Mary B. (Taliaferro) Tucker, natives of Virginia and 
Kentucky, respectively. Mrs. Mary B. Tucker was a daughter of William 
and Nancy Taliaferro, who came From Kentucky to Cooper County, Mo., 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 599 

in 1834. Thomas Tucker was a son of Josephus and Sarah Tucker. He 
was born in 1812 and died in 1893. He came to Cooper County in 1841, 
was married in 1847 and built up a splendid farm. He was father of the 
following children: Mrs. Sarah A. Nelson, of this review; W. J. Tucker 
of Kansas City, Mo. ; John R. Tucker of Oklahoma City, Okla. ; Mrs. 
Mary Bohling, Medford, Ore. William and Nancy Taliaferro were par- 
ents of six children: James, Robert, Johnson, Lucy, wife of James H. 
Baker, and Elizabeth, who attained the great age of 90 years. Thomas 
Tucker was one of the best known of the pioneer citizens of Cooper 
county. 

When Mr. and Mrs. Thomas A. Nelson began their wedded life, they 
purchased a tract of undeveloped prairie land which adjoined the old 
Tucker homestead. In order to fence this tract, Mr. Nelson hauled rails 
with ox teams from Moniteau. Every tree, shrub, vine, and plant which 
now adorns the grounds of their fine estate was planted by Mr. and Mrs. 
Nelson. "Eminence Stock Farm" consisted of 364 acres, well improved 
with a large, handsome residence, good farm buildings, and is devoted to 
the breeding and raising of fine live stock. Mr. Nelson has always been 
an extensive feeder and producer of live stock. In 1882, Mrs. Nelson 
began breeding and raising fine poultry, mostly Barred Rocks and other 
varieties. She was the first woman to make a specialty of producing 
poultry of the better breeds and of pure strain. Mr. Nelson achieved a 
great reputation as a breeder of Duroc Jersey swine. 

Dec. 24, 1918, Thomas A. and Sarah A. Nelson celebrated their 
golden wedding anniversary. When Mr. Nelson was purchasing live 
stock for the State Institutions some years ago, Mrs. Nelson managed the 
farm during his frequent periods of absence and weighed the corn and 
did a man's work on the place. They are both members of the Baptist 
Church, as are all of their children. Mr. Nelson has been a deacon in the 
,)tist Church for 40 years and las son Louis 0. Nelson is also a deacon. 
They are among the most highly respected and best loved pioneer couples 
in Cooper County, and Mrs. Nelson is the source of authority in her 
neighborhood for facts concerning family history and is the last recourse 
for information concerning the early history of the Bunceton neighbor- 
hood. In September of 1918, Mr. and Mrs. Nelson made their first move 
in a half century. They came to Bunceton, after turning over the home 
farm to their son, Clyde Nelson, who is now managing it. Now, in the 
eventide of a long and useful life, they are enjoying well earned repose, 
serene in the consciousness that theirs has been a life well spent. 



600 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Emmett E. Wear, a progressive farmer and stockman of Prairie Home 
township, is a descendant of one of the pioneer families of this state. 
He was born in Prairie Home township Dec. 15, 1874, and is a son of 
George N. and Ophelia F. (George) Wear. 

Emmett E. Wear was educated in the public schools, Clarksburg Col- 
lege and Prairie Home College. He engaged in farming and stock raising 
in early life, and has been successful from the start. He purchased his 
present farm of 180 acres, which is a part of "Hazel Dell Farm", in 1919. 
This land was entered from the government by Thomas Byler, the original 
land patent being granted in the 20's, and signed by John Quincy Adams, 
nearly 100 years ago. The brick residence which now stands on the place 
was built in 1844, the bricks being manufactured on the place. John 
Burrus did the carpenter work. This old residence, notwithstanding its 
75 years of service, is still in a good state of preservation. 

Jan. 23, 1915, Elmer E. Wear was united in marriage with Miss Pansy 
Hemphill, a daughter of Charles W. and Elizabeth (Clark) Hemphill, who 
reside at Lawrence, Kan., where the father is engaged in the real estate 
business. Mrs. Wear was reared and educated in Lawrence, Kan., and 
also attended Baker University, Baldwin, Kan. She is a graduate nurse, 
having received her training at the Research Hospital at Kansas City, 
Mo. Mrs. Wear is one of the following children born to her parents: 
Lynn, whose present address is unknown; Anna, married Charles Cham- 
pion ; Margarette, married John Klevinger, Lawrence, Kan. ; Joseph, Law- 
rence, Kan. ; Ruth, Lawrence, Kan., and Pansy H., wife of Emmett E. 
Wear, the subject of this sketch. To Mr. and Mrs. Wear has been born 
one child, Ophelia Wear. 

William Schleuter. — From laborer to prosperous farmer, owning one 
of the best prairie farms in Cooper County during 37 years of endeavor 
in this country, is the reward of William Schlueter of Clarks Fork town- 
ship, for industry, thrift and good management. He came to America 
from his native Germany, ignorant of our customs and language and has 
made good in the land of his adoption. Mr. Schlueter owns a fine place 
of 180 acres, upon which he has resided since 1903. His home place con- 
sists of 100 acres, and includes the first 80 which he bought, to which he 
has added 20 acres. He then bought his other 80, situated just across the 
highway, in 1916. The Schlueter farm is well improved and presents an 
attractive and prosperous appearance. 

William Schlueter was born in Germany, May 7, 1863, and is a son 
of Henry and Louise Schlueter, who spent their lives in their native land. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 601 

William immigrated to America in 1881, and worked as a laborer in St. 
Louis for two years. In 1883, he came to Cooper County, having been 
employed in a creamery and dairy establishment in St. Louis. He worked 
as farm laborer in Cooper County for $15 per month. All the capital he 
had in the world when he set foot in this country was $13. He agreed to 
pay $42 an acre for his first 80, and went in debt for nearly all of the 
purchase price. He erected all of the buildings on the tract and fenced 
it. His next purchase of 20 acres cost him $70 an acre. His last pur- 
chase of 80 acres cost him $92.75 an acre. The Schlueter land is easily 
worth. $150 an acre. Mr. Schlueter handles Angus cattle, his favorite 
breed of live stock. He was married in 1888 to Miss Minnie Langkop, 
who was born in Clarks Fork township, Oct. 15, 1867, a daughter of Henry 
and Philippina Langkop, natives of Germany, who immigrated to America 
and made a permanent settlement in Cooper County in about 1855. Henry 
Langkop was born Sept. 28, 1837, and died July 23, 1897. Phillipina, his 
wife, was born Feb. 21, 1846, and died July 16, 1915. Henry was a native 
of Hanover, while his wife was a native of Saxony. Henry Langkop was 
a son of William Henry, who first settled in Dubuque, Iowa, settled in 
Clarks Fork township in 1855 and died here in 1857. In 1894, Mr. Lang- 
kop sold his Clarks Fork township farm and moved to Moniteau township, 
where he died. He reared a family of 12 children: Mrs. Minnie Schlue- 
ter, of this review; William, Lone Elm, Mo.; Henry, Boonville; Caroline, 
died at the age of 25 years ; Herman, Elliston, Mo. ; Mrs. Sophia House- 
man, St. Louis, Mo. ; Theodore, on the home place, south of Lone Elm ; 
Mrs. Lucy Gruner, San Francisco ; Emma, living at Lone Elm, Mo. ; John, 
Moniteau township; George, Montana; Clara, Los Angeles, Calif. 

Four children have been born to William and Minnie Schlueter, as 
follows: Emma, Ida, Henry, and Herman, all at home with their parents. 

Mr. Schlueter is a republican and he and his family are members of 
the Lone Elm Evangelical Church. 

William W. Trigg, former merchant, now engaged in the real estate 
and loan business in Boonville, is a native of Boonville, and a son of the 
late Dr. William Hodge Trigg, pioneer physician and banker, and widely 
known merchant of this city. 

The Trigg family is one of the oldest of the American families, and 
the name of "Trigg" is one of the oldest in recorded history. The name 
is derived from the Gothic — "Tryggve," through the course of years 
changed to "Trygg," thence to the English name of "Trigg." The family 
is of Norse origin and the earliest trace of the family is found as begin- 



602 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

ning with the 11th century, when the Norse conquered a portion of the 
British Islands and left their imprint and racial characteristics upon the 
Islanders. 

The history of the Trigg family in America begins with (I) Abraham 
Trigg, who was born in England in 1690 and immigrated to America in 
1715. He made a settlement in Spottsylvania County, Va. (II) William 
Trigg, his son, the direct ancestor of W. W. Trigg, served as judge of 
Bedford County, Va. His children were: Abraham, Stephen, John, 
(III) William, Daniel, Nancy, wife of Arthur Moseley, and Lockey, wife 
of Captain Henderson. 

(III) William Trigg was a colonel in the Bedford County Militia in 
1781. He had children as follows: Alanson, William (IV), Daniel, 
Haden, Nancy, and Elizabeth. Daniel Trigg was born in 1776 in Bedford 
County, Va. 

(IV) Daniel Trigg was a farmer in Wilson County, Tenn. He was an 
elder of the Presbyterian Church. He married Nancy Hodge, who bore 
him the following children: Mrs. Juliet Hannah, (V) William Hodge, 
John H., Haden S., Daniel, Abraham and Stephen (twins), Charity A., 
Nancy Bell and Alanson (twins), and Samuel L. 

(V) Dr. William Hodge Trigg was born Jan. 24, 1808, and died in 
Boonville, Mo., Feb. 20, 1895. He was reared to young manhood in 
Tennessee and received his early education in the common schools of the 
neighborhood. After leaving school, he studied medicine in the office of 
Dr. Hodge, a physician of Gallatin, Tenn. He began the practice of his 
profession in his native state and practiced there until he came West in 
1834. Dr. Trigg made the trip through Missouri from St. Louis on horse- 
back and recorded his impressions of this new and undeveloped country 
in a diary which makes interesting reading. He arrived in Cooper County 
in Feb., 1834, and so favorably impressed was he with the beauty of the 
country and the apparent richness of the soil, and the attractive appear- 
ance of Boonville, that he decided to locate here. He opened an office in 
this city and was soon embarked in the successful practice of his profes- 
sion. Opportunities were plentiful in those days for business enterprises 
and Dr. Trigg decided to take advantage of this fact and he embarked in 
the mercantile business in partnership with two young friends from 
Tennessee, under the firm name of Boyers, Blythe and Trigg. This part- 
nership continued for two years, and Dr. Trigg then formed a partner- 
ship with his father-in-law, Jacob F. Wyan, the first merchant in Boon- 
ville. The firm was known as Wyan and Trigg, and continued until the 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 603 

death of Mr. Wyan in 1842. Dr. Trigg continued. in business for several 
years after the death of Mr. Wyan. In 1847 he established the first bank 
in Boonville, doing a strictly banking business in his own name until 1858. 
He then established a banking concern under the firm name of W. H. 
Trigg and Company. When the troubles incident to the ravages of Civil 
War caused a business depression in this vicinity, the affairs of this bank 
were wound up. During the Civil War, Dr. Trigg opened a mercantile 
nouse in Boonville with his son, W. W. Trigg. Associated with him were 
also his sons-in-law, John T. Pigott and William M. Johnson, under the 
firm name of William H. Trigg and Company. This firm did business in 
Boonville until 1864. Conditions had, meanwhile, become more and more 
unsettled and the firm removed to Courtland, N. Y., where they remained 
until the fall of 1865. Returning to Boonville, in 1866, they erected the 
largest business house in central Missouri and the partnership was main- 
tained until 1892. It was then dissolved and the business was closed out. 
For over half a century, Dr. Trigg was the most prominent merchant in 
central Missouri. When he retired from business he could not be content. 
He had been so long actively engaged in mercantile and banking pursuits 
that he desired again to have something to occupy his mind. At the age 
of 86 years, he proposed to his son, W. W. Trigg, that they establish a 
loan and brokerage busiess. Since the death of Dr. W. H. Trigg, his son, 
W. W. Trigg, has carried on the business under the name of Wm. H. 
Trigg and Company. 

April 14, 1835, Dr. Trigg was married to Miss Sarah Gaines Wyan, 
a daughter of Jacob and Nancy Wyan, a sketch of whom appears in this 
volume in connection with that of Robert F. Wyan of Bunceton. Mrs. 
Sarah G. Trigg was born Dec. 30, 1817, and departed this life July 11, 
1884. The following children were born to this marriage: Josephine H., 
Juliet A., Annie M., William Wyan. Josephine H, decased, was the wife 
of the late John T. Pigott. Juliet A., born Aug. 5, 1838, became the wife 
of the late William M. Johnson of Boonville. Annie M., born Aug. 17, 
1842, married William Mann Lionberger of Boonville. William Wyan 
Trigg, of this review, was born July 10, 1845. 

Dr. William Hodge Trigg was one of the prime movers in every enter- 
prise tending to develop the resources of his city and county. He was 
connected with establishment of the first ferry across the Missouri 
River, at Boonville. He was one of the organizers of the Central District 
Agricultural Society, and he was interested in the promotion of the rail- 
roads, manufactures, schools and churches of the city. He was exten- 



604 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

sively engaged in the handling of real estate and during his career he 
handled thousands of acres in this section of Missouri. During the Civil 
War, he took a determined stand for the Union and allied himself with 
the democratic party after the close of the war. He was a gentleman of 
the old school, high minded, never profane, eschewed liquor and tobacco, 
and was temperate in all things. 

William Wyan Trigg was educated in the Kemper School of Boon- 
ville, entering in 1861, and studying there until the closing of the school 
in 1864, on account of war conditions. For a period of thirty years, he 
was connected with the Wm. H. Trigg Mercantile Company, and was one 
of the active partners in this concern until 1894. Since that time he has 
been engaged in the real estate and loan business in Boonville. 

Oct. 13, 1869, W. W. Trigg was married to Miss Louise Friend Hall, 
a daughter of Dr. M. W. Hall, formerly a physician of Saline County, Mo. 
Four children blessed this marriage, namely: William Hall, Walton 
Wyan, Louise, and Ewing Lester. 

William Hall Trigg was born Aug. 2, 1870. He was educated in the 
Kemper Military School, and Columbia University, New York, graduating 
from the law department. For 10 years he practiced his profession in St. 
Louis and then came to Boonville, where he practiced law and was asso- 
ciated with his father in business. In May, 1918, Mr. Trigg was appointed 
to a law position in the State Tax Division of the Internal Revenue De- 
partment at Washington, D. C. He married Miss Julia Young. 

Walton Wyann Trigg was born Dec. 31, 1873. He was educated in 
Kemper Military School, and is now engaged in the oil business at Mel- 
vern, Kan. 

Louise, wife of E. T. Dutcher, died in 1911. 

Ewing Lester Trigg was born April 17, 1888, and was educated in 
Kemper Military School. 

Mr. Trigg is an independent democrat. He is a Knights Templar 
Mason. For 25 years he was a deacon of the Boonville Presbyterian 
Church and for the past 20 years he has been an elder of the local church. 

William A. Hurt, owner of "Forest Grove" stock farm is an honored 
pioneer of Cooper County and one of the most highly valued and respected 
citizens of Boonville township. Mr. Hurt is a native son of this county, 
a member of one of Missouri's first families. He was born May 16, 1850, 
in Clarks Fork township, a son of William Hurt, Sr. and Catherine (Rob- 
ertson) Hurt. 

William Hurt, Sr., father of William A. Hurt, was born March 7, 
1816 at Old Cole's Fort in Cooper County, a son of Colonel Clayton and 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 605 

Mary (Dillard) Hurt, the former, a native of Kentucky and the latter, 
a daughter of James Dillard. Colonel Clayton Hurt was born Jan. 15, 
1790, in Bedford County, Ky. He came to Cooper County, Mo., about 1815 
and settled at Old Cole's Fort. Colonel Clayton Hurt was in charge of 
the settlers' military organization, which for many years was maintained 
as a protection against the Indians. He died in 1862 and his remains rest 
in Hail Ridge cemetery. Mrs. Hurt died in 1867. Two children of Colonel 
Clayton and Mary (Dillard) Hurt are now living in Cooper County, namely: 
J. T. Hurt and Mrs. Julia (Hurt) Shannon. 

Sept. 6, 1837, William Hurt, Sr. and Catherine Robertson, daughter 
of Capt. Andrew Robertson, one of the leading pioneers of Cooper County, 
were united in marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Hurt were true-hearted, sturdy 
pioneers and spent their lives in rearing their family and improving their 
farm in Clarks Fork township. To them were born the following chil- 
dren: Mrs. Mary Catherine McFarland, of Clarks Fork township; Mrs. 
Nancy Emmeline Davis, who died Jan. 6, 1912; Jenkin D., deceased; 
Beniga, who died Dec. 15, 1914; William Andrew, the subject of this 
sketch; and James M., a prosperous farmer of Clarks Fork township. 
The mother died May 28, 1882 and the father died Jan. 11, 1894. The 
remains of both parents rest in Walnut Grove cemetery. 

William A. Hurt attended the public schools of Cooper County. Prac- 
tically his entire life has been devoted to the pursuits of farming and 
stockraising in Boonville and Clarks Fork townships. His farm comprises 
585 acres of excellent land, all of Section 6 in Boonville township. The 
Hurt residence is one of the finest in the country and is well placed in the 
center of the farm on the state highway, which traverses the Hurt land. 
Noble, old shade trees, planted before the Civil War, surround the resi- 
dence. On this farm, Mr. Hurt has made his home for 35 years. In the 
raising of hogs, mules and registered Hereford cattle, he has been very 
successful. 

July 31, 1878, William A. Hurt and Elizabeth Johnston, a native of 
Cooper County and daughter of John B. and Margaret Johnston, were 
united in marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Johnston were pioneers of Prairie 
Home township, in which township they reared a splendid family of ten 
children, five boys and five girls, as follow: Mrs. Mary Margaret Par- 
sons, deceased ; Mrs. Rachel J. Miller, deceased ; Mrs. Sallie Ann Simmons, 
deceased ; Susan Ellen, deceased ; Robert B., deceased ; Colonel T. A. Johns- 
ton, of Boonville, Mo.; William F., of Warrensburg, Mo.; Mrs. William A. 
Hurt, the wife of the subject of this review; George W., deceased; and 



606 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

James E., of Denver, Col. Both parents of Mrs. Hurt are now deceased 
and she is one of the four surviving children. To William A. and Eliza- 
beth (Johnston) Hurt have been born four children: Sidney J., at home; 
William B., deceased ; Margaret Catherine, at home ; and Mrs. Mary Far- 
ris, of Boonville. Miss Margaret possesses unusual artistic ability and 
her paintings, which decorate the walls of the Hurt home, show exceptional 
skill and taste. Mr. and Mrs. Hurt are proud of their only grandson, 
James William Farris, now four years of age. 

More than a century has passed since the Hurt name became a 
familiar one in this state and now, as then, it is the synonym of upright 
manhood and noble womanhood. There is no family in this section of 
Missouri more highly regarded or more worthy of respect and affection. 
Mr. Hurt is a stanch democrat. He was a director of the Farmers Bank 
of Boonville and he is likewise a director of the Commercial Bank of 
Boonville. 

Robert Schwitzky. — In 35 years of endeavor as a tiller of the soil, 
Robert Schwitzky of Palestine township, has achieved what can rightly 
be called a success. Mr. Schwitzky has a large farm of 300 acres upon 
which are two sets of handsome improvements. He has a pretty, modern 
cottage erected in 1914, a large bank barn which he built him self and 
everything about his home place gives evidence of thrift, pride, and enter- 
prise. 

Robert Schwitzky was born in Saxony, Germany, Feb. 17, 1863, and 
is a son of Herman and Amelia (Temple) Schwitzky, who immigrated to 
America in 1882 and settled in Indiana. One year later, Robert Schwitzky 
came to Cooper County. Herman, his father, was born in April, 1836, and 
makes his home with his son, Robert. Amalie Schwitzky died in 1882 
shortly after her arrival in this country. 

During his first summer in Indiana, Robert Schwitzky worked as a 
farm hand for $8 per month. After he came to Cooper County he re- 
ceived $12 per month for three years. He rented land for the next three 
years and then bought 52 acres in 1888 near Boonville upon which he re- 
sided for seven years. In 1895 he purchased 140 acres of his present 
homestead. This land had no improvements worthy of the name and it 
has been built up to its present fine condition by the owner who is one 
of the best agriculturists in Cooper County. 

Mr. Schwitzky was married in 1885 to Minnie Johnmeyer, a sister 
of William F. Johnmeyer, whose biography appears in this history. Mrs. 
Schwitzky was born in Westphalia, Germany, Aug. 11, 1865. The chil- 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 607 

dren bom to this union are : Herman, Boonville, Mo. ; Ida, wife of Henry 
Hein, Lone Elm Prairie, Mo. ; Anna, wife of Henry Torbeck, Boonville 
township ; Rosa, wife of Henry Kahle, Lone Elm Prairie ; William, Minnie 
and Robert on the home farm; Freda, at home. William and Herman 
are engaged in the automobile business in Boonville and are owners of 
the Schwitzky Auto Sales Co. 

Mr. Schwitzky is a republican. He is a member of the Evangelical 
Church and the Woodmen of the World lodge at Speed, Mo. 

John Hein. — The John Hein farm of 294 acres, in Palestine township, 
is one of the finest improved prairie farms in Cooper County. The hand- 
some residence painted white, with red roofs, situated far back from the 
roadway, consists of ten rooms, all modern, eqipped with electric lights, 
hot and cold running water — an ideal country place. A cellar runs entirely 
underneath this fine home and every convenience for comfortable living 
is arranged in the home. Other farm buildings are in keeping with the 
Hein residence. Mr. Hein raises pure bred Duroc Jersey swine and has 
a herd of Shorthorn cattle. Mrs. Hein has a large flock of pure bred 
white Leghorn poultry. 

John Hein was born on a farm near Boonville, Jan. 28, 1866, and is 
a son of Henry Hein, who was born in 1826 and died in 1903. His mother 
was Catherine Titkens prior to her marriage, and she was born in 1838 
and died in 1897. 

Henry Hein was a native of Holstein, Germany, and came to America 
in 1856. He served under the Union flag during the Civil War and settled 
in the Lone Elm neighborhood in Cooper County, where he owned 120 
acres, upon which he settled in about 1874. He reared a family of eight 
children: Mrs. Mary Cotterman, living north of Speed, Mo.; John, sub- 
ject of this review; William lives near Appleton City, Mo.; Christ lives 
on the farm adjoining that of John Hein ; Peter, a farmer, north of Lone 
Elm ; Sophia, Lone Elm ; J. W. Henry lives on the home place. 

John Hein attended the old Clarks Fork School and the Lone Grove 
School and learned to till the soil under his father. When he attained 
the age of 21 years, he began his own career. He rented land in the 
neighborhood until 1900, and then made his first purchase of 177 acres 
at a cost of $44 an acre. In 1911 he bought 116 acres, plus a fraction, 
at a cost of $85 an acre. This fine farm of nearly 294 acres is easily 
worth from $125 to $150 an acre. 

Feb. 15, 1900, Mr. Hein was married • to Miss Minnie Toellner, a 
daughter of Herman Toellner. The children born to John and Minnie 



608 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Hein are as follows : Herman, deceased ; Lydia, Harry, Albert, and Ella. 

Mr. Hein is a republican, but has little time for political matters. 
When he has a few hours free from his farming duties, he can usually 
be found doing something to add to the attractiveness or convenience of 
his splendid country estate. He and his family worship at the Evangel- 
ical Lutheran Church at Lone Elm, and he is a liberal supporter of this 
church. 

John H. Smith is a native of Cooper County and a descendant of very 
early Missouri pioneers. He was born in Prairie Home township, where 
he has since resided, Jan. 12, 1862, and is a son of Jeremiah and Lutetia 
C (George) Smith. The former was a native of Tennessee, born May 16, 
1810, and the latter born March 1, 1823 and died July 16, 1905. Jeremiah 
died Dec. 21, 1903. Jeremiah Smith was a son of Thomas Smith, a native 
of Virginia, and his wife was from North Carolina. 

In 1817 Thomas Smith came to Missouri from Tennessee with his 
family and settled at Boonslick, where he remained about a year and 
removed to Old Franklin. Some years later he came to Cooper County, 
settling in Prairie Home township, where he entered 160 acres of land; 
which is now the Fred Sullivan place. Jeremiah Smith also entered 80 
acres of government land about the same time, or a little later. John H. 
Smith, the subject of this sketch, now owns this property. Jeremiah 
Smith became an extensive land owner and at one time owned about 1,000 
acres, which he divided among his eight children. He was a Presbyterian 
and a democrat, and cast his first vote for Andrew Jackson for president. 

Jeremiah and Lutetia C. (George) Smith, were the parents of the 
following children: Margaret Ann, born March 31, 1846, and died June 
20, 1856; Thomas Richard, born April 5, 1848, and resides at Pleasant 
Hill, Mo.; George Almond, born April 3, 1850 and died in Cass County, 
Mo., Jan. 23, 1912; Martha Ellen, born April 30. 1854, married Joseph 
Franklin and resides at Hume, Mo.; Robert Boone, born Oct. 24, 1855, 
and resides in Prairie Home ; Mary Alice, born May 17, 1858, married Dr. 
G. W. Stiffler, Stirling, Colo.; William A., born April 24, 1860, Prairie 
Home ; John H., the subject of this sketch, and Josie Lee, born April 24, 
1864, married E. L. Koontz, Fulton, Mo. 

John H. Smith was reared and educated in Prairie Home township 
and has made farming and stock raising his life occupation, and has met 
with a very satisfactory degree of success in his undertaking. He was 
married Nov. 30, 1887, to Elizabeth Ann Mitchell, a native of Pennsyl- 
vania, born June 27, 1867. She is a daughter of W. H. and Margaret J. 
(Harmon) Mitchell, both natives of Pennsylvania. W. H. Mitchell was 




MR. AND MRS. JOHN H. SMITH 




.110 UK Ml AH SMITH AND WIFK 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 609 

born in Jackson township, Huntington County, June 8, 1845, and his wife 
was born in Union township, Mifflin County, Dec. 4, 1845. They were 
married in Mifflin County, July 4, 1866. They came to Missouri in 1880 
and settled at East Lynn. In 1900 they removed to Oklahoma, where 
they now reside. The following children were born to W. H. Mitchell and 
wife: Elizabeth Ann, wife of John H. Smith, the subject of this sketch; 
John Irvin C, born July 2, 1868, now resides at Arnett, Okla. ; Laura Wil- 
liamson, born Dec. 19, 1869 and died near East Lynn, Mo., in 1886 ; Porter 
Davis, born June 19, 1871, resides in Prairie Home; James Solomon, born 
Nov. 29, 1872, and died at East Lynn, Nov. 26, 1889 ; William Nelson, born 
Sept. 10, 1874, resides at Arnett Okla. ; Rebecca Jane, born March 7, 1876, 
and died Sept. 13, 1889 at East Lynn ; Sarah Emma, born Nov. 20, 1878, 
and died June 12, 1896, at East Lynn ; Margaret Bailey, born Sept. 4, 1879 
now resides at Boundbrook, N. J. ; Thomas Hope, born Jan. 11, 1882, re- 
sides at Kansas City, Mo. ; Dora Viola, born May 24, 1883, lives at Arnett, 
Okla. ; Lawrence Earl, born April 7, 1885, and died May 9, 1887 ; Bertha 
May, born Jan. 28, 1887, resides at Arnett, Okla., and Joseph Hastings, 
born May 26, 1889, lives at Arnett, Okla. All of the above named chil- 
dren were born in Mifflin County, Pa., except the last five mentioned, who 
were born in Cass County, Mo. 

To John H. Smith and wife have been bom the following children: 
Lottie Bell, born Sept. 20, 1888, died May 1, 1901 ; Jessie Lee, born Feb. 
5, 1890, married John Knorp, Prairie Home; Lutitia Nadine, born Feb. 8, 
1893, married Cornelius Keil, Spring Valley, Canada; Laura Jane, born 
Jan. 15, 1895, married A. C. Dishion, Prairie Home; Lonnie Stevens, born 
Oct. 2, 1897, married Martin Odneal, Prairie Home; Grace Pearl, born 
March 2, 1899, married John Schaaf, Cedron, Mo.; Jerry William, born 
July 17, 1900, died Dec. 31, 1900; Margaret Barnett, born Nov. 20, 1901 
and died July 21 1902 ; Mina Eugenia, born June 8, 1904 and died May 18, 
1909, and Ida E., born May 15, 1901, and a daughter born Sept. 5, 1891, 
died in infancy. 

John H. Smith is one of Cooper County's substantial citizens and the 
Smith family has ever ranked high in this section of Missouri. 

John Parsons Glazier, one of Cooper County's most prominent citizens, 
is a native of Clarks Fork township. Mr. Glazier was born on Lone Elm 
Prairie, July 1, 1858, a son of Charles and Frances Ann (Parsons) Glazier, 
the former, a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Virginia. 

Charles Glazier was born in 1811 in Huntington, Pa., came to Missouri 
in 1830 and was a cabinet maker in Boonville until 1833, when he 
(38) 



610 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

located in Clarks Fork township, where he purchased a farm, comprising 
320 acres of land, which he spent his life cultivating and improving, and 
there died in 1900. His remains rest in the cemetery at Salem Church. 
Frances Ann Glazier was born in Albemarle County, Va. In 1836, she 
came to Missouri and she was then 14 years of age. Mrs. Glazier died in 
1911 and she was laid to rest beside her husband in the cemetery at 
Salem Church. John Parsons Glazier is one of six children born to Charles 
and Frances Ann Glazier, as follow : James, deceased ; Hattie, deceased ; 
Laura, deceased ; Martha, the wife of Dr. John Cowden, both of whom are 
now deceased ; Mary Ella, deceased ; John Parsons, the subject of this 
review; and Charles Ernest, deceased. 

John Parsons Glazier attended the public schools of Cooper County. 
Since attaining maturity, he has followed farming in Clarks Fork and 
Boonville townships. In 1903, he purchased his present homeplace, a 
farm comprising 88 Va acres, located four miles southeast of Boonville, 
on the state highway. The residence, a brick structure, is one of the old- 
est in the county. It was built by Alex Tucker perhaps 90 years ago and 
is still in good condition. Mr. Glazier raises Jersey cattle and Duroc 
Jersey hogs, both eligible for registry. 

April 25, 1883, John Parsons Glazier and Nannie Washington Weight 
were united in marriage. Mrs. Glazier is a daughter of Oscar and Cor- 
nelia B. (O'Brien) Weight a great-gieat-grandniece of George Washing- 
ton. Oscar Weight was a native of Clark's Fork township. He was uom 
on Saturday, Jan. 27, 1821 and his wife was born on Sunday, June 29, 
1829. When a young man, 17 years of age, Oscar Weight made the trip 
across the plains, journeying into Old Mexico with the famous Santa Fe 
pioneers, the Houcks. Mr. and Mrs. Weight were the parents of the fol- 
lowing children: Mrs. Mary Catherine Finley, born in 1847 resides in 
Saline township; Emily Gibson, died at the age of two years; James Reed, 
born in 1851, deceased ; Elizabeth, born in 1854, deceased ; Laura E., born 
in 1856 ; Louisa H., bom in 1860, married Reginald Walker, Nov. 20, 1877, 
died July 30, 1884 ; Nannie Washington and Julia Taylor, twins, the former, 
the wife of the subject of this review and the latter, the wife of W. A. 
Chambers, died May 13, 1916; George Washington, born Feb. 23, 1864, 
died in 1865 ; Cornelia, born Nov. 4, 1870, deceased ; John L. O'Brien, born 
Oct. 23, 1873, resides in Blackwell, Okla. John L. O'Brien Weight mar- 
ried Frances Roberta Don Carlos in 1896. She is now deceased and he 
has remarried. To John Parsons and Nannie Washington Glazier have 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 611 

been born three children: A son, died in infancy, was' born Feb. 17, 1885; 
John Taylor, born Feb. 11, 1897 and died in infancy; and Annie Laura, 
born Feb. 19, 1900. Miss Annie Laura is a graduate of the Boonville 
High School, a member of the class of 1916. She took the post-graduate 
course in the high school in 1917 and is teaching her second school in 
Bethlehem district. Both parents of Mrs. Glazier are deceased. The 
father died Jan. 23, 1874 and his remains were interred in O'Brien ceme- 
tery. The mother died Jan. 24, 1897 and she was laid to rest in Wal- 
nut Grove cemetery. 

Jordan O'Brien, a soldier of the War of 1812, battle of New Orleans, 
grandfather of Mrs. Glazier, came from Kentucky to southeastern Mis- 
souri about 1816, at the time of the earthquake. He located in Boonville 
township on the farm now owned by Mrs. Herman Erhardt. Jordan 
O'Brien was one of Missouri's most conspicuous characters of pioneers 
days. He was in public life for 20 years, a member of the Legislature 
when Missouri was still a territoiy, a charter members of the First Bap- 
tist Church at Boonville, one of the organizers and promoters of William 
Jewell College at Liberty, Mo. Jordan O'Brien and William Jewell were 
close, personal friends, both leaders of their day. George Washington 
Weight, grandfather of Mrs. Glazier, was educated at William & Mary's 
College in Virginia and he was one of the first county surveyors of Cooper 
County and was prominent in all educational movements and works. Mary 
E. Hampton Taylor, wife of Jordan O'Brien, grandmother of Mrs. Glazier, 
was a cousin of Zachariah Taylor and of Wade Hampton. Thus Mrs. 
Glazier is a descendant of one of the best colonial families and a daughter 
of one of Missouri's leading pioneer families, a family directly connected 
with two presidents of the United States, George Washington and Zach- 
ariah Taylor. A. J. Wright, a great-uncle of Mrs. Glazier, was governor 
of Missouri in 1825, completing an unexpired term. Mrs. Glazier is well 
known throughout the county, as much for her own abilities and worth 
as for the untarnished name of her ancestors. She has established a 
reputation during the past 16 years for raising the best Barred Plymouth 
Rock chickens and at the present time she has a splendid flock of 170. 
Mr. and Mrs. Glazier are held in the highest respect in this section of 
Missouri and are valued highly in their community. 

John F. Viertel, a highly respected citizen of Boonville township, was 
born in Baltimore, Md., Oct. 28, 1851, a son of John and Maria (Schnuck) 
Viertel, the eldest of the following children born to this parents: John 



612 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

F., the subject of this review; George, of Boonville township; Anna, de- 
ceased; Elizabeth, of Boonville; William, of Boonville; and Paul P., of 
Boonville. 

John Viertel, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Ger- 
many. He came to America, when he was 18 years of age and, in 1869, 
located in Boonville township, Cooper County, on a farm comprising 170 
acres of land owned formerly by Mr. Vivian. Mr. Viertel died on his 
farm about 1906 and 18 days later he was joined in death by his wife and 
both father and mother were interred in Walnut Grove cemetery. 

In the public schools of Maryland, John F. Viertel obtained his edu- 
cation. He came with his parents to Missouri in 1869 and in 1881 pur- 
chased his present country place. Mr. Viertels farm comprises 254 acres 
of valuable land located six miles southeast of Boonville. He has placed 
all the improvements on the farm, except an old, brick house which was 
built in pioneer days. The residence was built in 1893, in addition to 
which he has two good barns, a machine shed and a granary. There is 
an excellent spring on the land, which is well adapted for stock raising, 
and the Viertel farm is considered one of the best stock farms in the 
township. Mr. Viertel formerly raised hogs, cattle, mules and sheep ex- 
tensively. 

In 1883, John F. Viertel and Elizabeth Langfort were united in mar- 
riage. To Mr. and Mrs. Viertel have been born two sons : Jesse P., who 
is at home, his father's assistant in the work of the farm ; and Charles 
Henry, who died at the age of five years. 

Mr. Viertel is a democrat. He has served as school director in his 
district and takes a good citizens interest in public affairs of general inter- 
est. He is well and favorably known in Cooper County. 

Harry C. Morgan, proprietor of "Riverview Farm" in Boonville town- 
ship, is one of Cooper County's self-made men and most respected and 
valued citizens. Mr. Morgan was born in 1866 near Wellsburg, W. Va., 
son of William and Ellen (Reynolds) Morgan. 

William Morgan, father of the subject of this sketch, was killed in 
the Civil War. His widow and two-year-old son left Virginia and came 
to Missouri in 1868 and Mrs. Morgan located in Cooper County. She later 
married Jacob Reed and now resides near Otterville. Her children, be- 
sides Harry C. Morgan, are Leslie, Charles, and Emmet Reed, of Syra- 
cuse; Maggie, who married Commodore Fairfax and Belle, who married 
Frank Robinson, both of Seattle, Wash. 

Harry C. Morgan attended school in Cooper County. When still a 
lad, he was employed at hard labor for the small remuneration of $10 a 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 613 

month. Later, he was paid $14 and $15 a month. for his labor and he 
saved money. In 1910, Mr. Morgan purchased his present country place, 
a farm of 170 acres of excellent land, and has since then fenced and im- 
proved it. He raises hogs, calves and grain and during the years has 
prospered. The soil of this farm is of the best and most productive qual- 
ity. Last year, 1918, the wheat averaged 25 bushels an acre on 105 acres. 
"Riverview Farm" is appropriately named for one can obtain a wonder- 
ful view of the Missouri river and can with the eye locate many historic 
spots of the early days, among them the sites of Old Franklin and Fort 
Cole, for one can from the farm see for miles up and down the river. 

In 1889, Harry C. Morgan and Nellie Brown were united in marriage. 
Nellie (Brown) Morgan is a daughter of R. D. and Rebecca (Hurt) Brown. 
R. D. Brown was a native of England. He came to America, when he was 
a lad 13 years of age, and located in Wisconsin. From Wisconsin, Mr. 
Brown came to Missouri and located in Moniteau County, coming thence 
to Cooper County, where he purchased a farm in Boonville township and 
there he and his wife reared their family of five children, who are, as 
follow: Henry C, of Pilot Grove; Bettie J., the wife of William Mc- 
Cubbin, of Los Angeles, Cal. ; James H., of Pisgah ; Julia A., the wife of 
Allen Bates, of Otterville ; and Mrs. Harry C. Morgan, the wife of the sub- 
ject of this review. Mrs. Brown was a native of Cooper County and her 
parents were among the first settlers of the county. Her brother, Wil- 
liam Hurt, was the first white child born in Cooper County. He was born 
in Old Fort Cole. R. D. Brown died Feb. 20, 1905 and his wife followed 
him in death in April, 1915. The remains of both father and mother 
rest in the cemetery at Boonville. To Harry C. and Nellie Morgan have 
been born three children: Florence, the wife of Leonard Sampson, of 
Los Angeles, Cal.; Lizzie, who died March 12, 1899, at the age of five 
years ; and Grace S., a graduate of the Boonville High School, a member of 
the class of 1918, now a student in Gem City Business College at Quincy, 
111. 

More than a half century ago, Harry C. Morgan came to Cooper 
County and he was then a fatherless babe-in-arms. By his own persist- 
ent endeavors and honest industry, he has earned for himself an honored 
and respected place among the successful men of the county and for his 
family a name untarnished. 

James T. Hickam, one of the best-known farmers and stockmen of 
Cooper County, is a member of one of Missouri's most highly respected 
pioneer families. Mr. Hickam was bora Sept. 7, 1861, in Moniteau County, 



614 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

a son of Joseph Hickam and Susan (Teeter) Hickam, the former, a native 
of Washington county, Va., and the latter, of Boone County. 

Joseph Hickam was born in 1816, a son of William Hickam, a native 
of Washington County, Va. William Hickam was a son of Joseph Hickam, 
Sr., a native of Ireland, one of the early settlers of colonial days in Vir- 
ginia. In 1813, William Hickam, with his wife and children, left Virginia 
and located in Illinois, whence he came to Missouri in 1824 and located in 
Boone County. From Boone County, the family moved to Cole County, 
where the father died. 

When a child, eight years of age, Joseph Hickam came with his par- 
ents from Illinois to Missouri and with them located in Boone county. In 
young manhood, he served in the war with the Seminoles in 1836 and he 
was with Colonel Gentry when the colonel was killed. After the war had 
closed, Mr. Hickam returned to Boone County, where he was married in 
1838 to Susan Teeter. Joseph Hickam and wife were the parents of the 
following children: Samuel L., of Boonville; Shelby H., Lupus, Moni- 
teau County; James T., the subject of this sketch; and 14 children, who 
are now deceased. The Hickam family moved from Boone County to 
Moniteau County in 1851 and there remained until 1876, when they set- 
tled in Cooper County, where the father died Feb. 23, 1889 and the mother 
died two days later. Interment for both parents was made in the Hickam 
cemetery in Moniteau County. 

James T. Hickam attended the public schools of Moniteau and Cooper 
Counties. Practically his entire life, Mr. Hickam has been interested 
in farming and stockraising. He is now the owner of 100 acres of land 
in Saline township and 205 acres of land in Boonville township. He pur- 
chased his home place in 1901 from the Elliot heirs and has since rebuilt 
the residence. The Hickam farm is unusually well kept and the improve- 
ments reckoned among the best in the county. 

In 1884, James T. Hickam and Belle Powell were united in marriage. 
Mrs. Hickam is a native of Moniteau County, a daughter of Irvin and 
Bettie Powell. To James T. and Belle Hickam have been born eight chil- 
dren: Joseph W., of Boonville; James B. and Samuel H., twins, Cooper 
County ; Mrs. Virgie Elizabeth Groom, of Overton ; Speed S., of Clarks 
Fork township; Jessie B., Owen P. and Russell Roy, all at home. 

In connection with the history of Missouri in pioneer days, Mr. 
Hickam relates that his father did his first plowing in Moniteau County, 
using a blind horse and a cow for a team. For some time, the Hickam 
family lived in a crib, thatched with straw and several of the children first 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 615 

saw the light of day when this was the family's home. The record of this 
family in our country's wars is in itself a story of interest. Capt. Silas 
Hickam, an uncle of James T. Hickam, was killed in the war against the 
Indians in Florida. Two brothers of James T. Hickam, Squire W. and 
John, served with the Confederates in the Civil War for three years and 
six months and John was killed in the battle at Mine Creek. Squire W. 
Hickam was captured by the Union men in the same battle and was held 
prisoner until the close of the war. He was sentenced to be shot, but 
the father fortunately was able to secure the boy's release, from the prison 
at Jefferson City. Capt. John B. Hickam, a cousin of James T., was with 
Company I. 138th Division of the American Expeditionary Forces. Cap- 
tain Hickam enlisted as a private in 1917, served on the Western front in 
France and has returned to America. 

James T. Hickam is an earnest adhei-ent to the principles of the Demo- 
crat party. He is a man of marked individuality and strong personality 
and is well known in business circles as one possessing exceptionally good 
judgment. The Hickam family has for many years been numbered among 
the best in Cooper County. 

Sam T. Mauck, former county superintendent of schools and at pres- 
ent a successful real estate and loan dealer at Bunceton, Mo., is a native 
of northern Missouri. Mr. Mauck was born in Mercer County, Mo., Nov. 
27, 1887 and is a son of Edgar and Angeline (Fitzgerald) Mauck, who 
were natives of Indiana. Edgard Mauck settled in Missouri in 1884 but 
returned to Indiana and located at Princeton in 1900. 

Sam T. Mauck was educated in the public schools and the State 
Normal College at Kirksville. He graduated from this institution in 1909. 
Two years prior to this he had begun his teaching career. In 1908 and 
1909, he served as principal of the Boonville High School. The next three 
years were spent on his father's farm in Indiana. His next position was 
that of superintendent of the Bunceton, Mo., public schools during the 
years 1913, 1914 and 1915. His work was recognized as that of a school 
man of ability and he became well acquainted in Cooper County. Making 
the race for the county superintendence in the spring of 1915, he was 
elected to the office and served for four years. His administration of the 
public school system of Cooper County was a distinct success. 

Mindful of the fact that the teaching profession offers no permanent 
future for an ambitious man and that the monetary returns from the 
profession are meager, and the future status of a teacher is subject to 
the whims and caprices of a fickle multitude, Mr. Mauck pursued the 



616 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

wiser course and firmly established himself in the real estate and loan 
business at Bunceton. He was married in 1909 to Miss Fay E. Million, 
daughter of W. R. Million, proprietor of the Frederick Hotel, Boonville, 
Mo. Three children have blessed this union: William, Martha A. and 
Ona M. Mauck. 

Mr. Mauck is a democrat. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church 
and is affiliated with the Masons and the Knights of Pythias. 

John A. Brandes, owner of a well kept farm of 137 acres in North 
Moniteau township, is one of the wideawake and progressive farmers of 
that neighborhood. He was born on a farm in Clarks Fork township in 
1877, son of Charles and Margaret (Schmidt) Brandes, the latter of whom 
is living with the family of her son, Albert, on the old home farm in North 
Moniteau township. Charles Brandes, who died at his home there in 
1912, was a native of Germany, as is his widow, and was but a boy when 
he came to this country with his parents, the family coming into Missouri 
by way of Iowa, in which latter state they resided for a while, and 
settling in this county before the Civil War. Charles Brandes served for 
three years as a soldier of the Union, married some time after his return 
from the army and spent the rest of his life farming in this county. This 
veteran and his wife were the parents of nine children, of whom the sub- 
ject of this sketch was the sixth in order of birth. By a prior marriage 
his wife was the mother of two children. All her children are living and 
she has 40 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. 

-John A. Brandes has followed farming all his life and has met with a 
gratifying measure of success. He received his schooling in the district 
schools. Upon beginning operations on his own account he bought from 
his father 80 acres which formerly was known as the Swanger farm and 
as his affairs prospered he added to that until he now has 137 acres, well 
improved and under cultivation. He has built all the improvements on 
this place and has a well kept farm, including two stock barns, one 42x50 
feet and the other 43x32 feet, and other farm buildings. Mr. Brandes 
pays considerable attention to the raising of registered Galaway cattle and 
Poland China hogs and is doing well with his stock. He is a member of 
the board of directors of the Farmers Elevator at Bunceton and gives 
his thoughtful attention to general local business conditions. 

Nov. 16, 1899, John A. Brandes was married to Laura Hoerl, who 
was born in this county, and to this union three children have been 
born, Alvin M., Lawrence B. and Ilda. Mrs. Brandes is a daughter of 
Martin and Ida (Selck) Hoerl, the latter of whom died on June 17, 1897, 



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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY G17 

and is buried at Lone Elm. Martin Hoerl is still living in Clarks Fork 
township. To him and his wife were born five children, those besides 
Mrs. Laura Brandes being Mrs. Elizabeth Brandes, who lives in North 
Moniteau township ; Leonard Hoerl, of Clarks Fork township ; Mrs. Dora 
Timm, also of Clarks Fork township, and Elmer Hoerl, of Bunceton. Mr. 
and Mrs. Brandes are members of the Lutheran Church at Lone Elm and 
Mr. Brandes is a member of the board of directors of the parochial school 
at that place. He is also a memebr of the Board of Directors of the Clarks 
Fork Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company. 

Otto G. Schmidt, proprietor of "Locust Grove Farm," in Saline town- 
ship, is one of Cooper County's most valued citizens, a native son of 
Saline township. Mr. Schmidt was born Jan. 30, 1867, in the residence 
on the farm now owned by him, a son of Herman and Theresa (Spieler) 
Schmidt. 

Herman Schmidt was born in Germany, a son of Andreas Schmidt. 
Father and son came to America in 1833 and settled on the farm now 
owned by Otto G. Schmidt. They purchased 80 acres of land for $10 an 
acre. A log house, 16x20 feet, now used as a chicken house, was then 
the residence. Here, Andreas Schmidt died when he was about 80 years 
of age and interment was made in the family burial ground on the farm, 
where the remains of his wife were also laid to rest. Herman Schmidt 
resided on this farm for the remainder of his life and he was 16 years 
of age when his father settled here. Herman and Theresa (Spieler) 
Schmidt were the parents of the following children: Henry, who died 
at the age of 19 years ; Mrs. Ida Hobrecht, of California, Mo. ; Mrs. Emma 
Hasenbach, of Boonville; Herman, Jr., of Boonville; Bertha, who died at 
the age of 21 years ; and Otto G., the subject of this sketch. Both father 
and mother are now deceased and their remains rest in the family burial 
ground. Mrs. Schmidt died Dec. 29, 1906, at the age of 81 years. The 
Schmidt Cemetery contains about 75 interments, the remains of Cooper 
County pioneers. The first burial made there was that of Gustav Schmidt, 
11 years of age, who died in 1833. He was a brother of Herman Schmdit. 

Otto G. Schmidt attended school at Connor school-house in Saline 
township, at Woodland school-house, and six months at a German school 
in Boonville. Leaving school, Mr. Schmidt returned to the farm, where 
he now resides. "Locust Grove Farm" comprises 170 acres of land, 
located eight miles east of Boonville, and is considered one of the best 
farms in the county. It is conveniently located one and a half miles west 
of Overton. Mr. Schmidt is engaged in general farming and stock rais- 



618 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

ing. He raises cattle, sheep, and hogs. The farm is neatly kept and the 
residence, built by Mr. Schmidt's father in 1850, is a good, substantial 
house, in excellent repair. 

Oct. 25, 1891, Otto G. Schmidt and Fannie Kramer, a daughter of 
Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Kramer, were united in marriage in Saline township. 
Both parents of Mrs. Schmidt came from Germany to America and settled 
in Cooper County about 1835. They are now deceased and are buried in 
the Schmidt Cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Kramer were the parents of the 
following children: Henry B., of Overton; Herman, of Boonville; Jacob, 
who resides in the State of Washigton; Mrs. Otto G. Schmidt, the wife 
of the subject of this review; Mary, deceased. To Otto G. and Fannie 
Schmidt has been born one child, a son, Oscar G., who is 19 years of age 
and is at home with his parents. 

Mr. Schmidt is affiliated with the republican party. He is keenly 
interested in matters of public interest, but he has never sought or cared 
to seek political office. Fraternally, he is a member of the Woodmen of 
the World and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having been a 
member of the former for 25 years and of the latter for 16 years. Mr. 
and Mrs. Schmidt are members of the German Evangelical Church at 
Boonville. Otto G. Schmidt is now 52 years of age and he has never in 
his life smoked or been in a saloon. The Schmidt family is widely and 
favorably known in Cooper County, and Mr. Schmidt ranks highly among 
the intelligent, progressive men of his community. 

Z. R. Neal, proprietor of "Locust Hurst Farm," in Saline township, 
is a member of one of Missouri's first families, a native of Morgan County, 
a son of one of Cooper County's honored pioneer ministers. Mr. Neal 
was born Aug. 25, 1849, near Otterville. a son of Rev. Minor and Nancy 
(Amick) Neal, both deceased. 

Reverend Neal was a well-known minister of the Cumberland Pres- 
byterian Church and one of the early preachers of Moniteau and Cooper 
Counties. Reverend Minor and Nancy Neal were the parents of the fol- 
lowing children: George, James Q., and Thomas L., of Lebanon; Mrs. 
T. B. Young, of Sedalia; Mrs. May Hixon, of Pilot Grove; and Z. R., the 
subject of this review. 

Z. R. Neal attended the public school of Mount Zion. He has fol- 
lowed farming and stock raising practically all his life and since 1901 has 
resided on the farm where he now lives. "Locust Hurst Farm" comprises 
340 acres of some of the most valuable land in Cooper County. This 
country place is located 10 miles southeast of Boonville. The residence 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 619 

was built in 1901, a modern structure, equipped with acetylene lights. 
There are two good barns on the place, which is well arranged for the 
handling of stock and grain. 

In 1875, Z. R. Neal and Mary E. Fluke, a daughter of John Fluke, a 
sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume in connection with the 
biogi'aphy of G. F. Fluke, were united in marriage. Mrs. Neal was born 
on the farm where she now resides on March 4, 1853, and she attended 
the public schools of Highland district. To Z. R. and Mary E. Neal have 
been bom six children: John M., who died in infancy; William W., at 
home; Ollie H., who married Ella Givens, of Saline township, now an engi- 
neer, residing in Parsons, Kans. ; Troy W., who married Mary Allen, of 
Saline township, and they reside on the home farm ; Stella R., the wife of 
Rev. C. C. Cox, of Chicago, 111., a minister of the Presbyterian Church; 
and Dorsey M., who is a teacher at Highland school and one of the favor- 
ably known teachers of Cooper county. 

Mr. and Mrs. Neal have reared and educated as fine a family as can 
be found in the State and now they are spending the eventide of life in 
contentment on their farm, one of the pretty country places of Saline 
township. 

H. E. Schnuck, proprietor of "Walnut Range Stock Farm," in Saline 
township, one of the most beautiful country places in this section of the 
State, was born in Saline township, Nov. 25, 1866, on a farm located one- 
half mile east of Big Lick. Mr. Schnuck is a son of John and Catherine 
(Meyer) Schnuck, the former a native of Germany, and the latter, of 
Moniteau County. 

John Schnuck was born in 1830 and in the early fifties he immi- 
grated to America and settled in Missouri on a farm near Gooch's Mills. 
Mr. Schnuck died in 1880 and he was laid to rest in the cemetery at 
Pleasant Grove. His widow now makes her home with their son, John, 
in Boonville township. The children of John and Catherine Schnuck are: 
Mary, the wife of Samuel Oerly, of Saline township; Elizabeth, the wife 
of Henry Renken, of Clarks Fork township; Mrs. Catherine Smith, de- 
ceased; H. E., the subject of this sketch; Anna, the wife of Ed Twillman, 
of St. Louis County; and John H., of Boonville township. 

H. E. Schnuck attended the public schools of Cooper County and 
spent one year in attendance at Hooper Institute at Clarksburg, Mo. 
Leaving school, Mr. Schnuck was for nine years in the mercantile and 
milling business at Big Lick, or Gooch's Mills. In 1897, he moved to the 
farm where he now resides. "Walnut Range Farm'" is one of the splen- 



620 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

did stock farms of the county, a part of the original Kelly Ragland farm 
of nearly 2000 acres. Mr. Schnuck owns the old home place, a farm of 
300 acres of land, in addition to 110 acres of river bottom land. Kelly 
Ragland, one of the wealthiest men in Missouri in the days gone by, was 
at one time owner of 100 slaves. He was a Virginian. Mr. Ragland built 
the residence in which Mr. Schnuck now lives, a two-story structure, 
"T-shape," made from brick from a kiln on the farm. The style of archi- 
tecture is that of Colonial days. There are 10 rooms in the residence, all 
unusually large, and originally each contained a huge fireplace. A sec- 
ond brick residence, which was built for the Ragland slaves, is now used 
as a granary and storehouse. Kelly Ragland died shortly after the Civil 
War. His heirs sold the farm to Emanuel Oerly, who sold the place to 
H. E. Schnuck in 1897. "Walnut Range Stock Farm" is conveniently 
located 12 miles from Boonville and two miles from Overton. Mr. 
Schnuck is engaged in general farming and stockraising. He raises reg- 
istered Poland China hogs, Shorthorn cattle, and black-face sheep. A 
registered Shorthorn male leads the herd of cattle. Mr. Schnuck raises 
annually from 200 to 500 chickens, White Leghorns, Rhode Island Reds, 
all pure breds. The Schnuck place is well equipped in every particular 
to take care of large herds of stock and flocks of chickens. There are 
four barns, two tenant houses, a large granary on the home place and a 
good residence on the river bottom land. Mr. Schnuck is very proud of 
a splendid chicken house, 20x24 feet, exclusive of an extra shed called 
"The Fool Proof." The building has excellent ventilation and is vermin 
proof. Everything is done on a large scale at "Walnut Range Stock 
Farm," a country place to which the citizens of Cooper County point with 
pride. Mr. Schnuck has improved the appearance of the old homestead 
by the addition of concrete porches and cement walks. 

Nov. 25, 1897, H. E. Schnuck was united in marriage with Ida Vieth, 
a daughter of Benjamin and Elizabet (Selck) Vieth, both of whom are 
now residing on a farm in Kelly township, near Bunceton. Mrs. Schnuck 
is one of the following children born to her parents : Ida, the wife of the 
subject of this review ; Emma, at home ; Tillie, the wife of Charles Barta, 
of Kansas City, Mo.; Henry and Carrie, at home. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Schnuck have been born four children: Lorine, Arthur and Lloyd and 
Wilbur, the latter deceased. 

Mr. Schnuck is a republican. He is a valued member of the Pleas- 
ant Grove Lutheran Church. Honest, industrious, capable, Mr. Schnuck 
stands very high in his community, and he and Mrs. Schnuck are num- 
bered among Cooper County's most respected citizens. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY b21 

William J. Wooldridge, merchant, miller, lumberman, and an "all round 
hustler," was born in Cooper County, near the town of Wooldridge, Sept. 
11, 1870, a son of H. H. and Sallie (Eager) Wooldridge, the former, a 
native of Hardin County, Ky., and the latter of Cooper County, Mo. 

H. H. Wooldridge was a son of Jesse Wooldridge, a native of Vir- 
ginia. Jesse Wooldridge migrated from Virginia to Kentucky and thence 
to Missouri, where he settled in Cooper County in 1858, on land where the 
town of Wooldridge now is located. He purchased a section of land, 
improved his farm, and there died in the latter seventies. The remains 
of Jesse Wooldridge rest in the family burial ground. His son, H. H. 
Wooldridge, was a merchant, farmer, and stockman. He owned 400 acres 
of land, a part of which was the townsite of Wooldridge. The town was 
laid out in 1901, when the railroad came. H. H. Wooldridge was for 30 
years engaged in the mercantile business at Overton, Mo. He died on 
the last day of the year 1916, and his remains were interred in the family 
cemetery. His widow still survives him and is now residing on the old 
homeplace. The Wooldridge children are: W. J., the subject of this 
sketch ; Mrs. A. F. Nixon, of Wooldridge, and H. H., Jr. 

William J. Wooldridge obtained his education in the public schools 
of Cooper County and at Hooper Institute at Clarksburg. For ten years, 
Mr. Wooldridge was engaged in teaching in the Hooper Institute. Leav- 
ing the teaching profession, Mr. Wooldridge has since been engaged in 
the mercantile business, in farming and stockraising. After two years 
at Clarksburg, three years at Corticelli, and three years at Linn Creek, 
William J. Wooldridge located at his old home, Wooldridge, about 1897. 
He now conducts a lumber yard and grain elevator at Overton, and since 
1914 a feed and flour mill at Wooldridge, the last named having a capacity 
of 60 barrels a day. In 1914, he had drilled near the mill an artesian 
well, 197 feet in depth, the only one of the kind in this part of the state., 
Mr. Wooldridge is president of the Bank of Wooldridge. In addition to 
the manifold responsibilities of his mercantile and financial business, 
Mr. Wooldridge operates his farm of 1350 acres near the town of Wool- 
dridge, and at the time of this writing he and W. R. Freeman are feeding 
800 head of hogs and 141 head of cattle. Mr. Wooldridge has a hand- 
some, modern home in the town of Wooldridge. 

In 1890, William J. Wooldridge and Lily Hooper, a daughter of Pro- 
fessor J. N. and Georgia Hooper, were united in marriage. The Hoopers 
were from Clarksburg, Mo. Professor Hooper is deceased since 1892, and 
his remains are interred in the cemetery at Clarksburg. The widowed 
mother now makes her home with her son-in-law, W. J. Wooldridge. To 



622 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Mr. and Mrs. Wooldridge were born seven children: Flossie M., the wife 
of Lon Freeman, of Wooldridge; Hooper E., Willie Fay, Georgia Hazel, 
Jessie Lee, William J., Jr., and Harry. Mrs. Wooldridge was the oldest 
of three children born to her parents: W. E., of Wooldridge; Dorsey E., 
a dentist of Warsaw, and Mrs. W. J. Wooldridge, who died April 27, 1915, 
at the age of 44 years. 

The history of the Wooldridge family is inseparably linked with the 
history of Cooper County, and for more than 60 years the name has 
stood for all that is best in manhood and womanhood. No man stands 
higher in the respect of his fellowmen than does William J. Wooldridge. 
He is a democrat in politics. He is a member of the Baptist Church and 
is affiliated with the Woodmen of the World, Modern Brotherhood, 
Knights of Pythias and the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. 

Holman Lee, a well-known farmer and stockman of Boonville town- 
ship, is a member of a highly respected, colonial family, a son of one of 
Missouri's honored pioneers. Mr. Lee was born Sept. 18, 1879, in Howard 
County, Mo., son of John and Susan (Talbott) Lee, the latter, a native of 
Kentucky. 

John Lee was born March 5, 1816. in Richmond, Va., son of John 
Lee, Sr., and Susan (Owen) Lee, natives of Virginia. John Lee. Sr. was 
a son of Joel Lee, a soldier of the Revolution of 1776, who served under 
General Washington. The elder John Lee, with his wife and children, 
came from Virginia to Missouri in 1819 and this family was one of the 
first families of the state. John Lee, Jr. was one of the leading farmers 
and stockmen of Howard County, Mo., and he was also a prominent 
financier of Boonville, one of the organizers of the bank of Ahle, Lee & 
Duncia at Boonville, which bank was conducted until 1882, when Mr. Lee 
became head of the banking institution known as John Lee & Son, Bank- 
ers. In 1885, John Lee, Jr. sold his interest in this bank and assisted 
in the organization of the Commercial Bank, becoming a director, a posi- 
tion he held until his death in 1893. 

The father died at his home at Old Franklin on Dec. 18, 1893, at the 
advanced age of 77 years. Mr. Lee was widely known in this section of 
the state. His home and farm were at Old Franklin in Howard County, 
but his chief business interests are in Boonville. By a former marriage, 
John Lee, Jr., was the father of two children, who are now living: Mrs. 
Ida Swinney, wife of E. F. Swinney, a prosperous banker of Kansas City, 
Mo., and Samuel, of Kansas City. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 623 

Holman Lee, subject of this review, attended • Coopers Institute and 
the Culver Military Academy, Culver, Ind., completing his school work 
with a business course at Gem City Business College, Quincy, 111. After 
completing the course, Mr. Lee began farming and stockraising in Howard 
County, Mo., where he resided until 1909, when he came to Cooper County 
and located on his present farm of 245 acres of well improved land. He 
has made unusual success in sheepraising. Mr. Lee has a herd of 600 
black-faced Shropshires, 100 head of feeding cattle, 15 head of horses 
and mules, and 100 head of Poland China hogs. 

Nov. 4, 1903, Holman Lee and Elizabeth Blackburn, adopted daughter 
of Carroll and Mary T. Logsdon, were united in marriage. Carroll Logs- 
don, grandfather and foster-father of Mrs. Lee, was one of the earliest 
settlers and largest landowners in Saline County, Mo. Mrs. Lee is a 
graduate of William Woods College, Fulton, Mo., a member of the class of 
1903 and is successfully engaged in raising poultry, keeping the best 
Barred Plymouth Rocks, for which she finds a ready market. Mr. and 
Mrs. Holman Lee are the parents of three children: Carroll, Suzanne, 
and Holman, Jr. The Lee family has long been highly valued in the com- 
munity and respected throughout the county. 

Sid A. Lusk, farmer and stockman, Bunceton, Mo., although one of 
the younger generation of stockmen in Cooper County, is one of the most 
successful. Mr. Lusk sold a farm of 321 acres west of Bunceton, on Feb. 
1, 1918. He has purchased one of the finest homes in Bunceton and has 
bought another farm of 240 acres about one-half mile southwest of Bunce- 
ton in Kelly township. Sid A. Lusk was born on the Lusk homestead, 
March 10, 1888. 

William M. Lusk, his father, was born in Polk County, near Brighton, 
Mo., in 1850, and died in April, 1912. He was a son of James B. Lusk, a 
native of Tennessee and a Missouri pioneer. James B. Lusk lived in Polk 
County until 1861 when he came to Cooper County, and bought a farm 
near Harrison Station. His children were: Mediothe, John, Hugh, Wiley, 
Lafayette, Benjamin and William M., and Hamilton. William M. Lusk 
was reared in Cooper County and married Mattie Collins who was bom in 
1858 and died in June, 1896. To William M. and Mattie Lusk were born 
seven children: James lives in Kansas; Tucker lives in St. Paul, Minn.; 
Mrs. Willie Cook lives in Sedalia, Mo. ; Benjamin resides in Kansas City, 
Mo. ; Sid A., of this review ; Mrs. Abbie Davidson, lives in Sedalia, Mo. ; 
Harry died in infancy; William M. Lusk resided on a farm in Lebanon 
township until he settled on what is known as the Lusk homestead in 



624 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

1880. After his father's death, his son, Sid A. Luck, came into possession 
of the homestead through inheritance and purchase. 

Sid A. Lusk was married in June, 1913, to Miss Arlotta Windsor, born 
in Cooper County, a daughter of Edward Windsor, who was born in 1862, 
and is a resident of the Pleasant Green neighborhood. Her mother is 
Ruth (Davis) Windsor, who was born in Cooper County in 1875. The 
Windsors have four children: Mrs. Arlotta Lusk, of this review; Mrs. 
Speed Boulware of near Bunceton ; Grosvenor and Edward. 

Three children have been bora to Sid A. and Arlotta Lusk, as follows: 
Bill, born March 21, 1914 ; Helen Wiley, bora June 27, 1916 ; and Martha 
Ruth, born Feb. 15, 1918. 

Mr. Lusk is a democrat. He is an Episcopalian and a member of 
the Elks at Sedalia. 

Charles Timothy Grathwohl.— "Twin Springs Stock Farm", of 235 
acres situated just south of the valley of the Petit Saline River, five and 
a half miles south of Boonville, is a fertile well developed and substan- 
tially improved farm. This farm is owned and operated by Charles T. 
Grathwohl, one of the most successful farmers of Cooper County, and is 
devoted to wheat growing and stock raising. A handsome farm residence 
reached by a driveway, stands on the hill overlooking the beautiful river 
valley. This home was built in 1914. A large barn built of stone quar- 
ried on the place and from oak timber cut and sawed from the woods on 
the Grathwohl farm was erected in 1916. A silo of 150 tons capacity is 
built of re-inforced concrete. Mr. Grathwohl feeds a carload of pure bred 
Shorthorn cattle yearly for the markets, keeping the best breeds of cattle 
because it pays to handle only pure bred stock. He keeps Poland China 
and Berkshire hogs on the place. 

Charles T. Grathwohl was bora Sept. 3, 1860 in Boonville, and is a 
son of Timothy and Barbara (Hoflander) Grathwohl. The sons of Tim- 
othy and Barbara Grathwohl all farmed together for a number of years 
on the Grathwohl home place. Charles and Conrad Ansul Grathwohl and 
Thomas purchased the present place now owned by the subject of this re- 
view in 1887. Upon the death of Mrs. and Conrad A. Grathwohl, Charles 
T. came into possession of the home place in 1914, placing the present fine 
improvements thereon. Residing with Mr. Grathwohl are his sisters, 
Miss Magdalena Grathwohl and Miss Minnie Becker. Mrs. Grathwohl 
died Dec. 29, 1913. Conrad Ansul Grathwohl died Feb. 18, 1914. 

Mr. Grathwohl is an independent republican and is a member of 
Evangelical Church of Billingsville, Mo. 




CHARGES T. GRATHWOHL 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY b25 

Mr. Grathvvohl has a herd leader of Shorthorns from the Ben Smith 
herd which cost him $150 when a yearling and which traces to the famous 
Ravenswood herd. The Grathwohl herd numbers 20 pure bred cows and 
a noted herd leader. He has three purebred Berkshire sows and one pure- 
bred male from the Harris drove. His drove of Poland China hogs is 
headed by a registered male from the Wallace herd. 

James A. Clayton, vice-president of the Bank of Wooldridge, is a 
native of Saline township, Cooper County. Mr. Clayton is one of the 
county's leading business men and in the financial and business circles of 
this section of the State he commands the respect of all with whom he 
comes in contact. He was born Jan. 22, 1854, a son of John M. and 
Elizabeth (Lamm) Clayton. 

John M. Clayton was a native of Maryland. He came to Missouri 
with his father, John Clayton, when he, the son, was a child, six years 
of age. The senior Clayton settled on a farm in Prairie Home township, 
and there John M. was reared and educated. John Clayton was of English 
descent. He died at the home of his son, John M., in Saline township, 
and his remains are interred in the cemetery at Goochs Mill. John M. 
Clayton owned a farm located one and a half miles west of Wooldridge 
and was engaged in general farming. He died in Arkansas, whither he 
had gone with his son, J. L. Clayton, and is buried there. 

Elizabeth (Lamm) Clayton, mother of James A. Clayton, was born 
in Cooper County, a daughter of William and Caroline Lamm, of Saline 
township. Mrs. Clayton is deceased and her remains rest in the ceme- 
tery at Gooch's Mill. Two nephews, George and James Lamm, still own 
the old homeplace of the Lamm family in Saline township. 

James A. Clayton is one of five children born to his parents, John M. 
and Elizabeth Clayton, as follows: William E., of South Fork, Howell 
County ; Mrs. Martha Ford, who resides in Colorado ; Charles, who died at 
the age of six years ; James A., the subject of this review ; and John L., of 
Dayton, Wash. 

In the district school at Lowland schoolhouse in Cooper County, 
James A. Clayton received his education. Until 1907, he was engaged 
in farming, when he entered the mercantile business as clerk in the store 
of Potter & Hopkins, and for two years was employed in clerking. Mr. 
Clayton returned to the farm after his experience in the store and re- 
mained there until 1914, when he was elected vice-president of the Bank 
of Wooldridge, a position he has since filled most capably. 

In 1882, James A. Clayton was united in marriage with Laberta 



626 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Givens, a daughter of James and Cynthia Givens, of Saline township. 
Mrs. Clayton died in 1883. In 1910. Mr. Clayton and Mrs. Alice (Shep- 
herd) Pate, a daughter of Levi and Johanna (Compbell) Shepherd, were 
married. Mrs. Claytons mother was a daughter of Bradley Campbell, 
an honored pioneer of Saline township, a native of Tennessee. Bradley 
Campbell and his wife are buried in the family burial ground on the old 
homeplace in Saline township. Mrs. Shepherd died at the age of 82 years, 
and Levi Shepherd died at the age of 84 years. Both parents of Mrs. 
Clayton were laid to rest in the cemetery at Gooch's Mill. Mr. and Mrs. 
Clayton have a comfortable home in Wooldridge. 

Mr. Clayton is a stanch democrat. He is affiliated with the Wood- 
men of the World and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He and 
Mrs. Clayton are widely known and respected in Cooper County, worthy 
representatives of two of Missouri's best pioneer families. 

Farris B. Hopkins, bookkeeper of the Bank of Woolridge, is a native 
of Saline township. Mr. Hopkins was born in 1887, son of Hallah H. and 
Lydia (Farris) Hopkins, both of whom are natives of Saline township. 

H. H. Hopkins is a son of Hirma B. and Rebecca (Burcham) Hopkins, 
the former, a native of England. Hiram B. Hopkins immigrated to 
America and located in the State of Mississippi, whence he moved to Ken- 
tucky, thence to Texas, and, about 1856, settled on a vast tract of land, 
comprising almost 1,000 acres, in Cooper County, Mo. A portion of this 
tract of land was sold to Jesse Wooldridge, that part upon which the 
town of Woolridge was laid out in 1901. Truman B. Hopkins, a son of 
Hiram B., now resides at the old homestead. Hiram B. Hopkins died on 
his farm, Nov. 18, 1899, and he was buried in Wooldridge Cemetery, a 
family burial ground, maintained by the Hayes, Wooldridge and Hopkins 
families. John B. Truman was the first to be interred there. Rebecca 
(Bucham) Hopkins died at the old homeplace and her remains rest beside 
those of her husband in Wooldridge Cemetery. This is one of the most 
neatly kept of the private burial grounds in the county. The old home- 
place of the Hopkins family contains five Indian mounds and arrowheads 
and various articles, which must have once belonged to the savages of 
the forest, have frequently been found there. Hallah H. Hopkins is 
residing on his farm in Saline township, where practically his entire life 
has thus far been spent, engaged in the pursuits of agriculture. To 
Hallah and Lydia Hopkins have been born two children : Farris B., the 
subject of this sketch and Vergna, a popular teacher of Boonville, Mo. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 627 

Farris B. Hopkins has, for the past three years been clerk of the 
school-board of Wooldridge, for the past eight' years clerk of the town, 
and he is superintendent of the Sunday School of the Wooldridge Baptist 
Church, and since the organization of the church in 1907 he has been 
the treasurer. Mr. Hopkins has been connected with the Bank of Wool- 
dridge since 1903 as the bookkeeper of the institution. 

Mr. Hopkins attended Hills Business College at Sedalia in 1904. He 
was for one year with the Missouri State Guards, in Company E. He is 
a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in politics is a 
democrat. In the business and the social circles of Cooper County, Mr. 
Hopkins has maintained an unusually good name. He is one of Cooper 
County's own boys, who have "made good," and of whom all are proud. 

Judge Boz L. Moore, a prominent citizen of Boonville, ex-judge of 
the County Court of Cooper County, is a native of Palestine township. 
Mr. Moore was born Sept. 12, 1869, a son of Lafayette M. and Matilda 
(Morton) Moore, who were the parents of the following children: Lee, 
who died at the age of two years; Allen B., who died at the age of 21 
years; Boz L., the subject of this review; Harvey B., who resides on the 
Moore homeplace; Gipson S., a teacher at Cape Girardeau; Erastus B., 
who is engaged in farming in Clarks Fork township; and Edith Grace, 
the wife of Edgar Rudolph, of Clarks Fork township. Mr. Rudolph is 
the present assessor of Cooper County, 1919. 

Lafayette M. Moore was born in Cooper County in 1839. He received 
as good education as the early schools of the county afforded, and early 
in life began farming and stockraising. He owned a farm of 120 acres 
of land in Palestine township and at his country place he lived from 1864 
or 1865 until the time of his death in 1902. His remains l'est in Moore 
Cemetery. Matilda (Morton) Moore was born in Tennessee in 1840, a 
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Isaiah Morton. Her mother died in 1840 or 
1841 and the father with his infant daughter came from Tennessee to 
Missouri in 1843. The father died in 1898 at his home in Palestine town- 
ship, and he is buried in the family burial ground on the homeplace. 
Mrs. Moore still resides at the Moore homestead, in the home to which 
she and Mr. Moore came in 1865. She is now 79 years of age and lias 
retained to a remarkable degree her physical and mental vigor. 

Major William Moore, great-grandfather of Judge Boz L. Moore, 
entered land from the Government in Palestine township, a part of the 
tract now a portion of the Moore homeplace, about 1817. He came to 
Missouri from Burke County, N. C. Major Moore was an army officer 



628 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

in the War of 1812. He was the father of Dr. William H. Moore, a 
pioneer teacher and physician. Dr. Moore taught his first school out in 
the forest, and it was a subscription school. He made the pens used in 
the school, made pens from goose quills. He was probably the first 
teacher in Cooper County. Dr. Moore was also the country practitioner. 
He rode a pony when answering calls from the countryside. He was a 
cripple and unable to walk, and when not on his pony he went about in a 
chair which he operated with his hands. Dr. Moore died in 1866 and is 
buried in Moore Cemetery. 

Judge Boz L. Moore attended the public schools of Cooper County. 
Until 1917, Judge Moore was engaged in farming and stockraising. In 
1910, Judge Moore was elected julge of the County Court, and in 1912 
he was re-elected, serving four years. Judge Moore was active in pro- 
moting road work while a member of the County Court, and more good 
work, more bridges, more public building resulted during the four years 
he was serving as a member of the court than during any other four 
years in the history of the county. A new courhouse was erected at a 
cost of $115,000, and a new county home at a cost of $40,000. 

In 1914, Judge Boz L. Moore was united in marriage with Abbie 
Boggs, a daughter of Harry and Beulah (Ashley) Boggs, of Fayette, 
Howard County. Mrs. Boggs is deceased and Harry Boggs now resides 
at Higginsville. Judge and Mrs. Moore reside at Shamrock Heights. 

Judge Moore is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons 
at Bunceton. He and Mrs. Moore are well known in Cooper County and 
in Boonville, where they are best known, they number their friends by 
the score. 

S. Hamilton Fairchild. — The Fairchild family has been resident in 
Cooper County for the past 50 years and are native to North Carolina. 

Joel Fairchild, father of S. Hamilton Fairchild, of this review, was 
a soldier in the Confederate Army who sought a new home in Missouri 
four years after the close of the war. He located on the John Lilly farm, 
on the Boonville and Bell Air highway. Later he spent 10 years in Wy- 
oming for the benefit of his health. Returning to Missouri, he went from 
here to Oklahoma, and after a residence of six months in the new state, 
he died in 1911. His wife was Frances Phillips prior to her marriage, 
and she bore him three sons and four daughters, as follows: George 
died in Oklahoma ; Mrs. Mary Sideler, Thayer, Mo. ; S. Hamilton, of this 
review; Mrs. Ellen Parrish, Oklahoma; Mrs. Catherine Ward died in 
Arkansas; John, somewhere in the West. The mother died in 1874 and 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 629 

by a second marriage of Joel Fairchild there was one child, Mrs. Ray- 
Davis, Hot Springs, Ark. 

The 50 years of the life of S. H. Fairchild have been spent in Cooper 
County to good purpose. He is owner of a fine farm of 154.72 acres in 
Palestine township, purchased in 1895, and upon which he has resided 
since the spring of 1896. This farm is well improved and is highly 
productive. 

Mr. Fairchild was married in 1893 to Miss Elizabeth Dumolt, born 
1871, near Billingsville, Mo., a daughter of John Dumolt, pioneer settler 
of Cooper County. Four sons and a daughter have blessed this union: 
William Ward, Charleston, S. C. ; John Edden, Elmer Eugene, Philip Har- 
vey, and Alma Elizabeth. Two children of the family are deceased, 
namely: Emil Allen, died at the age of 12 years; and George died in 
infancy. 

William Ward Fairchild, the soldier of the family, was bora in 1895 
and enlisted in the United States Navy, Nov. 20, 1917. He was trained 
at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station and assigned to duty at 
Charleston, S. C, in Jan., 1918. 

Mr. Fairchild is a republican. He is a member of the Evangelical 
Lutheran Church of Billingsville, and the Woodmen of the World. 

The Boonville Mercantile Company, located at the corner of Main 
and Chestnut Streets in Boonville, was organized as a corporation in 
1906. The present officers are: W. M. Rowe, President R. P. Burge, 
vice-president ; W. W. Kingsbury, secretary. Other stockholders are : 
John A. Fischer, F. S. Sauter, J. L. Sauter, and Walter Reed. R. P. Burge 
was associated in the mercantile business for many years with H. T. 
Hudson, prior to the organization of the Boonville Mercantile Company. 

The building occupied by the Boonville Mercantile Company fronts 
on Main or Fifth Street in Boonville. It is 50x122 feet in dimensions. 
To this building, the company moved in 1907 and the building has since 
been remodeled and up-to-date furnishings and fixtures installed in 1914. 
The ceiling is of steel, plate glass is across the entire front, and the 
Warren fixtures, the very latest and best, are used. 

The Boonville Mercantile Company carries a complete and excep- 
tionally good line of hardware, including stoves, harness, plumbing and 
heating apparatus, pumps and windmills. The company enjoys a flat- 
tering patronage and the business is annually increasing. The quality 
of the goods handled is the best and the company has an established repu- 
tation for fair and honorable business dealings. 



630 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Edward Stegner, one of the leading business men of Cooper County, 
a well-known merchant of Boonville, was bora March 13, 1865, in Boon- 
ville, one of twins born to John Adam and Margaretta (Hoffbacher) 
Stegner, natives of Germany. 

John Adam Stegner came to America in 1854 and settled in Boon- 
ville. After arriving at Boonville, Mr. Stegner had but 75 cents left in 
his purse, and with this money he purchased an ax and secured a job 
cutting cord-wood. He also cut wheat with a sickle for 50 cents a day. 
In 1856, Mr. Stegner opened a cooper shop. He was by trade a cooper 
and he conducted this shop until in the nineties. In 1881, he erected the 
store building at 601 Main Street in Boonville, now the store occupied by 
his son, Edward, and opened a hardware and woodenware establishment 
and within a few months afterward added to his stock, groceries. He 
admitted his sons to partnership with him and the firm became known 
as J. A. Stegner & Sons. After Mr. Stegner's death, his wife continued 
to manage the business. John Adam Stegner died June 25, 1890, and 
nine years later Mrs. Margaretta Stegner died, Jan. 2, 1899. The remains 
of both parents were interred in Walnut Grove Cemetery. 

Edward Stegner is one of eight children born to his parents, as fol- 
low: Sophia, of Kansas City, Mo.; Frank, of Boonville; Theodore, of Kan- 
sas City, Mo. ; William E., of Fayette, Mo. ; Edward and Emil, twins, the 
former, the subject of this review, and the latter, who died in 1906; 
Matilda, of Boonville; and Margaret, the wife of Adam Walters. 

Edward Stegner received his education in the public schools of Boon- 
ville, and practically his entire life has been devoted to the mercantile 
business, thus far, in Boonville. Mr. Stegner has been bravely bearing 
the affliction of blindness since November, 1917, and is still actively en- 
gaged in business. A niece, Ida L. Stegner, assists Mr. Stegner with the 
work in the store, and he usually employs from four to five other assist- 
ants. 

Sept. 6, 1899, Edward Stegner and Bertha Jegglin, a native of Boon- 
ville and a daughter of J. M. and Anna Jegglin, were united in marriage. 
J. M. Jegglin was in the pottery business in Boonville for many years. 
He was a manufacturer and retail merchant. He was very successful in 
business, and owned, besides his shop, three farms. Mr. and Mrs. Jegg- 
lin are now deceased, and their remains rest in Walnut Grove Cemetery. 
The children of J. M. and Anna Jegglin are as follow: Herman; Gus ; 
Albert ; Anna, the wife of Francis Smith, of Boonville ; Bruno, deceased ; 
Bettie ; Robert ; John ; Clara, the wife of A. J. Perry, of Sedalia ; Ray- 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 631 

mond ; and Mrs. Edward Stegner. Mr. and Mrs.' Stegner are the parents 
of the following children: Margaret, of Sedalia; Edward, of Boonville; 
Roland K., Helen B., and John A. Mr. and Mrs. Stegner reside in Boon- 
ville at 512 East Sixth Street. 

Mr. Stegner is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 
the Redmen, and the Woodmen of the World. He is a democrat and he 
was candidate for public administrator, but was defeated by a "land- 
slide," the coming of which was unforeseen. 

In connection with stories of pioneer days, Mr. Stegner relates that 
his mother dried three barrels of apples in the days before the Civil War. 
She traded the three barrels for a set of knives and forks and the actual 
value of the set today is 75 cents. 

In Cooper County, no man stands higher in the respect of his fellow- 
men than Edward Stegner. He is an intelligent, useful citizen, one of 
Boonville's best business men. 

Christian Brandes. — The late Christian Brandes of Clarks Fork town- 
ship was a citizen of worth and integrity in Cooper County. He was indus- 
trious, law-abiding, honest to the core of his being and was a man of 
diligence and enterprise. Looking far into the future he provided well 
for his family and built up a valuable farm, so that his family could live 
in peace and plenty after his departure from this earthly realm. 

Christian Brandes was born in Germany, June 1, 1840. He died in 
Cooper County, Nov. 9, 1902. He was a son of Christian and Sophia 
Brandes. He was a native of Hanover, Germany, and when 13 years old 
he came to America with his brother, Henry Brandes. He became a 
musician and when 16 years of age he joined a band which was attached 
to a circus. This circus make a tour of the Antipodes, traveling over 
Australia, and New Zealand for five years. While in New Zealand, he 
was married to Sara Willshire, who was born at Greymouth, New Zea- 
land, Feb. 28, 1847, and is a daughter of John Willshire, a native of Eng- 
land. In 1870 or 1871, Mr. and Mrs. Brandes left New Zealand and came 
to America, settling at Lone Elm on the Brandes home place, which Mr. 
Brandes built up and improved and which consists of 200 acres of rich 
prairie land. 

In September of 1866, Christian Brandes and Sara Willshire were 
married. The children born to this marriage are: Ellen Augusta, born 
June 11, 1867, is the wife of Chris Smith, Bunceton, Mo.; Sophia Wil- 
helmina, born Aug. 20, 1870, wife of John Hall; Edwin Nicholas, born 
Dec. 27, 1871, Kansas City, Mo.; Johanna Margaret, born April 23, 1873, 



632 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

wife of Willis Schmalfeldt ; Florence Frederick, born Jan. 17, 1875, de- 
ceased; Emily Louisa Wilhelmina Mansegar, born Sept. 30, 1877, lives 
in Iowa; Mrs. Esther Carlotta Eophia Smith, born Jan. 31, 1879; Henry- 
Frederick, born Feb. 15, 1880 ; Louisa Mary, born June 15, 1883, deceased ; 
Walter Hermann, born Oct. 10, 1886, a farmer, Lone Elm; Speer; Julius 
Frederick, born Aug. 31, 1889, on the home place; Mattie Margaret Caro- 
lina, bora Jan. 15, 1891, died Nov. 17, 1892. 

Mr. Brandes was a republican and member of the Evangelical Lu- 
theran Church. 

Edward Melkersman, a prosperous and progressive farmer and stock- 
man of Clarks Fork township, is a native of Missouri. Mr. Melkersman 
was born Feb. 19, 1855, a son of Robert R. and Louisa (Portzig) Melkers- 
man. He was born at St. Charles, Mo., whence his parents moved in 1872 
to Cooper County and located on an 80 acre farm three miles south of 
Boonville, where the father died in 1879. His remains are interred in the 
cemetery at Boonville. The widowed mother now makes her home with 
her daughter, Mrs. Frank Kirschner, at Otterville, Mo. Mrs. Melkers- 
man is now, in 1919, at the advanced age of 86 years. Robert R. and 
Louisa Melkersman were the parents of the following children: Mrs. 
Sophia Achepohl, who died in Oregon; Edward, the subject of this review; 
Mrs. Lucy Wells, of the state of Washington; Mrs. Ottilia Kirschner, of 
Otterville, Mo., with whom the mother resides ; Fred, who resides in 
Idaho; Mrs. Emma Landen, of the state of Washington; Mrs. Helen 
Nathan, deceased ; and Mrs. Nora Comstock, of Freeman, Wash. 

In the public schools of St. Charles, Mo., Edward Melkersman re- 
ceived his education. He has followed farming and stockraising prac- 
tically his entire life and he has been a resident of Cooper County since 
1872. He purchased his first farm 30 years ago and he later sold it and 
bought the country place he now owns, a farm comprising 330 acres of 
valuable land in Clarks Fork township, six miles from Boonville. Mr. 
Melkersman has, since acquiring the ownership of the place, added three 
barns. Petite Saline creek crosses the farm on the north and there are 
two exceptionally fine springs on the land, which is admirably adapted 
for stockraising. Large herds of hogs, cattle and sheep are raised on 
the Melkersman place, which is managed by Mr. Melkersman's son, 
Edward L. 

April 2, 1893, Edward Melkersman and Annie Margaret Kirschner, 
a daughter of John Nicholas and Eva (Hess) Kirschner, noble pioneers of 
Boonville township, were united in marriage. The Kirschners settled in 
Cooper County, in 1853, and reared and educated their five children in 



a 

•Si 



X 

H 




HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 633 

'Boonville township. The father died in 1863 and he was buried in the 
cemetery at Boonville. The mother died in March, 1905, and she was 
buried in Walnut Grove cemetery. John Nicholas and Eva Kirschner 
were the parents of the following children: John E., a farmer, Boon- 
ville; Mrs. Mary Lowe, of Otterville; Frank, of Otterville; Mrs. Henry 
Roesler, of Otterville ; and Mrs. Edward Melkersman, the wife of the sub- 
ject of this sketch. To Edward and Annie M. Melkersman have been 
bom two children: Edward Leroy, who manages the home farm; and 
Evaline Louise, a student at Cottey College, Nevada, Mo. ; Edward Leroy 
Melkersman married Bertha Bechtold, of Boonville, and to them has been 
born two children: Charles Edward, who was born March 2, 1917; and 
one son, Harry Leroy, born Feb. 13, 1918, and died Feb. 14, 1919. 

Edward Melkersman is one of the representatives of the first families 
of Missouri. He is a gentleman of the old school, an upright, honorable 
citizen. Mr. and Mrs. Melkersman moved to Boonville in Nov., 1915, and 
they have a very pleasant home on South Third street on a 22 acre tract. 

Mr. Melkersman is a republican and he and his family are members 
of the Boonville Evangelical Church. 

Abe Lincoln Hews, the well-known proprietor of "Uncle Abe's Billiard 
Room" in Boonville, is a native of Illinois. Mr. Hews was born at Canton, 
111., Jan. 19, 1861, a son of Abe and Permelia (Saunders) Hews, who were 
the parents of the following children: John, deceased; Abe Lincoln, the 
subject of this sketch ; Gardner E., died at Joplin ; Benjamin H., deceased ; 
and Mrs. Laura Chipp, deceased. 

The Saunders family was founded in America by Tobias Saunders, 
who was one of King's Life Guards. He and two brothers came to Amer- 
ica. He married Mary Clark. The descendents of this marriage: 

I. Stephen Saunder. II. His son. III. Tobias. IV. Luke. The 
geneology of the Saunders family has been written beginning with the 
eleventh century. 

Mary Clark was a daughter of Corow Clark, and a niece of Dr. John 
Clark, of Newport, who was a friend of Sir Roger Williams. 

Abe Hews, father of Abe Lincoln Hews, was born in New York City 
in 1818, a son of James McHew. James McHew was born in County 
Tyrone, Ireland. For political offenses, he was driven out of Ireland, and 
he immigrated to America. He was still a young man, and that was prior 
to 1800. After coming to the new country, James McHew changed his 
name from McHew to Hews, which name the family has continued to 
adopt. Abe Hews was a veteran of the Civil War. He served in the 
Union army for four years and was wounded once in battle. He died 



634 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

about 1890 in Indian Territory of "Choctaw fever." Permelia (Saunders)^ 
Hews was born in Ohio in 1828, a daughter of Hiram Saunders. Mr. 
Saunders walked from Ohio to Illinois and in the latter state remained for 
seven years while preparing a home for his family, and when the home 
was ready he returned to Ohio for them. Mr. Saunders purchased land in 
Henry County, 111., in those early days for $1.75 an acre. He later sold 
this farm and the family moved to Fulton County, 111., where he lived in 
quiet retirement with his children until his death. Abe Hews was an 
early-day freighter from Boonville to Chicago. 

Abe Lincoln Hews received his early education in log schoolhouse 
near Canton, 111. Later, he attended the city schools of Canton and sup- 
plemented his school work with a course in a mining school in Springfield, 
111. In the first part of his career, Mr. Hews followed mine inspecting as 
his vocation, but, upon being "blacklisted" on account of a strike, he be- 
came a metal polisher, buffer, and finisher. He was for 12 years engaged 
in farming in Illinois, Nebraska, and Missouri. Oct. 10, 1911, he came to 
Boonville, and purchased the Swasky Amusement Company's establish- 
ment at the present location, which establishment is now known as the 
Boonville Amusement Company, at 227 Fifth Street. Mr. Hews conducts 
a first-class billiard room, and his place is one of the most popular "smoke- 
houses" for young men in the county. 

In 1882, Abe Lincoln Hews and Nellie Carter were united in marriage 
at Lewistown, 111. Mrs. Hews is a daughter of Andrew and Sienda Carter, 
both now deceased. The Carter children, who are living, are: Mrs. Jennie 
Barlow, of Red Cloud, Neb.; Mrs. Lizzie Kyle, of Trivola, 111.; and Mrs. 
Abe L. Hews, the wife of the subject of this review. By a second mar- 
riage, Andrew Carter was the father of the following children: A. J., who 
is employed as division superintendent by the Burlington Railway Com- 
pany, and is located at Aurora, 111.; Mrs. Fannie Williams, of Canton, 111.; 
James, William, and Frank, of Canton, 111.; and Mrs. Gertrude Lent, of 
Canton, 111. To Mr. and Mrs. Hews have been born two children: Thomas, 
who married Hattie Malincott, and they reside in Boonville, where he is 
in business with his father; and Wylia, the wife of Lt. C. J. Wilgaus, who 
recently received his honorable discharge from the Quartermaster Corps 
of the United States army, and is again following his profession as veter- 
inary surgeon. Mr. and Mrs. Hews have two granddaughters: Nadine 
Wilgaus and Aileen Hews. 

Since 1883, Abe Lincoln Hews has been a member of the Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows, and in 1913 he became a member of the Knights of 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 635 

Pythias. In a small collection of curios, which Mr. Hews has in his pos- 
session, is a bullet used in the battle of Boonville during the Civil War; a 
gun cartridge, which was used in the Spanish-American war; and cart- 
ridges used in the World War. As a testimonial of the high regard in 
which "Uncle Abe" Hews is held by the young men of Boonville and of 
their affection for him he has a collection of letters, postcards, and souve- 
nirs of various kinds in the showcase of his billiard room. The boys of 
Boonville, who entered the service in the World War, have remembered 
"Uncle Abe," no matter in what part of the world they have been stationed, 
and to show his appreciation of their thoughtfulness he has answered 
every letter and card he received from the boys at the front. 

Louis L. Chilton and Joseph W. Chilton, of Chilton & Company, jew- 
elers, at 308 Main Street, in Boonville, have been partners in the jewelry 
business in this city since 1888, when they opened a jewelry store, carry- 
ing a small stock, on Morgan Street. The storeroom of Chilton & Com- 
pany is 22x80 feet, and is equipped with one of the best jewelry stocks in 
this section of the State. In addition to jewelry, the firm carries an excel- 
lent line of the finest quality of chinaware. 

Joseph W. Chilton, Sr., father of the Chilton brothers, was a native of 
Fauquier County Va. He came from Virginia to Missouri prior to the 
Civil War and located at New Franklin, where he entered the mercantile 
business, in which he was engaged for more than 40 years. He died in 
1895 at Boonville. His wife, Bettie (Wyatt) Chilton, was also a native of 
Virginia. She died in 1886, and the remains of both mother and father 
are interred in Mount Pleasant Cemetery. The children of Joseph W., Sr., 
and Bettie Chilton are : E. W., president of the Commercial Bank of Boon- 
ville; H. B.. a traveling salesman for a dry goods firm of Chicago, 111.; 
Louis L. and Joseph W., the subjects of this sketch ; W. C, a jeweler of 
La Junta, Col.; and four children who died in infancy. 

The Chilton family trace the origin of the family in America to Mary 
Chilton, who came with the Pilgrims in the "Mayflower" in 1620, and was 
the first to set foot on American soil, of all the little band. Governor 
Bradford's "Journal," the only authentic account of the landing of the 
Pilgrims in 1620, states in regard to the Chiltons: 

"Weakened by privations of their well-nigh desperate voyage and 
exposure consequent on debarkation and settlement in the rigors of a 
North Atlantic winter, many of the beloved members of the devoted colony 
were fatally stricken within a few weeks of their thankful arrival. 

"Of this lamented number were James Chilton and wife, whose 



636 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

daugter, Mary, a young girl, was thus doubly bereft at the outset of her 
new fortunes. James Chilton and his wife also died in the first infection." 

The foregoing was written 30 years after the Mayflower reached 
Plymouth. Mary Chilton was known as the "Pilgrims' Orphan." She 
married John Winslow, who came to America about one year after the 
landing of the Pilgrims, and the account of the marriage states that their 
life at Plymouth was prosperous and fruitful. John Winslow died in 1674 
and Mary (Chilton) Winslow died in 1679, and their remains rest in King's 
Chapel burial ground. Mary (Chilton) Winslow's will bequeathes to her 
children an estate of considerable value and is notable for the number and 
importance of the pieces of silverware enumerated. Chilton & Co. pos- 
sess a copy of the advertising catalogue of the Towle Manufacturing 
Company of Newburyport, Mass., which catalogue shows that the com- 
pany manufactures many pieces of silverware bearing the name of Mary 
Chilton for the value and prestige the name carries for colonial ware. 

The Chilton brothers received their education in the public schools 
of New Franklin, Mo. They received their first mercantile experience in 
their Father's store at New Franklin, and from there they later came to 
Boonville, where for the past 30 years the Chilton name has been the 
synonym of honesty and uprightness. The younger brother, Joseph W., 
has never married. 

In October, 1886, Louis L. Chilton and Sadie Harper Howard were 
united in marriage. Mrs. Chilton is a daughter of J. A. and Alice M. 
(Albertson) Howard, of Boonville, who were the parents of the following 
children: M. A., Indianapolis, Ind. ; J. A., Dallas, Texas; and Mrs. L. A. 
Thompson, of New York City, and Mrs. Louis L Chilton, the wife of the 
subject of this sketch. Mr. Howard died in 1918, and Mrs. Howard died 
many years ago. The remains of both father and mother are buried in 
Walnut Grove Cemetery. To Mr. and Mrs. Chilton has been born one 
child, a son, A. L., who now resides at Dallas, Texas. A. L. Chilton mar- 
ried Leonora Hummel, of San Antonio, Texas, in 1911. He is a graduate 
of the Boonville High School and is now manager and owner of an adver- 
tising agency at Dallas, Texas. 

Mr. and Mrs. Louis L. Chilton are active members of the church, and 
Mr. Chilton is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of 
Boonville. The Chiltons are numbered among Cooper County's best fam- 
ilies and most highly regarded citizens. 

Urban A. Smith, proprietor of "The Music Emporium" at Boonville, 
is one of Cooper County's best-known citizens and most respected business 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 637 

men. Mr. Smith is a native of Cooper County. He was bom in Boonville, 
Dec. 8, 1873, a son of Anthony and Catherine H. (Franken) Smith, and is 
the eldest living son of his father's family. 

Mr. Smith, the subject of this sketch, attended the Catholic school 
at Boonville, and later was a student at the Boonville High School. Prior 
to 1894, Urban A. Smith was connected with A. Smith & Sons' general 
merchandise store for seven years. He was for 10 years with Eppstein 
& Hains, and was for four years manager of Wilson & Fredendall's estab- 
lishment. In July, 1918, Mr. Smith opened "The Music Emporium" at 
Boonville. He carries an exceptionally good line of musical instruments, 
including pianos, players, phonographs, player rolls, records, and sheet 
music. In addition, he handles the Lalley Electric Farm Light, which is 
undoubtedly the best lighting system on the market at the present time. 
Mr. Smith is a cautious but energetic business man, and he is meeting with 
unqualified success. 

Oct. 18, 1906, Urban A. Smith and Sadie Ruth Tucker were united in 
marriage. Mrs. Smith is a daughter of Robert H. and Sarah E. (Parker) 
Tucker, of Cooper County, both of whom are now deceased. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Smith have been born six children : Urban, Jr., deceased ; Vivian 
Elizabeth, Mary Louise, Kenneth Joseph, Rose Catherine Augusta, and 
Jerome Pershing. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are consistent members of the Cath- 
olic Church, and they are numbered among the best families of Boonville. 

Fraternally, Mr. Smith is a member of the Knights of Columbus. In 
politics he is a republican. 

Edward J. Muntzel, junior member of the clothing firm of Manion 
& Muntzel, Booneville, was born on a farm, near Lone Elm, Mo., Jan. 15, 
1875. Albert Muntzel, his father, was born in 1835 and died in 1907. He 
was a native of Germany and came to America in the forties with his 
parents and was reared on his father's farm. He was married to Mar- 
garet Smith, who died in 1892, and to this union were born 12 children, 
nine of whom are living: Albert P., a druggist at Portland, Ore.; Martin 
W., a bank cashier in St. Louis, Mo. ; Edward J., of this sketch ; Mrs. 
Clara Trampe, St. Louis, Mo. ; Mrs. Julia Meyer, living south of Boonville 
on the old home place ; Lillie Muntzel, also living on the home place ; Mrs. 
Caroline Fricke, living four miles south of Sedalia, on a farm ; Harry, a 
farmer, adjoining the home place; Delia, living with Mrs. Trampe, in St. 
Louis, Mo. 

Edward J. Muntzell was reared on his father's farm and after attend- 
ing the district school, he pursued an agricultural course at the State 



638 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

University. He then followed farming until 1908, on his tract of 120 
acres in the Lone Elm neighborhood. Coming to Boonville in that year, 
he tended bar in this city until 1918, when he became associated with Mr. 
Manion in the firm of Manion & Muntzel. 

Mr. Muntzel was married in 1901 to Miss Minnie Schmack, a daugh- 
ter of Herman Schmack, of Boonville. She died in April, 1911, leaving a 
daughter, Elsa M. Muntzel. 

Mr. Muntzel is a stanch republican and a member of the Evangelical 
Lutheran Church. 

Martin Schieberl, an honored pioneer of Boonville, a widely-known 
tailor of this city, has been a resident of Boonville since 1868. Mr. Schie- 
berl was born Nov. 4, 1838, in Bohemia, a son of Jacob and Catherina 
(Stahl) Schieberl, who were the parents of eight children, of whom Mar- 
tin Schieberl is the sole survivor. 

Jacob Schieberl was born in Koitchovitz, Bishofinitz, in Bczirck, 
County, Bohemia, and Catherina (Stahl) Schieberl was born in Honositz, 
at Stap, in Bczirck County, Bohemia. She died in 1842 and he died in 
1863. Their son, Martin, immigrated to this country after the father's 
death, and landed in New York City, Nov. 8, 1867. He came over on the 
ship "Metropolitan," the ship which brought Maxmillian to Mexico. 

Martin Schieberl received his education at Holeishen, in Bohemia, 
where he learned the tailor's trade. After coming to the new world, he 
located temporarily at Cole Camp, Mo., where he spent his first winter in 
America. He worked in a brick yard for the first four days and then 
obtained employment on a farm and was employed in farm work for six 
weeks. Mr. Schieberl purchased a cleaning and repair shop in Boonville 
and later added new merchandise to his stock and thus opened his tailoring 
establishment. Prior to coming to America, Mr. Schieberl served eight 
years in the Austrian army. 

Jan. 30, 1869, Martin Schieberl and Dora Schiller, a daughter of Wint- 
zel and Mary (Printz) Schiller, both natives of Bohemia, were united in 
marriage. Wintzel Schiller was a weaver. He was engaged in farming 
for 18 years prior to coming with his family to America in 1867. The 
Schillers settled in Missouri on a farm in Benton County, near Lincoln, 
where both father and mother died. The remains of the mother are in- 
terred in a cemetery at Cole Camp; the father's remains are interred in 
a cemetery at Lick Creek. The children of Wintzel and Mary Schiller are, 
as follow: Mrs. Martin Schieberl, the wife of the subject of this sketch; 
Joseph, who resides at the Schiller homeplace ; Frank, who died at the age 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 639 

of 24 years ; Annie, who died in infancy ; Jacob, who died in infancy ; and 
Annie, who died at the age of four years. The Schiller farm comprises 
80 acres of valuable land in Benton County. To Mr. and Mrs. Schieberl 
have been born 10 children, six living: Joseph, who married Edith Delthy, 
of Boonville, and they reside in Muskogee, Okla. ; John, who married Flora 
Stretz, and they reside at Joplin; Charlie, at home; Mrs. Julia Kaiser, of 
Boonville; Nellie, the wife of C. W. Watts, of Fayette, and Edith, the 
widow of Arthur Christman, at home with her parents. Mr. and Mrs. 
Schieberl are the proud grandparents of nine grandchildren, as follow: 
Mamie Schieberl; Julian, Dorothy, Margaret, Virginia, Elizabeth, and 
Martha Kaiser, the daughters of Frank and Julia Kaiser; Maxine and Ar- 
thur Christman, the children of Mrs. Edith Christman. 

A half century ago, Martin Schieberl came to this country a poor immi- 
grant, unlearned in the ways and customs of the new world. A half cen- 
tury of honest toil and earnest endeavor has placed Mr. Schieberl in the 
foremost ranks of the countys most respected citizens. 

Joseph L. Sauter, one of the leading merchants of Boonville, a stock- 
holder of the Boonville Mercantile Company, is a native of Moniteau 
County. Mr. Sauter was born in 1861, a son of Matthew and Rosa 
(Knaupp) Sauter, who came to Missouri in 1859 and located in Moniteau 
County. 

The Sauter family resided in Moniteau County until 1866, when they 
moved to Cooper County and located on a farm one and a half miles south 
of Boonville. In 1881, Mr. and Mrs. Sauter moved from Missouri to the 
Dakota Territory, where both died. Mrs. Souter died in 1884 and Mr. 
Sauter died in 1896. The remains of both mother and father are interred 
in a cemetery in Dickey County, N. D. 

The children of Matthew and Rosa Sauter are, as follow: Frederick, 
who died Sept. 21, 1918, in Boonville, and is buried in Walnut Grove 
Cemetery, the late president of the Sauter Mercantile Company, a prom- 
inent business man of Boonville since 1870 ; Professor A. H., who is with 
the Sauter Mercantile Company; F. S., acting president of the Boonville 
National Bank ; Joseph L., the subject of this sketch ; Addie, the wife of 
John Weber, and she died in North Dakota in 1915; Fannie, the wife of 
Joseph Memmel, of Fayette ; and Bertha, the wife of Dr. L. F. Diefendorf , 
of Sioux Falls, S. D. 

Joseph L. Sauter attended the public schools of Cooper County and 
Hooper Institute at Clarksburg. He first entered the mercantile busi- 
ness in 1896, associated with Judge John A. Fischer, at Blackwater, the 



640 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

firm handling lumber and hardware. A sketch of the life of Judge 
Fischer will be found in this volume. Sauter & Fischer were very suc- 
cessful in business at Blackwater. They moved to Boonville in 1907 and 
are now both stockholders in the Boonville Mercantile Company. 

Mr. Sauter is a man of upright principles, excellent business judg- 
ment, and strong character. He is well known and respected in Cooper 
County. 

W. F. and G. H. Steigleder, proprietors of the "Waldheim Stock 
Farm" in Kelly township, rank among the prosperous and progressive 
farmers and stockmen of Cooper County. "Waldheim Stock Farm" con- 
sists of 482 acres and is situated in Kelly township, adjoining the town 
site of Bunceton on the south. This is one of the valuable farms of Kelly 
township. For a number of years the Steigleder Brothers were engaged 
in breeding registered Shorthorn cattle, and at one time kept a herd of 
about 40 head. In recent years they have been engaged in general farm- 
ing and stock raising, and are the owners of some valuable jacks. 

The Steigleder family are representative Cooper County citizens, and 
the Steigleder Brothers are among the substantial men of the county. 
Andrew Steigleder, the father, was a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, 
born July 30, 1829 and died Dec. 5, 1909. He immigrated to this country 
when quite young and saw much of the West in the early days. He went 
to Californa in 1849, making the trip overland, which required three 
months. He remained on the Pacific coast about three years. He re- 
sided in Iowa for 12 years and in 1866 came to Missouri and settled near 
Boonville; later moved to the farm near Bunceton. He married Mary E. 
Hochstetler, a native of Holmes County, Ohio. She was born Aug. 15, 
1834, and is a descendant of an old American family, being of the sixth 
generation born in the United States. Her parents were Elias and Ann 
Elizabeth (Joss) Hochstetler, the former born near Elk Lick, Penn., in 
1808, and died in 1888, and the latter was born in Switzerland, Oct. 27, 
1815. Jacob Hochstetler, founder of the Hochstetler family in America, 
and direct ancestor of Mrs. Steigleder, came to this country in 1736 from 
Switzerland, landing at Philadelphia, Pa., Sept. 1, 1736. He made the 
voyage on the ship "Harle". He died at Bernhill, Penn., in 1776, aged 
72 years. He was a member of the Amish Mennonite Church. His home 
was attacked by the Indians at one time and the entire family were mur- 
dered except two children, Joseph and Christian. Mrs. Steigleder now 
resides with her sons, W. F. and G. H. She is 84 years old and has been 
afflicted with blindness since 1912. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY' 641 

To Andrew and Mary E. (Hochstetler) Steigleder have been born the 
following children: William Fred, born Dec. 14, 1856, one of the sub- 
jects of this sketch ; George Henry, born May 11, 1858, whose name also 
introduces this sketch; Minnie, wife of Herman P. Muntzel, born Feb. 2, 
1860; Robert L., born July 10, 1862, married Caroline Smith, a native of 
Cooper County ; Henriette, wife of William Meyer, born July 12, 1864 ; 
Martha E. L., born Feb. 15, 1867, maried Elmer George; Barbara, born 
Feb. 10, 1869, married Thomas Etter and resides at Ritzville, Wash., and 
Ella, born April 20, 1872, and resides near Bunceton. The above named 
wei-e all born near Oskaloosa, Iowa, except the last three who were born in 
Cooper County, Mo. 

Three of the grandsons of the Steigleder family served in the World 
War. Andrew Etter enlisted in Aug., 1917, and served with the 80th 
Aerial Squadron, and was in France 14 months, returning to New York, 
Jan. 22, 1919. Rehwaldt Steigleder enlisted Dec. 12, 1917 and sailed for 
France in Sept., 1918. He served in the navy. Robert Muntzel entered 
the army and was in training at Columbia, Mo., until Jan., 1919, when he 
was discharged. 

The Steigleder family is one of the representative families of Cooper 
County and rank among it's highest type of citizens. 

Charles F. Wagner, the well-known confectioner of The Wagner Ice 
Cream Company, is a native of Germany. Mr. Wagner was born in 1849, 
a son of Christian and Hannah (Stahl) Wagner, who immigrated to Amer- 
ica in 1855. Christian Wagner is a well-remembered teacher of Boonville, 
as he taught a private school in this city for five years after settling here. 
Mrs. Wagner died in San Francisco, Cal., about 1909. She had survived 
her husband 34 years. Mr. Wagner died at Boonville about 1875. The 
children of Christian and Hannah Wagner, now living, are, as follow: 
Charles, the subject of this review; Matilda, of Boston. Mass.; and Mrs. 
Hannah Moser, of San Francisco, Cal ; and Mrs. Anna Suren, of California. 

The Wagner family resided in the State of Ohio for 15 or more years 
after coming to America, and in the public schools of that State Charles F. 
Wigner obtained his education. The Wagners came to Missouri in the 
early seventies and settled in Boonville. Mr. Wagner, the subject of this 
sketch, was for several years employed as pastry cook by the Northern 
Packet, and his run was from St. Louis to New Orleans. Mr. Wagner is 
a confectioner by trade, and he began the confectionery business at Boon- 
ville in 187G. and he has continued in the business here since that date. 
(39) 



642 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

At the time of this writing, he is engaged in the wholesale and retail ice 
cream business and he is known throughout central Missouri by his con- 
nection with The Wagner Ice Cream Company. Mr. Wagner, his son-in- 
law, and his daughter are interested in the company. Mr. Wagner's busi- 
ness experience has covered a period of 43 years, and his success in the 
confectionery business has been phenomenal. One of the Sauter brothers, 
A. M. Koontz, and Sam Koontz are the only people beside Mr. Wagner who 
were in business in Boonvile in 1876 now in business in this city. 

In 1878, Chares F. Wagner and Mary Elizabeth Geiser were married. 
Mrs. Wagner is a daughter of Christian Geiser, who resided near Tipton, 
Mo. She has three brothers : John, of Missoula, Mont. ; Christian, of 
Tipton ; and Lawrence, who resides in Kansas. To Charles F. and Mrs. 
Wagner has been bom one child, a daughter, Laura, who is the wife of 
John Stammerjohn, of Boonville. Mr. and Mrs. Stammerjohn are in busi- 
ness with Mr. Wagner, partners in The Wagner Ice Cream Company. 

Charles F. Wagner is a republican and an earnest advocate of the 
principles of his party. In Ohio, he knew personally several of the great 
men of the day, among them Chief Justice Chase, General Sherman, Sen- 
ator Thurman, and the war governor, Governor Brough. The present gov- 
ernor of Arknsas is a grandnephew of Governor Brough. Mr. Wagner 
saw President Lincoln in his coffin at Columbus, Ohio, when the remains 
of the martyred president were enroute from Washington to Springfield, 
111., for burial. 

Mr. Wagner is respected as an honest, capable, business man, and he 
and Mrs. Wagner are held in the highest regard in the community. 

Judge John A. Fischer, ex-representative, ex-judge of the County 
Court, ex-pi-esiding judge, one of the stockholders of the Boonville Mer- 
cantile Company, is a native of Bavaria. Mr. Fischer was born April 18, 
1861, at Rodesgruen, a son of Henry C. and Anna E. (Fischer) Fischer, 
who immigrated to America in 1872 and settled on a farm near Pisgah in 
Cooper County, Mo. 

Henry C. Fischer purchased a farm of 95 acres of land, and at his 
country place in Cooper County he spent the brief remainder of his 
life. He had been in the new country but three years and here died in 
1875. His remains are interred in the cemetery of the Evangelical 
Church in Moniteau County. Mrs. Fischer continued to reside on the 
farm, after her husbands death, until 1898, when she moved to Black- 
water, where she resided for a few years. She now makes her home 
with her son, Judge Fischer. Mrs. Fischer is, at the time of this writing 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 643 

in 1919, 92 years of age, and as active and alert, mentally and physically, 
as many women at the age of 60 years. The children of Henry C. and 
Anna Fischer are, as follow: Erhardt, who died in 1904, and is buried in 
Nelson Cemetery; Judge John A., the subject of this review; Joseph, a 
farmer, of Blackwater; and Mrs. Elizabeth Boles, of Blackwater. 

Judge John A. Fischer was a pupil in the public schools of Cooper 
County for four years, and he was in attendance at Pisgah school one 
term. He was a lad, 11 years of age, when he came with his parents to 
America. He first entered the mercantile business in 1892, at Pisgah. 
He purchased his younger brothers interest in a store at that place. 
Four years later, Judge Fischer moved to Blackwater and there became 
associated in business with Joseph L. Sauter, conducting a lumber and 
hardware store. Both Judge Fischer and Mr. Sauter are now stockhold- 
ers in the Boonville Mercantile Company. 

Nov. 25, 1885, Judge John A. Fischer and Josephine Meyer, of Pisgah, 
were united in marriage. Mrs. Fischer has one brother and one sister 
now living : Ben and Mrs. Robert Klein, both of Prairie Home. Two chil- 
dren have been born to Judge and Mrs. Fischer: Mary, the wife of Leo 
Meistrell, vice-president of the National Bank of Boonville, who is also 
interested in the Citizens Trust Company of Boonville and Elizabeth, at 
home. Mr. and Mrs. Meistrell are the parents of three children: Frances, 
John Vincent, and Joseph. 

In 1898, John A. Fischer was elected judge of the County Court for a 
term of two years, and in 1890 he was re-elected. Judge Fischer was 
elected representative in 1908, and in 1914 he was elected presiding judge 
of the County Court. He served four years as presiding judge. Judge 
Fischer is a republican. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows. He is one of Cooper County's best known and most 
popular citizens, and he commands the respect of all with whom he comes 
in contact. 

William W. Neal, one of Saline township's most energetic and enthusi- 
astic, young agriculturists and stockmen, is a native of Cooper County. 
Mr. Neal was born Feb. 12, 1878, son of Z. R. and Mary E. (Fluke) Neal. 
His birthplace was the farm in Saline township now owned by William 
Kasfeld. 

William W. Neal attended the public schools of Cooper County and 
he has attended the State University of Missouri. In the latter institu- 
tion, Mr. Neal pursued the course in agriculture. He has followed farm- 
ing in Saline township practically all his life and is now the owner of a 



644 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

splendid farm of 224 acres of land in Saline township, a country place 
located ten miles southeast of Boonville. Mr. Neal has built the residence 
and two barns since he acquired the ownership of the land, which was 
formerly known as the Mary J. Eager farm. Approximately 75 per cent, 
of the land is now under cultivation. Mr. Neal raises wheat and corn, 
but he is chiefly interested in stockraising. He has native western sheep 
and his flock numbers 150. He has also a large herd of Poland China 
hogs. Mr. Neal is satisfied with Cooper County and the country in gen- 
eral. He is finding that in his own community there are vast oppor- 
tunities for the progressive, industrious man and he is making for him- 
self a host of friends. 

Mr. Neal is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and 
the Woodmen of the World. He is a democrat. 

Charles E. Robertson and Warner W. Robertson, proprietors of "The 
Petite Saline Stock Farm" are natives of Cooper County. Charles E. Rob- 
ertson was born on the farm where he now lives Oct. 27, 1853, and Warner 
W. Robertson was born Sept. 12, 1868, sons of John and Mary (Potter) 
Robertson. John Robertson was a native of Kentucky. Mary (Potter) 
Robertson was a daughter of William and Nancy (Dillard) Potter, who 
located in Boonville township, and later settled in Boonville in the early 
days. William Potter operated a ferry boat and was one of the first to 
operate a ferry boat at Boonville. His boat was run by horse-power. That 
was in the days when the Indians were here. The Potters came to Mis- 
souri with the Coles and the Stephens in 1807, among the first settlers 
of Missouri. The mother of Nancy (Dillard) Potter was a member of the 
Cole family. William Potter and Mrs. Potter are both deceased, and he 
is buried in Hail Ridge cemetery, and she is buried in the cemetery at 
Boonville. John Robertson died at the home place in the nineties, and 
Mrs. Robertson died Jan. 7, 1912, and the remains of both are interred in 
the cemetery at Boonville. Elizabeth Robertson, familiarly known as 
"Aunt Betty", an aunt of Charles E. Robertson and Warner W. Robert- 
son, now makes her home with them. She is at the time of this writing, 
81 years of age, the only one of the Potter family of 11 children who is 
now living. She is still active and alert, physically and mentally. The 
father of the Robertson brothers was a veteran of the Mexican and of the 
Civil Wars. 

"The Petite Saline Stock Farm" in Boonville township, comprises 388 
acres of land, located five miles from Boonville. This farm is one of the 
best stock farms in the countv. The residence was built in 1903. It is a 







MRS. NANCY I' 1 >TTEH 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 645 

ten-room structure, modern in every respect. The farm is equipped with 
three good barns. The Robertson brothers are partners in the manage- 
ment of the stock farm, and at the present time in 1919 they have sixty 
head of calves and one hundred head of hogs. About one-half the farm 
is bottom land, and they have one hundred acres of the farm in wheat. 

Warner W. Robertson is a member of the Woodmen of the World and 
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Both Warner W. Robert- 
son and Charles E. Robertson are members of the Bethel Presbyterian 
Church. The Robertson brothers are numbered among the best citizens 
of Cooper County. 

Captain Andrew Jackson Spahr, one of the few remaining pioneer 
pilots of the Missouri River, an honored son of one of the brave pioneers 
of Missouri, is a native of Cooper County. Captain Spahr was born Dec. 
25, 1842, in Boonville, a son of David and Ann Elizabeth (Foble) Spahr, 
the former a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter of Baltimore. 

David Spahr was born in 1818, and when a young man he migrated 
west, about 1836, and settled in Boonville, where he entered the manufac- 
turing business, operating a tobacco factory, associated with Mr. Calhoun. 
The factory of Spahr & Calhoun was located on Fourth Street, and the 
firm was a very successful one. Later, Calhoun sold his interest in the 
factory, and Jacob Spahr, a son of David Spahr, entered in partnership 
with his father. David and Ann Elizabeth Spahr were the parents of the 
following children: Jacob W., who was born in Pennsylvania and is now 
deceased ; Mrs. Maria Brewster, deceased ; David 0. deceased ; Mrs. Susan- 
nah R. Steel, deceased ; Mrs. Frances (Watson) Hurd, who married a 
brother of ex-Congressman Hurd, of Sedalia ; Mrs. Levina Edgar, deceased ; 
Adda, deceased; Helen, deceased; Captain Andrew Jackson, the subject of 
this sketch ; J. C, deceased ; Thomas Frederick, deceased ; and Charles C, 
who is now with the police force of Boonville. Of this splendid family but 
three remain: Captain Spahr, Mrs. Hurd, and Charles C. The father died 
in 1861, and the mother died about 1884. The remains of both parents 
rest in Walnut Grove Cemetery. 

Captain Spahr attended the Loomis Private School and Kemper School, 
the latter being later known as Kemper Military School. After leaving 
school, he followed farming for two years and then returned to Boonville 
and began the work of carriage making. This business he abandoned to 
begin, with his brothers, the manufacture of tobacco. Of the plant the 
Spahr brothers established, Captain Spahr was foreman. He was for 50 
years employed as pilot on the Missouri River, a part of the time with 



646 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 



Captain Kinney's boats and later with the Star Line. He made regular 
trips from St. Louis to Kansas, and, for a time, to Fort Benton in Montana, 
the head of navigation on the Missouri River. It usually required from 
two to three months to make the trip to Fort Benton, and the return trip 
was made in from 8 to 10 days. As pilot, Captain Spahr received from 
$600 to $700 a month remuneration. The capacity of the boats was from 
200 to 500 tons. Captain Spahr worked on the river until five years ago, 
and the last 25 years of his work on the river was done for the Govern- 
ment in the Missouri River improvement work. He recalls that in 1868 
his crew had a skirmish with the Indians in Montana, and again at Fort 
Peck, where one of the number was killed. Captain Spahr has the dis- 
tinction of having brought Sitting Bull with 250 Sioux Indians from Fort 
Bufprd to Fort Yates, at the time of Sitting Bull's surrender. 

Oct. 17, 1880, Captain Spahr and Erma Palmore Browne, a daughter 
of W. S. and Mary (Blackburn) Browne, of Miami, Mo., were married. 
The Brownes are honored pioneers and prominent citizens of Saline County. 
Mr. Browne was born in Richmond, Va., and Mrs. Browne was born at 
White Sulphur Springs, Va. They were the parents of the following chil- 
dren : Mrs. Adelaide Guthrie, deceased ; Mrs. Helen Spencer Irvine, of 
Marshall, Mo. ; Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Hudson, of Los Angeles, Cal. ; Anna ; 
Mrs. Mary Ellis Webster, deceased; Mrs. Martha Washington McDaniel, 
of Siloam Springs, Ark. ; Lilia Leola, of Marshall, now deceased ; Mrs. 
Captain Spahr, the wife of the subject of this sketch; Mollie, deceased; 
and George W., a dry goods merchant at Platte City, Mo. Mr. Browne 
was the first banker of Saline County, and he was afterward interested in 
the mercantile business in that county. He died at the age of 99 years 
at Siloam Springs, Ark., and Mrs. Browne died at the age of 52 years in 
Miami, Mo. 

Captain Spahr is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, 
and he is a democrat. He is well known throughout this State and he is 
held in the highest regard in Cooper County. 

Elijah Hugh Roberts, a well-known and respected citizen of Boonville, 
is one of the Boonville boys of yesterday, a native son of Cooper County. 
Mr. Roberts was born and reared in Boonville, a son of E. H. and Ellen 
(Sweeney) Roberts, the former of Welsh descent, and the latter of Irish. 
He was born Nov. 30, 1862. 

E. H. Roberts, father of Elijah Hugh Roberts, was born March 19, 
1830. He immigrated to America in the early fifties and located at Buf- 
falo, N. Y. From Buffalo, he went to Indianapolis, Ind., thence to Louis- 
ville, Ky., whence he came to Cooper County, in 1854, and settled in 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 647 

Boonville, where he opened a lumber yard and. entered the contracting 
business. Mr. Roberts built the James Nelson residence in Boonville, and 
he erected the Christian and the Evangelical churches, the hall of the 
Knights of Pythias, and one of the buildings of the Kemper Military 
School. He died Jan. 22, 1907. Mrs. Roberts was bom in 1832 in Ire- 
land. In Buffalo, N. Y., she was united in marriage with E. H. Roberts 
in 1852, and to them were born the following children : T. E., a late lum- 
berman of St. Louis, Mo., who was engaged in the lumber business for 
20 years, and he died in 1895 and is buried in Walnut Grove Cemetery; 
Sallie, the only woman living in Boonville who attended the Kemper School ; 
Mary ; James W., a contractor and builder of splendid reputation, who 
died in 1904 ; Elijah Hugh, the subject of this sketch ; Hattie, the widow 
of Herman Appel, a late riverman and boat clerk at St. Louis, who died in 
1916, leaving his wife and one daughter, Mrs. Ruth Roeschel, of Chicago, 
111., whose husband served with Company I, 135th infantry, in France, 
and at the time of this writing in 1919, is in Chicago, 111. ; and Dora, the 
wife of Harry L. Byler, of Kansas City, Mo. All the Roberts children were 
born, reared, and educated in Boonville. The Roberts home is the same 
as when Mr. and Mrs. Roberts decided in Boonville to reside permanently, 
in 1868, although they had located in this city 14 years before, in 1854. 
Mr. Roberts was a member of the Home Guards during the Civil War. 
The family suffered many hardships and privations in those days, due to 
the general scarcity of provisions. Mrs. Roberts is a brave and noble 
woman. She will be 88 years of age Jan. 20, 1920, the oldest living mem- 
ber of the Boonville Presbyterian Church, a woman worthy of the highest 
respect and greatest consideration. 

Elijah Hugh Roberts is a graduate of the Boonville High School. He 
completed the high school course, May 29, 1880, studying under D. A. 
McMillan, one of the most renowned and best educators of Missouri, who 
left Boonville to take up work in Mexico, Mo., where he died. The Mc- 
Millan School in Mexico, Mo., was named in honor of D. A. McMillan. 
After leaving school, Mr. Roberts entered the lumber and building busi- 
ness, and upon his father's death succeeded him. For one year he was 
foreman of a lumber camp in Texas, and there operated a mill. He dis- 
posed of the lumber business in Boonville in 1911, selling the Roberts plant 
to the Logan Moore Lumber Company, after the Roberts Lumber Yards 
had been in operation for more than 50 years. T. E. Robert's wife, Kate 
Roberts, and son, Hugh, reside in St. Louis, Mo. Mr. Roberts and his 
mother and his sisters reside at the old homeplace at 1135 South Seventh 
Street in Boonville. 



648 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Charles A. Friedrich, a successful farmer of Saline township, is a 
native of Germany. Mr. Friedrich was born July 15, 1862. He came 
to America in April, 1879, and located at Pittsburg, Pa., and there helped 
build and operate the first complete wire mill in this country. He learned 
his trade at Krupp, Germany. At Pittsburg, Mr. Friedrich remained 
three years. He then spent a short time in Chicago and came to Mis- 
souri about 36 years ago. 

Mr. Friedrich is a son of Herman and Elizabeth Friedrich, who were 
the parents of the following children: William, deceased; Ferdinand, 
who resides in Pennsylvania; Charles A., the subject of this sketch; 
Henry C, of Palestine township, and Adam, of Kelly township, Tipton, 
Mo. The father died in Germany in 1867, and the mother then came with 
her children to America. She now makes her home with her son, Henry, 
in Kelly township. 

When Mr. Friedrich first came to Missouri he worked on a farm by 
the month for four years, and in 1892 he purchased his present home, a 
farm comprising 442 acres of land in Saline township. This farm is one 
of the best in the township and upon it are two sets of improvements. 
Mr. Friedrich is engaged in general farming. He raises hogs, cattle, 
sheep, horses and mules. Formerly Mr. Friedrich raised Big Bone Poland 
Chinas, but is now raising Spotted Poland China hogs. 

March 18, 1891, Charles A. Friedrich and Louise Eftinger, a daughter 
of Blasius and Louise Effinger, of Saline township, were united in mar- 
riage. Mr. Effinger was born in 1830 in Germany, and came to America 
in the early fifties and died at the Effinger home place in Saline town- 
ship, the farm now owned by Charles A. Friedrich and wife. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Friedrich have been born the following children: Herman, a farmer 
on the old Effinger home place, who was in the United States Army from 
Sept., 1918, to Dec. 23, 1918, and was on his way to France when the 
armistice was signed ; Lula, at home ; Laura, the wife of Emil Derendinger, 
who served in the United States Army, and was stationed at Camp Mc- 
Arthur, Waco, Texas, and they now reside in Kansas City, Mo. ; William, 
George and Anna, at home. Mrs. Effinger, mother of Mr. Friedrich, died 
in Oct., 1905, and she was laid to rest in Walnut Grove cemetery. Mrs. 
Friedrich has one sister and one brother now living: Mary, the wife of 
George Effinger, of Boonville township; and Henry, a farmer of Boon- 
ville township. Herman Friedrich married Dora Oerly, a daughter of 
Samuel Oerly, and they have a son, Ewing Joseph. 

Mr. Friedrich has filled the position of road overseer twice, the first 
time his services covered three years and the second time seven years. 



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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 649 

He has always been a "booster" for good roads. ■ Mr. Friedrich operated 
the first road grader in Saline township. He has talked and worked for 
good roads, but he admits that we are not making the progress he would 
like to see. Because of his interest in better roads he is known as the 
"Road Booster" in his township. 

Mr. and Mrs. Friedrich are consistent members of the Evangelical 
Church of Boonville. Mr. Friedrich is a member of the Woodmen of the 
World and the Knights of Pythias. He is a good citizen and he and Mrs. 
Friedrich are highly regarded in their community. 

John Cardwell Sappington, a prominent citizen of Boonville, is a mem- 
ber of one of the old, colonial families of the south, a native of Saline 
County. Mr. Sappington was born Feb. 4, 1849, a son of William B. and 
Mary Mildred (Breathitt) Sappington. 

William B. Sappington was born Jan. 4, 1811 in Madison County, Tenn., 
a son of Dr. John Sappington, who located in Missouri more than 100 
years ago. Dr. Sappington located first in Franklin in Howard County, 
moving thence to Arrow Rock in Saline County, where he settled. He 
was engaged in the practice of medicine and was the owner of a large 
plantation and he had from 50 to 60 slaves. Governor Claiborne F. Jack- 
son, Missouri's Civil War governor, married three daughters of Dr. Sapp- 
ington, namely : Jane, who died within a short time after her marriage ; 
Louisa, who died; and Eliza. The Sappington family is of English an- 
cestry. Mary Mildred (Breathitt) Sappington was born in Russellville, 
Ky., Aug. 7, 1827, a daughter of Governor John Breathitt, of Kentucky. 
To William B. and Mary M. Sappington were born the following children : 
William B., Jr., deceased ; John Cardwell, the subject of this sketch ; Mil- 
dred Jane, who died in 1896 ; E. D., who died Nov. 24, 1908 ; Mrs. Stella P. 
Gephart, deceased ; and Price, who died in infancy. William B. Sapping- 
ton was engaged in farming in Saline County and he was president of the 
Bank of Arrow Rock for many years. He was a resident of Arrow Rock 
for more than a half century. He died Aug. 16, 1888. Mrs. Sappington 
died Aug. 13, 1880. Both mother and father were laid to rest in the 
Sappington cemetery near Arrow Rock, Mo., in the burial ground estab- 
lished by Dr. John Sappington about 1840. 

John Cardwell Sappington was educated in private schools and he 
was a student of the Presbyterian College at Lebanon, Tenn., a member 
of the class of 1867. He also attended Kemper Military School at Boon- 
ville, Mo. and the State University of Missouri at Columbia, a student at 
the latter institution in 1869. Mr. Sappington has followed the vocation 



650 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

of farming practically his entire life and he is the owner of two farms 
in Boone County. Formerly, he was engaged in raising livestock exten- 
sively. He moved from his farm to Boonville in April, 1905, but he still 
attends to his farms and farming interests. He keeps a few registered 
cattle of the Jersey breed at Boonville, which he raises more for the 
pleasure than the profit of so doing. 

Oct. 22, 1873, John Cardwell Sappington and Pauline W. Nelson, a 
daughter of Dr. George and Pauline E. (Wyan) Nelson, were united in 
marriage. Dr. Nelson, a native of Virginia, was one of the honored 
pioneer physicians of Cooper County. Mrs. Nelson was a native of Boon- 
ville and daughter of Jacob F. Wyan. He died Aug. 13, 1867 at the age 
of 40 years and Mrs. Nelson died Oct. 15, 1910 at the age of 82 years. 
Both parents of Mrs.' Sappington are buried in Walnut Grove cemetery. 
Mrs. Sappington has one sister now living, Mrs. Sallie N. Chandler, who 
makes her home in New York City. To Mr. and Mrs. Sappington have 
been born the following children: George William, at home; and Card- 
well Wyan, who died at the age of 42 years, Dec. 18, 1918. Cardwell 
Wyan Sappington was a successful farmer and stockman, a leading agri- 
culturist of Columbia, Mo. He was a graduate of Nelson High School. 
He left a wife and two children, May (Hupp) Sappington, formerly of 
Marshall, Mo., Pauline and Arthur Cardwell. One child, a daughter, Lena 
May, died April 11, 1910, at Boonville. Son and daughter are buried in 
Walnut Grove cemetery. 

Mr. and Mrs. Sappington are members of the Methodist Church South. 
Mr. Sappington is a democrat. Mrs. Sappington is a member of the 
Daughters of the American Revolution. 

Alvin J. Bozarth, a well-known, wholesale dealer in butter, eggs, 
poultry, hides and cream at 415 Chestnut street in Boonville, is one of the 
leading business men of Cooper County. Mr. Bozarth entered business 
Jan. 1, 1916 at his present location, purchasing the business of the Wilson 
Produce Company. He mastered his trade under F. M. Stamper of the 
F. M. Stamper Company at Moberly, Mo. and George Legg of the George 
Legg Poultry establishment at Mattoon, 111. Since he began business three 
years ago, Mr. Bozarth has prospered and his trade has vearly grown. 
The receipts for the three years, enumerated successively, were : $98,000, 
$108,000 and $150,000. He ships his produce to New York, Chicago and 
other leading markets, shipping in carload lots. Mr. Bozarth deserves 
much praise and credit for the excellent market he has established for all 
the countryside bordering Boonville. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 651 

Mr. Bozarth was born at Cairo, Mo., Nov. 21, 1891, a son of F. R. and 
Frances (Roberts) Bozarth, both of whom are natives of Monroe County, 
Mo. Jefferson Bozarth, father of F. R. Bozarth, came from Kentucky to 
Missouri and settled in Monroe county in the early days. Mr. and Mrs. 
F. R. Bozarth reside at Cairo, Mo. They are the parents of eight children, 
as follow : Lucy, the wife of Albert Snodgrass, of Moberly, Mo. ; Alvin J., 
the subject of this sketch ; Harry J., of Moberly, Mo. ; Floyd C, of Detroit, 
Mich. ; Deston L., of Cairo, Mo. ; Pearly, Eulah Mae, and Roy Marshal, of 
Cairo, Mo. Floyd C. Bozarth is, at the time of this writing in 1919, serving 
as mess sergeant with the Signal Corps, United States Army. 

April 27, 1915, Alvin J. Bozarth and Isla Rinehart, a daughter of 
Benjamin and Rosa (Irwin) Rinehart, formerly of Iowa, now residents of 
Cairo, Mo., were married. Mr. and Mrs. Bozarth are the parents of two 
children: Wilburta E. and Hartzell I.. Mr. and Mrs. Bozarth reside at 
Shamrock Heights in Boonville. Both are worthy members of the Chris- 
tian Church and Mr. Bozarth is a member of the Knights of Pythias. 

Alvin J. Bozarth first learned the elementary principles of the poultry 
business under his fathers instructions. The elder Bozarth was engaged 
in this business at Cairo, Mo. Leaving Moberly High School, where he 
was a student, Mr. Bozarth entered the mercantile trade and he has in a 
few years time established a name and reputation for himself, a name 
which is known throughout the county as the synonym for honesty and fair 
dealings. 

W. C. Renfrow, of the firm of Renfrow & Renfrow, of Overton, Mo., 
was born Oct. 14, 1866, a son of William and Malvina (Freeman) Ren- 
frow, both natives of Cooper County. The mother died in 1870 and is 
buried in Moniteau County at Cop Cemetery. The father lives in south- 
eastern Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. William Renfrow were born the fol- 
lowing children: Alonzo, lives in southeastern Missouri; and W. C, the 
subject of this sketch. The other member of the firm of Renfrow & 
Renfrow is A. D. Renfrow, a cousin of W. C. Renfrow, born in 1859, a 
son of James Renfrow, of Moniteau County. A. D. Renfrow lives on the 
farm in Moniteau County, and also owns a farm in Cooper County, near 
Wooldridge. The well known firm of Renfrow & Renfrow are dealers in 
groceries, dry goods, shoes, hardware, etc., and occupy a nice building, 
40x60 feet, with arches nicely arranged between the rooms. 

W. C. Renfrow was educated in Liberty School, near Gooch's Mill, 
and taught school for 10 years in Prairie Home, Robinson and Oak Grove, 
Cooper County, and Bruce and Lupus and Oakland, in Moniteau County. 



652 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

He was afterwards with Dr. Cochran, of Gooch's Mill, for about six years. 
Mr. Renfrow then went into the mercantile business at Gooch's Mill, and 
in 1914 came to Overton and accepted a position with Mr. A. D. Manson, 
his father-in-law, and afterwards went into the store in which he now 
owns a half interest. 

Mr. Renfrow was married April, 1910, to Miss Cora Manson, daugh- 
ter of A. D. and Anna (Kelly) Manson, of Gooch's Mill. Mr. and Mrs. 
Manson live at Overton and are the parents of the following children: 
Ida Whittahes, died at Raton, N. M., Jan. 1919 ; Cora, wife of W. C. Ren- 
frow, subject of this sketch; John, resides at Gooch's Mill; Kelly, resides 
at Prairie Home, and Owen C, Kansas City, Mo. To Mr. and Mrs. Ren- 
frow have been born the following children: William Cyrus, Harold 
Barber, Chester Bryan, and Gordon Woodrow, all residing at home. 

Mr. Renfrow is a member of the Woodmen of the World of Gooch's 
Mill, and Mrs. Renfrow belongs to the Woodman Circle, and their boys 
are members of the Boys Woodcraft. Mr. Renfrow is also a member of 
the Cooper County Sick and Accident Society and the Renfrows are sub- 
stantial citizens and stand high in their community. 

John Frederick Krohn. — "Fairview Dairy Farm", consisting of 103 
acres located two and a half miles south of Boonville, is one of the finest 
country places in Cooper Country. This place is owned and operated by 
John F. Krohn, and is equipped with every convenience for caring for the 
large amount of work involved in the operation of a dairy. Thirty-six 
Jersey cows comprise the Krohn herd, the milk obtained being sold over 
established milk routes in Boonville. The Krohn residence is a large ten 
room house, modern in every respect and very attractive. A large bank 
barn 30x40 feet, and a silo with a capacity of 125 tons are substantial 
fixtures on the place. Mr. Krohn has recently erected a new tile silo 
14x36 feet. 

J. F. Krohn was born in Cooper County, Oct. 18, 1863, on a farm near 
Billingsville, and is a son of Christian and Mary (Hoflander) Krohn. 
Christian Krohn, the father, was born in Holland, and emigrated from his 
native land to America when a young man. He was shot down in cold 
blood by marauding bushwhackers in his own yard in Aug., 1863. Mr. 
Krohn, had like others who were loyal men in Cooper County, been in 
hiding when the guerrillas were infesting the country. Mrs. Krohn had 
been visiting at one of the neighbor's houses. Mr. Krohn sent for her to 
come home that he wanted to see her. She came on horseback carrying 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 653 

John F. Krohn, the subject of this sketch in her arms. Mr. Krohn as- 
sisted her to a light from the horse, first taking the child in his arms. 
The guerrillas who had been hiding, then stepped out and told her to take 
the baby, that they were going to kill her husband. She was forced to do 
as they bid. The assassins then deliberately shot their defenseless vic- 
tim in the back, and one more dastardly crime was laid at the door of the 
murderers masquerading as Confederate soldiers. Mrs. Krohn was twice 
married after the death of her first husband but the details of the family 
history will be given in connection with the history of the Robien and 
Zimmerman families of Cooper County. 

John F. Krohn was reared in the vicinity of Boonville, and attended 
the Concord district school, Lone Elm, and Mt. Sinai schools, and also 
attended the German Evangelical school at Boonville for a time. He began 
for himself in 1889 when he bought his present home place and began 
improving it. 

Mr. Krohn was married on Feb. 4, 1891, to Miss Flora Hoefer, who 
was born Oct. 25, 1870, in Boonville. Mr. and Mrs. Krohn have one son: 
Frederick H., born Oct. 18, 1896, was inducted into the National Army 
July 26, 1918, was trained at Camp Funston, became a private in the 
Battery A. 28th Field Artillery, 10th Division and was honorably discharged 
from the service, Feb. 6, 1919. He is now assisting his father in the 
management of Fairview Dairy. He is a member of the Knights of 
Pythias. 

Mr. Ki-ohn is a republican but takes little active interest in political 
matters. He and Mrs. Krohn are members of the Evangelical Church of 
Boonville, and Mr. Krohn is president of the board of trustees of the 
church. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and is a thoroughly 
progressive citizen of the best type. 

Clarence Shears, contractor and builder, is one of Boonvilles best 
known citizens and most competent workmen. Mr. Shears is a native of 
Illinois. He was born Feb. 10, 1858, in Christian County, 111., a son of 
Robert and Emily (Wilcox) Sears, the father a native of Virginia, and 
the mother of New York. The Shears family left Illinois in 1876 and 
located in Boone County, where the mother died in 1908, and the father 
died 10 years later, at the age of 76 years. The remains of both parents 
lie in Walnut Grove Cemetery in Boone County. Robert Shears was an 
honored veteran of the Civil War. He served four years with the Union 
army. Mr. and Mrs. Shears were the parents of five children, as follow: 



654 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Clarence, the subject of this sketch; Marion, deceased; Elmer, of Colum- 
bia, Mo. ; Byron, of Kansas City, Mo. ; and Mrs. Lillie Thorpe of Kansas 
City, Mo. 

In the public schools of Nokomis, 111., Clarence Shears obtained his 
education. He came to Missouri in 1876, with his parents, and in Boone 
County he was engaged in farming. Later, he abandoned farming and 
engaged in carpentering and contracting in the vicinity of Woodlandville, 
and these trades he followed until he came to Cooper County in 1897. 
Since locating in Boonville, Mr. Shears has built many residences and 
erected several important buildings. He built the $10,000 residence of 
John Lohse in 1918, and he also built the residence of ex-Lieutenant Gov- 
ernor Gimelich. The Farmers Bank building and the Phoenix American 
Pipe Factory building were erected by Mr. Shears. His shop is located 
at the corner of Morgan and Fourth Streets. 

Sept. 25, 1877, Clarence Shears and Bettie Settles, a daughter of 
Duskin and Mark Settles, noble pioneers of Virginia, were united in mar- 
riage. Mrs. Shears is a native of Virginia. She is one of nine children 
bom to her parents, as follow: George, of Woodlandville, Mo.; Harris, of 
Woodlandville; John, of Fulton; Duskin, of Columbia; Mrs. Clarence 
Shears, the wife of the subject of this sketch ; Mrs. Mary Turner, of Boon- 
ville; Mrs. Susie Morritz, of Witt, 111.; Mrs. Amanda Smallwood, of Wash- 
ington, Mo.; and Mrs. Mattie Shears, of Ottawa, Kan. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Shears have been born six children: Susie, the wife of J. T. Tucker, of 
Boonville ; Edna, who died at the age of 17 years ; and four children who 
died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Shears reside at 1026 South Third 
Street in Boonville. 

Mr. Shears is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Independ- 
ent Order of Odd Fellows. He is an honest, capable workman, and he is 
respected highly among his fellow citizens. He is an independent repub- 
lican. Since January, 1915, he has been a member of the Boonville Board 
of Public Works. For a number of years he was a member of the City 
Council, was president of the Council, and finished out Grimes' term as 
mayor of the city. 

W. A. Oerly, merchant of Wooldridge, Mo., one of the best-known 
citizens of Cooper County, is a native of this county. Mr. Oerly was born 
May 21, 1879, in Prairie Home township, a son of John and Elizabeth 
(Mischler) Oerly, the former, a native of Moniteau County. 

John Oerly was born in 1854 near Jamestown, a son of Ulrich Oerly, 
who located in Moniteau County in 1853, and later settled in Cooper 
County. Ulrich Oerly died in Cooper County and he is buried in the 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 655 

cemetery of the Methodist Church at Pleasant Grove. John Oerly owned 
several farms in Prairie Home township and he moved from Moniteau 
County to Cooper County and here followed farming and stockraising. 
He died in September, 1912, and is buried in the cemetery where his 
father's remains were laid to rest. His widow still resides at the old 
homestead. 

The children of John and Elizabeth (Mischler) Oerly are: W. A., 
the subject of this review; Lulu, the wife of Thomas Chrisman, of 
Wooldridge ; Mrs. N. H. Blank, who died in August, 1918 ; Oscar, who died 
in 1908 ; Cordula, the wife of Hogan Hickman, of Boonville ; Ernest C, 
residing near Gooch's Mill ; and Grace, the wife of True Swanston, of 
Boonville. 

W. A. Oerly obtained his education at Liberty schoolhouse in Saline 
township. Until 1912, Mr. Oerly was engaged in farming, when he en- 
tered the mercantile business. He purchased the stock of George T. 
Bruce at Wooldridge and since 1912 he has conducted a general store 
there. Mr. Oerly carries an exceptionally good line of merchandise for 
a store of the size, and he has thus far had a flattering patronage and 
the receipts in 1918 showed a business amounting to more than $17,000. 
In addition to his store, Mr. Oerly is the owner of a farm comprising 260 
acres of land, located near Bunceton. 

In 1902. W. A. Oerly was united in marriage with Emma Keamfer, 
daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Keamfer, of Prairie Home township. 
The Keamfer children are: John, Mrs. Maggie Kuhns, Mrs. Mary Pipkin, 
Mrs. Emma Oerly, Mrs. Lizzie Byler, Mrs. Annie Byler, Lulu Keamfer, 
Mrs. Meta Hornbeck, and Mrs. Nora Morris. To W. A. and Emma Oerly 
have been born five children, who are living, six children in all: Owen 
Lester, Curtis Richard, Myrl Raymond. Oliver Robert and Earl Alvin. 
The only daughter, Alleene Bertha, was killed in a cyclone, June 5, 1917, 
when she was 12 years of age. 

Mr. Oerly is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, the 
Woodmen of the World, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He 
is a republican. Mr. and Mrs. Oerly have scores of friends in Cooper 
County, and they are numbered among the county's best and most valued 
citizens. 

A. H. Hesel, engaged in the retail liquor business in Boonville, lie, 
is a native of Boonville, and was born October 30, 1882. He is a son of 
Joseph L. Hesel. 

His father, Joseph L. Hesel, was born at Riegel, Baden, Germany, 
Nov. 12, 1849, and died in June, 1917. He came to America when a young 



656 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

man and resided in Fayette, Mo. After the close of the Civil War he 
located in Boonville and operated the city meat market for a number of 
years. He married Louise Hoefer, who was born in Cooper County, Mo., 
Sept. 14, 1850. The children born of this marriage are: Charles Hesel, 
born Aug. 16, 1877, operates the meat market in connection with Harry 
Ruskin's general store; Lee Paul, born Sept. 6, 1884, bartender in the 
Hesel saloon ; J. L. Hesel, Jr., born Nov. 29, 1886, an automobile salesman 
in St. Louis, Mo.; Louise J., born Dec. 24, 1892, at home; Rosa and Roy 
Hesel are deceased. 

Arthur H. Hesel was reared and educated in Boonville and assisted 
his father in the conduct of his meat market business. He first tended 
bar for Tony Hain and was then in the employ of Emil H. Mueller prior 
to engaging in business for himself in 1911. 

Mr. Hesel is a republican. The family church is the Catholic denom- 
ination. The mother of the family is a member of the Evangelical 
Church. Mr. Hesel is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of 
Elks and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. Joseph L. Hesel, his father, was 
an Odd Fellow. 

Horace G. Windsor, proprietor of "Benvenue Farm" in Clarks Fork 
township, is one of the leading agriculturists and stockmen of Clarks Fork 
township. Mr. Windsor was born Dec. 4, 1860, a son of John H. and 
Eleanna (Zollinger) Windsor. Mrs. Windsor was a daughter of George 
Zollinger, a veteran of the Mexican War and a grand daughter of Peter 
Zollinger, a veteran of the Revolutionary War. She was born March 27, 
1835 in Hagerstown, Md., and she died Dec. 28, 1890. The children of 
John H. and Eleanna Windsor, are as follow: Horace G., the subject of 
this sketch; Walter B., who was born April 23, 1862 and now resides in 
Clarks Fork township ; John L., who was born July 4, 1863 and died Aug. 
8, 1884 ; Alma M., who was born Nov. 4, 1866, the wife of E. H. Harris, 
Jr., of Sedalia; Eugene A., who was born Jan. 4, 1870, a sketch of whom 
appears elsewhere in this volume; and Dr. Norman Myers, who was born 
April 18, 1871, now a resident of St. Louis. 

Horace G. Windsor was educated in Boonville, at the Kemper Military 
School and the Boonville Academy. In early manhood, he began farming 
on the home place. His grandmother, Anne Matilda (Allison) Windsor, 
gave him a farm comprising 240 acres of valuable land, which farm is 
now a part of his splendid country place. Mr. Windsor now owns 650 
acres of land in Clarks Fork township, probably the finest country place 
in Cooper County, a farm which is reputed to be the most productive in 




hi >i:a<'k (i wixpsoi: 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 657 

the country. Seventy acres of the farm, the land lying directly east of 
the residence, produced in 1915, more than 100 bushels of corn per acre, 
which is considered to be the best production in the world. Mr. Windsor 
has made the average of 90 bushels an acre for a tract of 80 acres of his 
farm. In 1916, the dry year, he produced on one acre of his land 119 
bushels and 10 pounds of corn, the record for the state of Missouri. Prac- 
tically his entire life, Mr. Windsor has been interested in feeding livestock 
and he usually feeds from 150 to 250 head of cattle annually, also from 
1,000 to 1,500 lambs and from 200 to 250 hogs. He raises the mules used 
in work on his place and, at the time of this writing in 1919, he had 20 
on the farm. Mr. Windsor plants soybeans in with the corn, one bushel 
of the former to every 12 acres of land, and after the corn has matured 
he pastures the land. The "Benvenue Farms" are equipped with three 
sets of improvements, including three bungalows for the assistants ; a 
Dickey silo, 18x60 feet in dimensions ; four barns, the largest, 90x54 feet 
in dimensions, affording shelter for all the stock; and three windmills. 

Oct. 6, 1886, Horace G. Windsor was united in marriage with Anna 
K. Cunningham, a native of Cooper County, a daughter of John W. and 
Ellen (Spencer) Cunningham, the former of whom now at the advanced 
age of 93 years resides in Boonville, and the latter died Feb. 15, 1916. To 
Horace G. and Mrs. Windsor have been born two sons: Capt. John H., 
who was born Dec. 13, 1888, a graduate of Kemper Military School, a 
member of the class of 1907, who received his degree of L. L. D. in 1912 
from the Missouri State University and for five years practiced law in the 
city of Boonville, volunteered his services in the World War, Aug. 27, 
1917 and was sent to Fort Sheridan for training, was commissioned first 
lieutenant Nov. 27, 1917, sailed for France, Dec. 24, of the same year, 
with 500 other officers, was first attached to the British infancy and later 
to the 77th Division, was in the battle of Arras in March, 1918, and was 
gassed in May, 1918, made Judge Advocate of his section, commissioned 
captain, Aug. 28, 1919, and honorably discharged March 2, 1919; Wilbur 
C, who was born Jan. 14, 1891, graduated from the Kemper Military 
School in 1910, was senior captain of the cadets in this school, was a 
student at the Missouri State University for three and a half years, 
specializing in banking, engaged in the banking business in Oklahoma 
for two years, was associated with his father in managing the "Benvenue 
Farms", volunteered for service and was sent to Fort Sheridan in Aug., 
1917, was commissioned first lieutenant and sent to Camp Zachariah Tay- 



658 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

lor in Kentucky as instructor, thence to Camp Sherman in Ohio, a member 
of the 84th Division, sailed for France in Sept., 1918, and was honorably 
discharged from the service on April 18, 1919. 

Wilbur C. Windsor was married to Gertrude Buckley of Poteau, Okla., 
a daughter of William Buckley, ex-attorney United States district, of 
Oklahoma, on Dec. 28, 1916, and to them has been born one child, Ger- 
trude Anna. 

Horace G. Windsor has been president of the Missouri State Corn 
Growers Association for four years. He was instrumental in the estab- 
lishment of Rural Route 1 out of Boonville, the second route established 
in the state, and he assisted in the establishing of the first rural telephone 
line in the county. He is the originator of the benefit assessment system 
for the building of better roads and he has been president in his district 
for eight years. Mr. Windsor writes for the "Missouri Ruralist" and 
other farm papers and he is considered one of the most advanced thinkers 
in Cooper County and one of the most progressive men in the country. 
He is widely known throughout the state. Mr. Windsor is a member of 
the Presbyterian Church and he is affiliated with the Ancient Free and 
Accepted Masons and is a Shriner. 

Irene Schubert, a prosperous and highly respected farmer and stock- 
man of Saline township, is a native of Cooper County. Mr. Schubert was 
born June 8, 1864 on his father's farm in Palestine township, a son of 
Henry B. and Christina Schubert, who were born, reared, educated and 
married in Germany. 

Henry B. Schubert was born in 1830 and Christina Schubert was 
born in 1838. The Schuberts located in Cooper County on a farm near 
Billingsville in 1863 and there resided for several years, when Mr. Schubert 
purchased a farm comprising 72 acres of land, which he improved and 
where he spent the remainder of his life and died in 1912. His remains 
rest in the cemetery at Billingsville, Mo. Mrs. Schubert now resides at 
Speed, Mo. The children of Henry B. and Christina Schubert are, as 
follow: Mrs. Mary Huffman, who lives in Germany; Mrs. Amelia Steg- 
ner, deceased, wife of Paul Stegner; Irene, the subject of this review; 
Mrs. Emma Baker, deceased ; Henry, deceased ; Fannie and John, of Speed, 
and Willie, who died at the age of four years. Gottholt Schubert and his 
wife, grandparents of Irene Schubert, immigrated to America from Ger- 
many about 1861. The senior Schubert was, by trade, a miller. Both 
grandfather and grandmother have been deceased many years and their 
remains are interred in the cemetery at Billingsville, Mo. 

Irene Schubert attended school at Independence, in Palestine town- 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 659 

ship. Since leaving school, he has followed farming and stockraising 
and with the exception of ten years. Mr. Schubert purchased his present 
country place in March, 1914, a farm which was originally a part of the 
Bates farm, 144 acres of well-watered land, an ideal stock farm. Mr. 
Schubert is just beginning the raising of registered Hampshire hogs. He 
is engaged in general farming and stockraising. In his district, he is 
overseer of roads and he takes an active and keen interest in the upkeep- 
ing of the public highways. 

In 1890, Irene Schubert and Minnie Doerrie were married. Mrs. 
Schubert is a daughter of Henry and Louisa (Kemper) Doerrie, natives 
of Germany. The Doerries immigrated from Germany and settled in 
Missouri, locating first in St. Louis. Mr. Doerrie died at St. Charles, Mo. 
and Mrs. Doerrie was later married to Peter Young and she now resides 
in Boonville. She is now 80 years of age. Louisa (Kemper) Doerrie 
Young is the daughter of Henry and Lottie Kemper, who settled in St. 
Charles County, Mo. in 1856. He was, by trade, a carpenter. Mr. and 
Mrs. Kemper died in St. Charles, and are buried there. To Irene and 
Minnie (Doerrie) Schubert have been born two children: Bert and Rose- 
mond, both at home with their parents, and both educated in the Boon- 
ville schools. Mr. and Mrs. Schubert are members of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church and Mr. Schubert is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias 
at Boonville. 

Mr. and Mrs. Schubert are well known and highly regarded in Cooper 
County and they number their friends in this section of the state by the 
score. 

Walter Meredith and George Meredith, proprietors of "The Lowell 
Stock Farm," in Saline township, one of the best stock farms in the 
county, are numbered among the progressive agriculturists of Cooper 
County. "The Lowell Stock Farm" comprises 238 acres of valuable land, 
located eight miles southeast of Boonville. Walter Meredith and George 
Meredith are sons of Lee and Susan (McGruder) Meredith. 

Lee Meredith was born near Pilot Grove, Mo., a son of Thomas Mere- 
dith, one of the first settlers of that part of the county. The mother 
of Lee Meredith was Susan (Woolridge) Meredith. Thomas and Susan 
Meredith are now deceased and the remains rest in Pilot Grove Cemetery. 
Lee Meredith was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and 
was a democrat. Mrs. Meredith died in 1900 and she was buried in Pilot 
Grove Cemetery. She reared the family and educated the children, as all 
were small when the father died. 

"The Lowell Stock Farm" was purchased by the Meredith brothers 



660 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

and their sisters, Grace Alice and Winona, in 1901, from John Engfer. 
The brothers and sisters reside at this farm, and though grown to matur- 
ity, they are still as closely united as when they were children. The 
Meredith residence is a brick structure of seven large rooms, four halls 
and two stories. It is "T-shape," and was built prior to the Civil War. 
This farm in early days was known as the James Connor farm, and on the 
place are ruins of foundation of houses formerly occupied by slaves. Since 
coming to the place, the Merediths have added two barns and fences, and 
have drilled a well which is over 226 feet in depth, the same supplying an 
abundance of excellent water. There are two good springs in the pasture. 
In every respect "The Lowell Stock Farm" is an ideal one. The builder 
of the large brick residence was one of the aristocrats of his day, and the 
large rooms, four times the size of the average room of today, suggest 
colonial architecture, and the surroundings show the taste of the typical 
southern plantation owner. 

The Merediths are valued members of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
at Oak Grove. They are highly respected among the best citizens of 
Cooper County. 

Joseph Gerhardt. — When Joseph Gerhardt left his native Germany 
1881, crossed the Atlantic, and made his way to Pickaway County, Ohio, 
he had very little of this world's goods. When he came to Cooper County, 
Mo., in 1887, he had not made much progress in accumulating a fortune. 
However, matters shaped themselves so that in 1905 he began to buy 
land, although his first farm of 192 acres was purchased on time. To this 
he subsequently added 25 acres, then added 160 acres, and at the time of 
his retirement to a home in Speed, Mo., in the spring of 1919, Mr. Ger- 
hardt was the owner of a total of 377 acres of well improved land, without 
incumbrance. The farm buildings are very good, and it is one of the 
attractive places in Cooper County. This country has been good to Mr. 
Gerhardt, and Cooper County -seems to be a place of unbounded opportu- 
nity for men of industry and thrift and energy, like himself. 

Joseph Gerhardt, retired farmer, Speed, Mo., was born in Germany, 
Jan. 9, 1857, a son of Christ and Lena Gerhardt, who spent their lives in 
Germany. Joseph Gerhardt came to America in 1881, a poor lad in search 
of fortune. Hs stopped for five years in Pickaway County, Ohio, and 
earned some money. In 1887, he came to Cooper County, worked as farm 
laborer for one year, and then rented land until he made his first pur- 
chase of a farm in 1905. During the space of 14 years, Mr. Gerhardt 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 661 

has prospered to such an extent that he has laid away the cares of active 
farming, turned over the management of his large acreage to his sons, 
and is taking life easy in his comfortable cottage home in Speed, Mo. 

Mr. Gerhardt was married in Ohio, in 1882, to Katrina Grom, who 
was born in 1858. The children born to this marriage are: Henry Ger- 
hardt, a farmer, Cooper County ; Christ F., merchant at Speed, Mo. ; Cath- 
erine, wife of Anton Schler, farmer in Boonville township; Albert, a 
thresher, Speed, Mo. ; William, living on a farm east of Bunceton ; August, 
a farmer living one mile west of Speed; Mrs. Louise Vieth, on a farm 
near Bunceton ; Emil and Herman Gerhardt are operating the home place. 

The democratic party has always had the allegiance of Mr. Gerhardt 
since he cast his first vote. He is a member of the Evangelical Church, 
and is a good, substantial citizen. 

Elza B. Shannon, proprietor of "Rose Lawn" farm in Clarks Fork 
township (rural mail route No. 1 out of Boonville) and for years recog- 
nized as one of the leading farmers and stockmen of that vicinity, an 
active member of the energetic Farmers Club in that neighborhood and in 
other ways prominently identified with the life of the community, was 
born on that farm and has lived there all his life. He was born on Oct. 
31, 1854, son of Alexander and Julia A. (Hurt) Shannon, pioneers of that 
vicinity and the latter of whom is still living, continuing to make her 
home on the old home place, being now nearly 90 years of age. 

Alexander Shannon was an Easterner, born in Charles County, Md., 
Feb. 10. 1823, who came to Missouri in 1847 and in 1849 located on the 
place now known as "Rose Lawn" farm and owned by his son Elza. That 
farm, originally known as the Bell farm, he bought from D. C. Steele and 
when he bought it consisted of 110 acres, which tract, under its present 
ownership, has been expanded to the present dimensions of "Rose Lawn", 
a fine farm of 402 acres. During the two years he spent in Missouri 
before buying his farm, Alexander Shannon was engaged in freighting 
between Boonville and Knobnoster and during this form of service he 
not infrequently was in perilous touch with the Indians that still were 
numerous hereabout in those days. He married not long after coming 
here and established his home on the farm he had bought and there spent 
the remainder of his life, his death occurring on June 10, 1898, he then 
being past 75 years of age, and he is buried in the cemetery at Boonvilli>. 
As noted above, his widow is still living at "Rose Lawn". She was born 
on a pioneer farm in Clarks Fork township, this county, in 1830, daugh- 



662 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

ter of Colonel Hurt, one of the most influential of the early settlers of that 
neighborhood, and has spent all her life in that vicinity, having thus been 
a witness to the amazing development noted there during her lifetime. 
To Alexander and Julia A. (Hurt) Shannon were born five children, of 
whom the subject of this sketch was the second in order of birth, the 
others being G. W. and F. H. Shannon, Texas County, Mo. ; J. B. Shannon, 
deceased, and Nannie, wife of J. W. Draften, Los Angeles, Cal. 

Reared on the farm on which he is now living, Elza B. Shannon re- 
ceived his early schooling in the then somewhat primitive district school 
of his home neighborhood and supplemented the same by a course in the 
Kemper Family School at Boonville, after which he returned to the farm 
and resumed his labors there, a valuable aid to his father in the work of 
development on the place. After his marriage in 1876 he established his 
home on the place, presently assuming the management of the same, and 
has ever since resided there, gradually improving the place by the erection 
of new buildings and from time to time buying adjoining tracts until 
"Rose Lawn" long ago came to be recognized as one of the most attractive 
farms in that part of the county. The place is admirably adapted to the 
raising of live stock and Mr. Shannon annually markets about 200 hogs 
and one or two car loads of cattle. He also maintains a flock of about 
250 sheep and in his operations is doing well, in these operations being 
ably assisted by those of his sons who still are at home and who are bend- 
ing their energies to the further and profitable improvement of "Rose 
Lawn." Mr. Shannon is one of the leading members of the local Farmers 
Club and has for years been actively interested in movements having to 
do with the advancement of the common interest in that neighborhood. 
In his political faith he is a Democrat. He and his family are members 
of the Presbyterian Church and take a proper interest in church work as 
well as in the general social activities of the community in which they 
live. 

Mr. Shannon has been twice married. It was in 1876, when he was 
little past 21 years of age, that he was united in marriage to Mary Cath- 
erine Miller, who also was born in Clarks Fork township and who died on 
July 26, 1884. To that union three children were born, namely: Minnie 
Gray, who died at the age of two years; Robert Alexander, who is now 
farming in the vicinity of Rankin's Mill, and Elza M. Shannon, who is at 
home aiding in the management of "Rose Lawn". On March 6, 1889, Mr. 
Shannon married, secondly, Jennie L. Johnston, a music teacher, who was 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 663 

graduated from the old Prairie Home Institute and for some time follow- 
ing her graduation was teacher of music there, later giving general music 
lessons, and to this union five children have been born: Martha, wife of 
B. H. Mills, of Clarks Fork township; Georgia, at home; Margaret, who 
died at the age of four years, and Noye L. and Louis J., at home. Mrs. 
Jennie L. (Johnston) Shannon also was born in this county, March 20, 
1861, a daughter of Washington A. and Martha (Hunt) Johnston, both 
of whom also were born here, members of pioneer families, and who spent 
all their lives here, both living to ripe old age. W. A. Johnston was bom 
on Jan. 1, 1825, and died on Feb. 15, 1908, he then being past 83 years of 
age. His wife, Martha Hunt, was born in the vicinity of Pisgah on Jan. 
3, 1829, and died on Jan. 14, 1919, she then being past 90 years of age. 
W. A. Johnston was a son of Robert and Ellender P. (Powell) Johnston, 
the latter of whom was born in North Carolina on July 14, 1800, and came 
to Missouri with her parents, William Powell and wife, in 1822, the family 
settling in the vicinity of Jamestown, in Monteau County. Robert Johns- 
ton was born in Tennessee in 1783 and came to Missouri, settling in Cooper 
County in territorial days. He married Ellender Powell in March, 1824. 

Benjamin Franklin Anderson, a veteran teacher of Cooper County, 
who is also engaged in farming in Saline township, was born in Prairie 
Home township, Dec. 14, 1860. He is a son of John and Nancy (Twenty- 
man) Anderson. John Anderson was born near Miami, Ohio, in 1824. 
He came to Missouri in the early forties, and settled on a farm of 120 
acres, three miles northwest of Prairie Home. He died in 1881. Nancy 
(Twentyman) Anderson was born in 1832 and died in 1862. She was a 
daughter of Thomas Twentyman, who was a very early settler in Cooper 
County, and a member of the first grand jury of Cooper County. John 
and Nancy (Twentyman) Anderson were the parents of the following 
children: Mrs. Amanda Arnold, Moniteau township; J. H., Searcy, Ark.; 
Mrs. Elizabeth J. Goodrich, Bolivar, Mo. ; T. B., California, Mo. ; and B. F., 
the subject of this sketch. 

B. F. Anderson attended public school until he was about 15 years 
of age, he then attended a private school in Polk County, and later en- 
tered Hooper Institute at Clarksburg, Mo., where he was graduated. He 
engaged in teaching in 1882, his first school benig in the Lowland district 
in Saline township. He taught school in this same district during the 
school year 1918-1919. During the intervening time he has taught in 
the district schools of the adjoining districts, including Highland, Lib- 



664 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

erty, Wooldridge, Bruce, Overton, and Hail Ridge. He has a long career 
of successful teaching to his credit, and ranks among the leading edu- 
cators of Cooper County. In addition to teaching, Mr. Anderson has car- 
ried on farming in the summertime and owns 130 acres known as "Maple 
Wood Farm," located one mile northwest of Wooldridge. This was for- 
merly a part of the H. B. Hopkins farm. The place is well improved, and 
it is a productive and valuable farm. 

B. F. Anderson was married Nov. 7, 1883, to Miss Emma S. Hopkins, 
a daughter of H. B. and Rebecca (Burcham) Hopkins, Cooper County 
pioneers. They were the parents of the following children: Emma S., 
wife of B. F. Anderson, subject of this sketch; H. H., Wooldridge, Mo.; 
and T. B., Wooldridge. To Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have been born two 
children: Ida H., mari-ied W. E. Hooper, Wooldridge, Mo., and F. L., who 
resides at home. There are two grandchildren in the Anderson family: 
Emma Marjorie and Hazel Lillian Hooper. 

Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are well known in Cooper County and rank 
among its most substantial representative people. Mrs. Anderson is a 
member of Big Lick Baptist Church. Mr. Anderson is a democrat. Cast 
his first vote in 1881, never missed an election, never scratched his ticket, 
and never sought office. 

Herman P. Muntzel. — "Pleasant Valley Stock Farm," owned and oper- 
ated by Herman P. Muntzel, and consisting of 193 acres of valley land, 
well watered and drained, is one of the most beautiful and richest farms 
in all Missouri. No tract of fertile and productive land lies in a prettier 
location than this farm, which is rightly named. A winding creek makes 
its way through the farm and affords ample water for stock and drainage. 
In the background to the east are wooded hills which give a touch of 
beauty to the whole setting. A pretty cottage and well kept farm build- 
ings, set on a rise of ground above the valley, overlook the entire tract. 
The barn is of ample size, built by Mr. Muntzel in 1912, and is 32x50 feet 
in extent. The residence has been remodeled since the purchase of the 
farm in 1904. Herman P. Muntzel is a member of one of the most sub- 
stantial and highly respected pioneer families of Cooper County, which 
dates its advent into the county in the early forties. 

Daniel Muntzel, father of Herman P. Muntzel, who now resides at or 
near Washington schoolhouse on his farm, where he has resided for over 
a half century, was born in 1835, and accompanied his father, Peter Munt- 
zel, from Germany to America when but a child. Peter Muntzel settled 




ROBERT .1. MUNTZEL, 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 665 

in this county, reared a family and lived to be over 90 years of age. 
Daniel Muntzel married Minnie Kauns, born in Germany, and died in 
Cooper County in 1914. There were eight children born to Daniel and 
Minnie Muntzel, as follows: Christ died in infancy; Mrs. Sophia Prigge 
lives in St. Louis ; Mary, wife of Charles Schubert, lives near Washington 
School ; Lavina, wife of Martin Meyer, is deceased ; August lives with his 
father; Herman P., of this review. 

Herman P. Muntzel was born Aug. 25, 1861. He attended the Wash- 
ington School, and at the age of 18 years he began to earn his own way 
in the world. In 1887, he bought a farm in the Washington School neigh- 
borhood, improved it and sold it at a profit in 1905. His present farm, 
purchased in 1904, cost him $51 an acre. Mr. Muntzel's first farm cost 
him $46 an acre, and he disposed of it for $57 an acre, making a profit of 
$2,000. The Muntzel farm is noted for its thoroughbred live stock. Mr. 
Muntzel has a herd of 75 or more pure-bred Poland China and Duroc Jer- 
sey hogs. Mrs. Muntzel has a flock of fine Barred Plymouth Rock chick- 
ens. She sells eggs for hatching at good prices, and cockerels to fanciers. 

Sept. 7, 1887, Herman P. Muntzel and Miss Minnie A. E. Steigleder 
were united in marriage in the Evangelical Lutheran Trinity Church of 
Clarks Fork by Rev. August Rehwaldt. The following children have been 
born to Herman P. and Minnie A. E. Muntzel: Ilda lola Esther, Andrew 
Daniel and Robert John. 

Ilda lola Esther Muntzel was born Nov. 9, 1888, near Boonville, was 
baptized in the Evangelical Lutheran Trinity Church by Rev. August 
Rehwaldt, Dec. 12, 1882. She was educated in Washington and Concord 
Schools, spent two years in the parochial school, was instructed and con- 
firmed April, 1903, by Rev. J. Hoenes. She was married to Albert E. H. 
Klekamp, April 30, 1916, at 4 o'clock in Trinity Church, Clarks Fork. Mr. 
and Mrs. Klekamp are now living on their fine farm near Lone Elm, and 
are communicants of the Zion Church of -Lone Elm. Mo. Their postoffice 
address is Boonvile, Mo., R. F. D. No. 1. They have one child, Irene Wil- 
helmina Klekamp, born Feb. 27, 1918, and baptized March, 1918, by Rev. 
John Mueller. 

Andrew Daniel Muntzel was born Feb. 3, 1891, near Boonville, was 
baptized March 15, 1891, in Trinity Church, Clarks Fork, by Rev. August 
Rehwaldt. He was educated in Washington and Concord Schools, and 
studied for one year at the Columbia Normal, and studied for two years 
in the parochial school. He was instructed and confirmed April 16, 1905, 



666 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

by Rev. J. Hoeness. He is now a member of Trinity Church, Clarks 
Fork. He is now a partner with his father in the operation of Pleasant 
Valley Farm. 

Robert John Muntzel was born Oct 18, 1898, and was baptized Nov. 
20, 1898, by Rev. J. H. Rupprecht. He attended the Concord School, and 
after receiving his diploma on May 14, 1912, attended the parochial school 
for one year. He was instructed and confirmed March 16, 1913, by Rev. 
K. F. Lohrman. He is a communicant of Trinity Church, Clarks Fork, 
On Sept. 1, 1914, he entered Boonville High School, and the last two years 
of his course was spent in Laura Speed Elliot High School, from which he 
graduated on May 17, 1917. On Jan. 2, 1918, he entered the employ of 
the N. K. Fairbanks Company as junior salesman, selling the trade, and 
after three months' service he was promoted to a position which placed 
him charge of an advertising display and specialty salesman of soap 
products. While in Kansas City he joined the unit of the army and 
enrolled as a member of the S. A. T. C. at Columbia, Mo. He received his 
honorable discharge from the service on Dec. 16, 1918, and again resumed 
his work with the N. K. Fairbanks Co., on Jan. 6, 1919. He was pro- 
moted to the post of propriety edible salesman on Feb. 1, 1919. His ter- 
ritory requires that he travel out of the St. Louis branch, and his city 
address is at 5063 Delmar Avenue, St. Louis, Mo. 

The mother of the foregoing children was born Feb 2, 1860, in Oska- 
loosa, Iowa, and is a daughter of George Frederick Andrew and Mary 
Elizabeth (Hochstetler) Steigleder, the former of whom was a native of 
Germany, and the latter a native of Holmes County, Ohio. Mrs. Minnie 
A. E. Muntzel (nee Steigleder) came to Cooper County, Mo., with her 
parents in 1866. 

Mr. Muntzel is a republican and is road overseer of his district. For 
the past four years he has been an elder of Evangelical Lutheran Trinity 
Church of Clarks Fork. Mr. and Mrs. Muntzel are intelligent, well-in- 
formed people, who are progressive and enterprising and believe in keep- 
ing fully abreast of the times. They are prominent socially and are 
among the leaders in their community. 

Robert Thomas Byler, justice of the peace in and for Clarks Fork 
township and one of the best known and most substantial farmers in that 
section of Cooper County, owner of a fine farm of 160 acres ten miles 
southeast of Boonville (rural mail route No. 1 out of Boonville), was born 
in Prairie Home township, a member of one of the real pioneer families 
of Cooper County, and has lived in the county all his life. He was born 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 667 

Dec. 8, 1867, son of Joel Woodard and Susan Esther (Harris) Byler, both 
of whom also were born in this county and the former of whom is still 
living, being now past 85 years of age. 

Joel Woodard Byler was born on a pioneer farm in Boonville town- 
ship Feb. 18, 1834, son of Thomas Dillard Byler, who was a son of Thomas 
Byler, who had come here in territorial days and had entered a tract of 
land in what is now Clarks Fork township and had there spent the re- 
mainder of his life and at his death was buried on his farm there. Thomas 
Dillard Byler, grandfather of 'Squire Byler, made his home on the farm 
now owned by Henry Muntzel and died there in 1876, being then 76 years 
of age. His son, Joel Woodard Byler, father of 'Squire Byler, grew up on 
that farm and became a farmer on his own account. June 8, 1865, he 
married Susan Esther Harris, a member of one of the pioneer families 
of this county, and after his marriage established his home on a farm 
in Clarks Fork township, where he continued actively engaged in farming 
until his retirement. He is now living in Moniteau township, over the 
line in the county of that name. His wife died on June 8, 1915, the 
fiftieth anniversary of their marriage. They were the parents of eight 
children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the second in order of 
birth, the others being as follows: Fannie Jane, wife of Robert Horn- 
beck, of Prairie Home; William Henry Byler, a hardware merchant at 
Prairie Home ; Tyra Emmet, also of Prairie Home ; Joel Albert, of Kansas 
City; Jesse Dillard, a farmer of the neighboring county of Moniteau, and 
Walter Lawrence and Harris Byler, who continue to make their home on 
the old home place. 

Reared on the home farm in Clarks Fork township, Robert Thomas 
Byler received his early schooling in the local district school and sup- 
plemented the same by a course of two years at the old Prairie Home 
College. From the days of his boyhood he was helpful on the home place 
and after his marriage when 21 years of age began farming on his own 
account, a vocation he ever since has continued. In Jan., 1909, he bought 
the farm on which he is now living, the old Peter Wehmeyer place of 160 
acres in Clarks Fork township, and since taking possession of the same 
has made numerous substantial improvements, bringing the farm plant 
up to an excellent standard. One half of the farm is Clarks creek bot- 
tom land and the place is admirably adapted to the raising of live stock, 
Mr. Byler giving considerable attention to the raising of Shorthorn cattle 
and Duroc Jersey hogs. Mr. Byler has always given proper attention to 
local civic affairs and is now serving as justice of the peace in and for his 



668 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

home township. He also for the past nine years has served as director 
in the Washington school district. He and his wife are members of the 
Prairie Home Baptist Church. He is a member of the local lodge of the 
Modern Woodmen of America at Prairie Home and Mrs. Byler is a mem- 
ber of the auxiliary order of the Royal Neighbors of America. 

Feb. 20, 1889, that Robert T. Byler was united in marriage to Leonore 
Hurt, who also was born in this county, and to this union six children 
have been born, namely: Joel Fleming Byler, who manned Addie Doug- 
las and lives in Saline township; Flora Esther, wife of Arthur White, of 
Prairie Home ; Robna Frances, wife of John Woodhouse, of Boonville ; 
Stella Teel, wife of Adolph Hoerl, of Boonville, and Jessie Gibson and 
Virginia Florence, at home. Mr. and Mrs. Byler have three grand- 
children, Charles Robert Woodhouse, Arthur Lewis White and Norma 
Jeannette Byler. Mrs. Byler was born in Boonville township on March 
21, 1871, daughter of Fleming and Flora (Davis) Hurt, both members of 
pioneer families in Cooper County and both now deceased. Fleming Hurt 
died in July, 1909, and his widow did not long survive him, her death 
occurring in Jan., 1912. They were the parents of four children, those 
besides Mrs. Byler being H. G. Hurt, of Boonville, Mrs. Florence Davis, 
living east of Boonville, and Mrs. Dollie Adair, deceased. 

James Lymer, one of the progressive and substantial farmers of 
Clarks Fork township, was born on a farm in Boonville township, March 
20, 1865, son of William and Ellen Lymer, both deceased. 

William Lymer was a native of England, born about 1802, who came 
to this country and settled in Cooper County, residing on a farm in Boon- 
ville township until his death, about 1872. His widow died in 1884 and 
was 50 years of age. They were the parents of seven children as follows : 
Richard, Boonville township; William, Boonville township; John, St. 
Louis; Robert, Boonville; James; Margaret, wife of Casper Lamglotz, 
Boonville, and Sarah Jane, wife of Isaac Hurd, Boonville. 

James Lymer was reared on the home farm and received his school- 
ing at the Hail Ridge School and at the Clear Spring School. Upon en- 
gaging in farming on his own account years ago, he bought a farm six 
miles west of Boonville, but soon sold that place to advantage and bought 
another farm near Pilot Grove, although he did not reside on the farm. 
This latter place he also sold when the opportunity to better himself pre- 
sented, and in 1910 bought from William Solomon the farm on which 
he is no living in Clarks Fork township, the place formerly belonging to 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 669 

the Berry estate, where he has 138 acres, all lying in Clarks Fork township, 
save 20 acres in Boonville township. The two-story farm house on the 
place Mr. Lymer rebuilt in 1912, the house being one of eight rooms with 
a hall 10x28 feet, well fitted and furnished. The bricks from which the 
house was built were burned on the place. The farm buildings are in 
keeping with the house, and include good barns, a 12x30 silo, and a wind- 
mill, the latter drawing an ample supply of water for stock purposes from 
a drilled well 150 feet deep. This water supply is supplemented by sev- 
eral excellent springs on the farm. Mr. Lymer has for years given 
considerable attention to the raising of live stock, has a fine drove of 
Duroc Jersey hogs, a herd of eight dairy cows, and a flock of 175 chickens, 
pure-bred Rhode Island Reds. 

Dec. 18, 1894, James Lymer was united in marriage to Dena Langlotz, 
who also was born in this county, daughter of John and Mary Langlotz, 
natives of Germany, and for many years well-known residents of the 
neighborhood west of Boonville John Langlotz came to this country in 
the fifties, and was working in Missouri when the Civil War broke out. 
He served as a soldier of the Union, and after the war sent for other 
members of the family to come over from Germany, married and settled 
down on a farm which he bought, a little more than six miles west of 
Boonville. He and his wife were the parents of nine children, of whom 
Mrs. Lymer was the eighth in order of birth, the others being as follows: 
Casper, Boonville; Sophia, wife of George Lang, Boonville; Rosa, who 
married Benjamin Schroeder, and is now deceased ; Caroline, who married 
George Krammel, and lives in Oklahoma; Henry, married Carrie Kulow, 
and is living at Blackwater; John, deceased, and whose widow (who was 
Minnie Schubert before her marriage), now lives at Boonville; Mary, wife 
of Henry Simmons, Boonville ; and Minnie, wife of William Woolery, 
Otterville. To James and Dena (Langlotz) Lymer six children have been 
born : James William, died in infancy ; Herman Earl, at home, a valued 
assistant to his father; Edgar, died in infancy; and Robert Henry, Mar- 
garet Catherine and Wilbur Lee. The Lymers are members of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church (South), and take a proper part in church work 
as well as in the general social activities of the neighborhood in which 
they live. 

Charles P. Tutt, of Kelly township, is a native of Cooper County and 
has been prominently identified with the affairs of this county all his life. 
He was born on the farm where he now resides, Oct. 29, 1858, of pioneer 



670 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

parents and is a descendant of colonial ancestors. Charles P. Tutt is the 
son of James H. and Harriet E. (Hickox) Tutt, early settlers of Cooper 
County. James H. Tutt was a native of Virginia; he was born in Fau- 
quier County, Jan. 21, 1830, and died in March, 1898. He came to Mis- 
souri with his parents, Phillip A. and Catherine (Ashby) Tutt, in 1835. 
The family first settled in Calloway County and in 1836 came to Cooper 
County, and settled in Kelly township on the farm that is now owned by 
Charles P. Tutt. Phillip A. Tutt bought this place from Thomas Best 
for $5 per acre. At that time there was a log cabin on the place and a 
few acres of land were cleared. Here Phillip Tutt and his wife spent the 
remainder of their lives. Phillip Tutt was a surveyor, and for a number 
of years served as surveyor of Cooper County. He also held the office of 
judge of the County Court. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and his 
father, John Tutt, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, serving with 
the Virginian troops. Phillip Tutt was one of four brothers who came to 
Missouri together, the others being Dr. Gabriel, Col. John, and Col. 
Richard J. They came down the Kanawha River to the Ohio in a boat, 
and from there the younger men of the families and the negro slaves 
drove across the country to St. Louis with a wagon train, while the 
women and the older men came by steamboat down the Ohio and up the 
Mississippi Rivers to St. Louis. When the Tutt family came to Missouri 
they brought with them a mare which was a descendant of the famous 
running horse, "Imported Whip," and Charles P. Tutt still has on his 
place descendants of that animal. 

Harriet E. (Hickox) Tutt, mother of Charles P. Tutt, was born in 
Cooper County, April 9, 1836, and died May 21, 1898. She was a de- 
scendant of one of the very early New England families. Judith Clark, 
who landed at Plymouth Rock with the Pilgrims in 1620, was a direct 
ancestor of Charles P. Tutt's mother. To James H. and Harriet E. 
(Hickox) Tutt were born five children, three of whom died in infancy, 
and the others were George, who died at the age of 27 years, and Charles 
P., the subject of this sketch. 

Charles P. Tutt was educated in the public schools and Cully and 
Simpson Academy, and Paris Institute. He then attended William Jewell 
College at Liberty, Mo., from 1881 to 1883. In early life he taught school 
for a number of years, but has practically devoted his entire attention to 
farming and stock raising. He is making a specialty of breeding pure 
blood Shorthorn cattle, Berkshire hogs, and Cotswold sheep, and has 
been successfully engaged in this work for the past 25 years. His stock 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 671 

has recently been awarded premiums at state fairs and stock shows, and 
he is regarded as one of the successful breeders of the state. His father 
before him was a successful stock breeder. 

Charles P. Tutt was married in 1892 to Miss Mary L. Grantham, of 
Mexico, Mo. She is a daughter of Samuel A. and Mary (Ford) Grant- 
ham, early settlers of St. Charles County, Mo., both of whom are now 
deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Tutt have been bom seven children, as fol- 
lows : Mary E., married Dr. Silas Barnes, of Pilot Grove, Mo. ; George A., 
Bunceton, Mo., married Blanche White; Henry was in an officers' training 
school during the World War and is now residing at home; Claire, a 
teacher in the Pilot Grove school; Frank E., at home; Harriet, at home; 
and Virginia, at home. 

Mr. and Mrs. Tutt are members of the Baptist Church at Bunceton. 
Mr. Tutt is one of Cooper County's leading citizens and the Tutt family 
is prominent in this county. 

B. F. Hurt, a prominent hardware merchant of Bunceton, Mo., is a 
native son of Cooper County. He was born in Clarks Fork township, Dec. 
19, 1868, and is a son of Andrew C. and Celeste Ann (Holstein) Hurt. 
The Hurt family are Cooper County pioneers. Andrew C. Hurt was born 
in Clarks Fork township in 1844. He was a son of Benijah Hurt, who 
was a veiy early settler in that section of the county. Benijah Hurt and 
his wife are buried in the Concord Cemetery. Celeste Ann (Holstein) 
Hurt is a native of Illinois. 

Andrew C. Hurt and his wife now reside on their home farm in 
Clarks Fork township. He is 76 years old and his wife is 66 years of age. 
Andrew C. Hurt served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War, 
under "Fighting Joe Shelby." 

To Andrew C. and Celesta Ann (Holstein) Burt were bom the fol- 
lowing children: B. F., the subject of this sketch; James A., North 
Moniteau township; William, Clarks Fork township; Dolphin 0., Clarks 
Fork township, and Orbra F., Hustonia, Mo. 

B. F. Hurt was reared in Clarks Fork township and educated in the 
public schools. He remained on the home place with his parents until 
he was 21 years of age. He then engaged in the carpenter trade, and fol- 
lowed building for 24 years. In 1912 he bought the Couchman interest 
in the Moore & Couchman Hardware Store at Bunceton, Mo. He con- 
tinued this business until 1916, when he sold his interest to the Hawkins 
Hardware Company. In March, 1917, he bought the Hunt & Co. Hard- 
ware Store in Bunceton and has since successfully conducted that busi- 



672 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

ness. He carries a complete line of hardware, stoves and everything 
usually found in a modern hardware store. He also sells farming imple- 
ments, carrying the Rock Island farm implements. He is a progressive 
business man and his methods are modern and up to date, and by his fair 
dealing and reliable representations has built up a profitable business. 

Mr. Hurt was married in August, 1916, to Miss Matilda M. Langkop, 
a daughter of Ferdinand Langkop, a Clarks Fork township pioneer, who 
is now deceased, as is also his wife. To Mr. and Mrs. Hurt have been 
born two daughters, Leona Lois, and Clotilda Margaret. 

Mr. Hurt is a member of the Masonic Lodge, having been made a 
Mason in December, 1895, at Prairie Home Lodge. While he does not 
take an active part in political matters, he has always supported the poli- 
cies and principles of the democrat party. 

Henry 0. King. — An inspection of the splendid farm of Henry 0. 
King, of Lone Elm Prairie in Clarks Fork township, will disclose the fact 
that Mr. King is a real farmer, who is rarely worried about the success 
or non-success of his crops. The richness of the soil of his tract of 80 
acres and the additional 40 acres which he is tilling will attest to the care 
which he has bestowed upon the land, and through the years which he 
has owned this farm, he has carefully conserved and increased the fer- 
tility of the land. During the season of 1918, when the corn was almost a 
total failure in Missouri, Mr. King harvested a good crop. His father, 
the late John King, who was the first of the farmers of German birth to 
settle on Lone Elm Prairie, was a very successful farmer, who had a keen 
and discerning knowledge of how best to get the maximum yield from 
Missouri soil. 

Henry 0. King is a native born citizen of Cooper County, and is proud 
of the fact that his 54 years have all been spent within sight and sound of 
his birthplace. He was bora on April 11, 1865, on the Captain Fricke place, 
and is a son of John and Sophia King, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere 
in this work. He attended the Lone Elm School, and when but a boy 
he assisted his father in the farm work. After his marriage in 1890, 
Mr. King settled on the fine farm where he now resides and reared his 
family. He was married on Jan. 28, 1890, to Miss Maggie Brandes, 
a daughter of Charles and Margaret Brandes, former old residents of this 
county. Mrs. Maggie King was born on Aug. 26, 1868, in Cooper County. 
Five children have blessed this marriage: Clarence, who is assisting his 
father in the farm work; Stella, wife of Walter Turner, of the Lone Elm 
neighborhood; Myrtle, Martin, and Carl, at home. Mr. King is a repub- 



HISTORY OP COOPER COUNTY 673 

lican, and he and the members of his family worship at the Lone Elm 
Evangelical Lutheran Church. 

John W. King, proprietor of "Valley View Farm" in Clarks Fork 
township, nine miles southeast of Boonville, president of the Clarks Fork 
Fire, Lightning and Tornado Insurance Company, formerly and for years 
director of the Washington school district and in other ways prominently 
identified with the best interests of his home community, one of the most 
substantial farmers in that neighborhood, was bom on the farm on which 
he is now living and has lived there all his life. He was born on Oct. 13, 
1869, son of Jacob and Anna (Nohrenberg) "Koenke" now King, both of 
European birth, who were married in this county, established their home 
on the farm now owned by their son, John, and there spent the remainder 
of their lives. 

Jacob King was born July 18, 1817 and was a native of Schleswig- 
Holstein, which at the time of his birth was a province of Denmark but 
which later was taken over by Germany. He came to America in 1857 
and proceeded on out to Missouri, locating in Cooper County, where in 
1867 he became the owner of the farm now owned by his son John and 
known as "Valley View". The year previous (1866) in this county he 
married Anna Nohrenberg, who also was born 1851 in Schleswig-Holstein 
and who had come here in 1865 with her brother, Peter Nohrenberg. 
After his marriage he settled on the farm he had bought and proceeded 
to develop the same. For some time his brother-in-law, Peter Nohren- 
berg, also made his home there, but later moved over into Nebraska, 
where he is now living retired. Jacob King died on his farm in Feb. 23, 
1878 and his widow survived him for nearly 15 years, her death occurring 
in Jan. 10, 1891, and both are buried in the Clarks Fork Lutheran ceme- 
tery. They were the parents of three sons, of whom the subject of this 
sketch was the first born, the others being Christ F. King, of Clarks Fork 
township, and Henry M. King, also of Clarks Fork. 

Reared on the home farm, John W. King received his schooling in the 
Washington district school and has ever maintained the heartiest possible 
interest in the affairs of that school district, for 19 years serving as 
director of the same, occupying that position in 1904 when the present 
admirable school building was erected there, a structure to which he gave 
his most thoughtful care. Mr. King has always advocated the employ- 
ment of the best teachers available and during his long term of ser 
as director of the Washington district experienced the satisfaction of 
(40) 



674 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

seeing that school brought up to the highest standard of efficiency. Indeed, 
in 1916 this school was declared by the public school survey to be the 
highest type of country school in Cooper County, this approval being 
based both on architectural features and curriculum, and as Mr. King was 
one of the most consistent and unwearying advocates of the improve- 
ments on which this high approval was based he not unnaturally experi- 
enced a very proper feeling of gratification. After his marriage in 1898 
Mr. King continued to make his home on the home place, to which he has 
given the name of "Valley View Farm", suggestive of the fine view up 
and down the beautiful valley of Clarks Creek, and he and his family are 
very pleasantly situated there. In addition to his general farming Mr. 
King has long given considerable attention to the raising of live stock at 
"Valley View" and is doing well in his operations. He also gives his 
earnest attention to the general business affairs of the community and is 
president of the Clarks Fork Fire, Lightning and Tornado Insurance Com- 
pany, in the affairs of which he has for years been actively interested and 
the growth of which concern he has done much to promote. This com- 
pany was organized Nov. 15, 1892, was incorporated on Feb. 15, 1915, and 
now has $1,500,000 of insurance covering Cooper County farm property, 
besides $50,000 of live-stock insurance and has a widely established repu- 
tation for prudence of management and promptness and fairness of set- 
tlements. Mr. King is a Republican and in 1914 was the nominee of his 
party for judge of the County Court, his candidacy being opposed to that 
of Judge Moore, who was elected to succeed himself on the bench in that 
year. Mr. and Mrs. King are members of the Clarks Fork Lutheran 
Church and have ever given proper attention to church affairs, as well as 
to the general social activities of the community in which both have spent 
all their lives and to the best interests of which both are earnestly devoted. 
Dec. 15, 1898, John W. King was united in marriage to Anna Hoerl, 
also of Clarks Fork township, and to this union two children have been 
born, sons both, Henry Morton King, born on Oct. 22, 1899, and John 
Ewing King, Oct. 26, 1901, both of whom are at home, valued aids to 
their father in the operations of "Valley View Farm". Mrs. King is a 
daughter of John and Margaret (Kaiser) Hoerl, who settled on a farm 
in Clarks Fork township, this county, upon coming to this country from 
Germany in the days not long after the close of the Civil War and who 
are still living in that township, now making their home with their eldest 
son, Adolph Hoerl, who is now owner of the old home farm. Besides this 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 675 

son and Mrs. King, Mr. and Mrs. Hoerl have three other children, Mrs. 
Margaret Jenry, of Saline township, and Leonard and Walter Hoerl, the 
former a farmer of Clarks Fork township, and the latter of Prairie Home 
township. 

William Jacob McFarland, a well known and successful farmer and 
stockman of Clarks Fork township, is a native of this county. He was 
born in Clarks Fork township, Sept. 9, 1864, and is a son of A. W. and 
Mary Catherine (Hurt) McFarland, a sketch of whom appears in this 
volume. 

William Jacob McFarland spent his boyhood days on the home farm 
and received his education in the public schools. He has been a farmer 
and stockman all his life. His farm in Clarks Fork township consists of 
188 acres, and is one of the pretty and well improved farms of that sec- 
tion of the county. The residence is a 10-room, two-story structure, and 
was built in 1907. It is surrounded by a well-kept yard with several 
splendid maple trees, which Mr. McFarland planted himself. Mr. Mc- 
Farland has two good barns on his place, one of which was built in 1900 
and the other two years later. He also has a silo 14x30 feet which he 
built in 1914, machine shed, garage and other buildings to facilitate mod- 
ern farming methods, are to be found on the place. Mr. McFarland 
bought his first land, which consisted of 70 acres, in 1886; later he pur- 
chased 85 acres, to which he subsequently added 30 more. He carries on 
general farming and raises cattle and hogs. He feeds a number of cattle 
each year, although he does not pretend to make feeding a business. 

Mr. McFarland was married Nov. 2, 1884, to Miss Mollie Eller, a 
daughter of David and Martha Eller, of Boonville township. Her parents 
are both deceased and their remains are buried in the Boonville Ceme- 
tery. Mrs. McFarland is one of the following children born to her par- 
ents: Nannie, Bunceton, Mo.; Mrs. Malvina Shirley, Palestine township; 
Mrs. Lucretia Moore, Palestine township; Mrs. Bettie Kepner, Henry 
County, Mo.; Mrs. Mattie Knaus, Henry Co.; Mollie, married to William 
Jacob McFarland, the subject of this sketch, and William, Fayette, Mo. 

To Mr. and Mrs. McFarland have been born the following children: 
Percy Eller, died at the age of 19 years in 1908; Wilbur J., a farmer in 
Clarks Fork township, married Chloe Hobrecht, who died in Jan., 1919; 
Eula Marie, married William Mersey, who served with the 35th Division 
in France during the World War and participated in the battles of Ar- 
gonne, Marne. Chateau Thierry, and was in the trenches 90 days or more; 



676 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Mary, resides at home with her parents, and Alice, is a student in the 
Boonville High School. 

Mr. McFarland is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America at 
Boonville, and the McFarland family are members of the Presbyterian 
Church at Bethel. Mr. McFarland is a public-spirited citizen and takes 
an active interest in all matters pei*taining to the public welfare and the 
advancement of the community. 

David VVendleton, proprietor of a well-improved valley farm of 106 
acres in the north part of Palestine township, has resided on his farm for 
the past 40 years. His present large residence was built to replace a 
house which had been built by former owners, and was 80 years standing. 
He placed the last addition to his home in 1893. 

Mr. Wendleton was born June 6, 1850, on a farm near his present 
home place. His father, David Wendleton, was a native of Holland, who 
married a Miss Sieback, and emigrated from his native country in 1833. 
He first rented land from Hiram Corum, and later purchased a farm, 
most of which was covered with timber. He cut down trees, built a log 
cabin from the cut timber, and laboriously cleared the ground for his 
crops. When he first bought the place there was an old log cabin in the 
clearing. On the very night that Mr. Wendleton had made his prepara- 
tions to move in with his belongings, some miscreant set fire to the house 
and it burned to the ground. This necessitated the building of a new 
cabin. David Wendleton, the elder, reared a family of five sons and two 
daughters: Cecilia, deceased wife of Fred Nunn, an extensive Cooper 
County farmer; John H., deceased; Archibald, living in Bates County, 
Mo. ; William, Fortuna, Morgan County, Mo. ; Mrs. Amelia Allison, living 
near Proctor, Me.; David, subject of this review; Henry, a large land 
owner in Palestine township. 

After his marriage in 1877, David Wendleton rented land for three 
years and then purchased his farm. He was married on Nov. 14, 1877, 
to Miss Sarah J. Lowry, who was born in Athens County, Ohio, April 11, 
1855, and is a daughter of Jehiel and Melissa Lowry, who came to Cooper 
County, Mo., in 1866. Ten children have blessed this marriage: Alice C, 
is the wife of T. C. Crosswhite, Boonville; Ada Melissa Clark lives in 
Boonville ; one child died in infancy ; William Henry died in November, 
1918; Stella Lee is at home; Lon V., a farmer and land owner, living on 
the former Henry Wendleton home place; John Estill, a student in the 
State University, Columbia, was a member of the S. A. T. C. during the 











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PAVID WENDUETON AND WIFE 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 677 

Worid War. Ollie May and Forrest Lowry are at home; Eugene Monroe, 
is deceased. 

Mr. Wendleton is a democrat; has reared one of the large families 
in Cooper County, and is one of the best known of the native born pioneer 
residents of Cooper County, who is highly respected in the county. 

Erie S. Mills, proprietor of "Fair View Stock Farm," in Clarks Fork 
township, is one of Cooper County's prominent farmers and stockmen, 
and a descendant of an early pioneer family of this county. Mr. Mills 
was bom in Prairie Home township on the farm known as "Dunlora," 
April 7, 1864. His parents were Henry W. and Susan V. (Lewis) Mills, 
natives of Virginia. Henry W. Mills was born July 27, 1815, and died 
Feb. 12, 1898. He came to Cooper County in 1842, and after living about 
a year in Saline township, he went to Mississippi, and two years later 
returned to Cooper County. He acquired a great deal of land and at one 
time was the owner of 1640 acres. He was a very successful stockman 
and general farmer. He was married shortly after coming to Cooper 
County, Aug. 20, 1842, to Miss Susan V. Lewis. She was born in Vir- 
ginia in 1825 and died Feb. 14, 1896. She was a daughter of Charles Q. 
Lewis, who was a very early settler in Cooper County in the thirties. To 
Henry W. and Susan V. (Lewis) Mills were born the following children: 
William H., died at the age of 70 years ; Charles T., died at the age of 40 ; 
James T., died at the age of 65; Hunter N., died at the age of 65; Au- 
gustus K., Boonville, Mo.; Judge J. Add, died at the age of 60; Walker 
M., died at the age of 24; Erie S., the subject of this sketch; Mary and 
Bettie, twins, the former dying at the age of 20, and the latter married 
R. E. Maxwell, who is now deceased; Florence M., married O. C. Byler, 
and is now deceased; Helena, married John E. Elliott, who is now de- 
ceased; and Carrie Lee, married Dr. J. D. Potts, St. Louis, Mo. All of 
these children were married and reared families, excepting Walker M. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hemy W. Mills celebrated their golden wedding anni- 
versary Aug. 20, 1892, and on this occasion there were present 65 grand- 
children, and six great grandchildren. A few days after the wedding 
anniversary, United States Senator Roger Q. Mills, a cousin of Henry W. 
Mills, made him a visit, which was the occasion of another reunion of the 
Mills family. 

Erie S. Mills was reared on a farm and educated in the public schools. 
He has made farming and stock raising his life occupation, and is one 
of the thorough and pi-actical stockmen and fanners of Cooper County. 



678 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

He has lived on his present place since Jan. 19, 1887. Here he owns 290 
acres of land which is well improved and under high state of cultivation. 
It is located just north of Clarks Fork store on the Jefferson City road. 
The place is well watered, having an inexhaustible well, 178 feet deep, 
and Clarks Fork Creek courses its way across the place. The farm resi- 
dence is a large well built structure and Mr. Mills has erected two new 
stock barns within recent years. He keeps high grade Angus cattle, 
Shropshire sheep, and Big Bone Poland China hogs crossed with Duroc 
Jerseys. He is an extensive feeder, and has made this branch of animal 
husbandry profitable. 

Erie S. Mills was united in marriage Sept. 3, 1884, to Miss Annie L. 
Tucker, a daughter of J. W. and Virginia A. Tucker. The Tucker family 
were pioneers of Saline township. The father died in 1885, and the 
mother now resides at Marshall, Mo. Mrs. Mills has one sister, Mrs. 
E. G. Utz, of Marshall, Mo. To Mr. and Mrs. Mills have been born the 
following children: Layton Tucker; Erie H. ; Roger Q., and Virginia, who 
died at the age of two years. 

Mr. Mills has been a member of the Christian Church at Walnut 
Grove since he was 14 years old, and has been an elder for 20 years. The 
Mills family are all members of the Christian Church and the youngest 
son, Roger Q., is also a deacon. Since Mr. Mills has been a member of 
the Walnut Grove Church, he has seen three different church buildings 
erected on the same ground and dedicated. June 5, 1916, a cyclone de- 
stroyed the church, which had been built three years previously, and it 
was immediately reconstructed. Mr. Mills has some very interesting 
family heir-looms, and historical documents in his possession, one of 
which is a list of his grandfather's children, Dr. William Mills, dated 
March 8, 1774. It was written with a quill, and is a specimen of perfect 
penmanship. He also has an old deed made out to a member of the Mills 
family under date 1760. 

The Mills family is one of the pioneer families in which Cooper 
County takes a just pride and Erie S. Mills is one of the leading citizens 
of this county. 

Vivian Hunter Mills, a progressive farmer and stockman of Saline 
township, is a member of one of the early pioneer families of Cooper 
County. Mr. Mills was born in Saline township, Dec. 9, 1888. He is a 
son of Hunter N. and Mary Ella (Thomas) Mills, both natives of Cooper 
County. More extensive mention of the Mills family is made in connec- 
tion with the sketch of Robert William Mills and Erie S. Mills, which ap- 
pears in this volume. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 679 

Vivian H. Mills was reared in Saline township and educated in the 
Fairview district school and the Boonville High School. He was then em- 
ployed in a wholesale dry goods store in Kansas City, Mo., for one year. 
He then returned to Cooper County and engaged in farming and stock 
raising. He moved to his present place, which is a part of his father's 
old homestead, in 1914. His farm consists of 250 acres. All the build- 
ings are practically new, having been built since 1914. The residence is 
a modern cottage of eight rooms, with spacious porches, with a neatly 
kept and nicely fenced yard. The other farm buildings include a metal 
bam 45x50 feet, metal garage, grain barn, machine shed, ice house and a 
tile silo. All in splendid condition, which gives to the place an excellent 
appearance. In addition to general farming, Mr. Mills raises and feeds 
cattle and also pure bred Duroc Jersey hogs. He ships about two car- 
loads of hogs annually, and about one and one-half carloads of cattle. 
Mrs. Mills is interested in the poultry industry and has about 250 Rhode 
Island Red chickens. She makes a specialty of furnishing eggs for hatch- 
ing purposes, for which she receives from $1.00 to $3.00 per setting. 
The Mills farm is well equipped for the poultry business, having a modern 
metal poultry house. 

Vivian H. Mills was married Sept. 17, 1914, to Miss Martha Shannon, 
a daughter of E. B. and Jennie (Johnston) Shannon, a sketch of whom 
appears elsewhei'e in this volume. Mrs. Mills is one of the following chil- 
dren bom to her parents: Martha, wife of Vivian H. Mills, subject of 
this sketch ; Lewis, Georgia, and Noye. By a former marriage of E. B. 
Shannon, the following children were bom : R. A., and E. M. Mrs. Mills 
was bom in Clarks Fork township in 1891, educated in the Washington 
school district, and the Boonville High School, where she was graduated 
in the class of 1909. Mr. and Mrs. Mills are well known in Cooper County 
and stand high among their many friends and acquaintances. 

Lawrence C. Meyer, a progressive young farmer and stockman of 
Clarks Fork township, is a descendant of one of the pioneer families of 
this county. He was born in Cooper County, Aug. 25, 1883, and is a son 
of George H. and Elizabeth (Molan) Meyer, a more extensive sketch of 
whom appears elsewhere in this volume. 

Lawrence C. Meyer was reared in Cooper County and spent his boy- 
hood days on his father's farm. He received his education in the Fair- 
view School in Clarks Fork township, and later attended the Kemper 
Military School at Boonville. He has made farming and stock raising his 
chief occupation, and has met with success in his undertaking, and is 
recognized as one of Cooper County's citizens of sterling worth. 



680 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Mr. Meyer was united in marriage, Aug. 30, 1904, with Miss Pauline 
Mills, a daughter of James T. and Bettie Mills, pioneer settlers of Saline 
township, Cooper County. To Mr. and Mrs. Meyer have been born four 
children, as follows: James Henry, born June 26, 1905; Randall W., bom 
Feb. 8, 1907 ; Lawrence, Jr., born Oct. 26, 1910 ; and Doris Elizabeth, born 
Aug. 27, 1917. 

Mr. Meyer is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, of 
Clarks Fork and is a member of the Lutheran Church, and Mrs. Meyer 
belongs to the Christian Church. Mr. and Mrs. Meyer are well and 
favorably known in the community, and rank high in Cooper County for 
their integrity and worth. 

William John Cochran. — The individual success of a worthy citizen 
is deserving of attention and should be a matter of record in the history 
of his native county. W. J. Cochran, contractor and builder, Boonville, 
has won a place in the business world of Cooper County and central Mis- 
souri, second to no man in his vocation. Born in Cooper County, his 
father before him having been a builder and contractor, Mr. Cochran has 
forged to the front by the exercise of diligence, energy, good financial 
judgment and management, and the policy of giving to a patron the maxi- 
mum service in a strictly honest and capable manner. W. J. Cochi'an was 
born in Boonville, Oct. 1, 1866, and is a son of John Cochran, a native of 
North Ireland, who came to America in 1851, at the age of 17 years, with 
his parents, John and Elizabeth Cochran. The Cochrans first settled at 
Patterson, N. J., and one year later came to Cooper County, where John 
Cochran (I) followed farming pursuits south of Boonville. 

John Cochran (II), father of W. J. Cochran, was reared in this county, 
and learned the trade of carpenter under Marcus Williams. He engaged 
in business for himself as a contractor and builder in the fall of 1865. 
Prior to this he had served as a Union soldier, as corporal of his company, 
and for three years he fought to uphold the Union authority in this sec- 
tion of the country. At first, he had a small shop and began on a small 
scale. During the building era which followed the Civil War, he pros- 
pered, and remained in active business until his retirement in 1904. John 
Cochran was born June 16, 1834, and died Dec. 13, 1899. When a young 
man he married Mary E. Brown, who was born April 2, 1834, in Flemings- 
burg, Ky., and departed this life in Jan., 1911. John and Mary E. Cochran 
were parents of seven children, only four of whom were reared: Mrs. 
Fred J. Faris, of Kansas City; William John Cochran, of this review; 




W. J. COCHRAN 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 681 

Mamie, wife of George E. Sapp, Boonville township; Mrs. Frank H. Her- 
ron, Lees Summit, Mo. 

When W. J. Cochran was 12 years old he began work under his 
father, and the only schooling he obtained from that time on was by 
attending night schools. He learned the builders' trade under his father, 
and remained in his father's employ until he was 24 years old. From 
October, 1899, to May 13, 1900, he was in charge of the building depart- 
ment of the Missouri Training School as superintendent He then fol- 
lowed his vocation on his own account and established his first shop on 
Main Street. In 1902, he located in an old wholesale building in front of 
the courthouse and remained there until 1905, when he purchased the 
planing mill now owned and operated by him on High Street. Mr. Coch- 
ran's operations as a general contractor and builder have been extensive. 
He employs from 40 to 100 men, and his payroll runs into thousands of 
dollars. He has erected many large buildings in Cooper and Howard 
Counties and in this section of Missouri. For the past 13 years he has 
been doing special road work for Cooper County, and has done consider- 
able railroad work in the vicinity of Boonville. Among the buildings 
which he has erected under contract are the Cooper County courthouse, 
$115,000; the Frederick Hotel, $40,000; the Victor building, $40,000; the 
County Home for Indigents, $25,000; the Citizens Trust Company build- 
ing, $12,000; Kemper Military School building, $35,000; remodeling old 
Kemper building and gymnasium, $13,000; new barracks building at 
Kemper School, $35,000; Kemper power plant and armory, remodeled, 
$2,500 ; bam at Kemper, $2,300 ; sewer through the Kemper grounds, 540 
feet, $3,000; grading for the school, $5,000; barracks building and bar- 
racks, $200,000; the Armour & Company's packing house, $22,000; the 
Hirsch Wholesale Grocery Company warehouse, No. 2, $7,000; the Harri- 
man garage, $9,000; the Brownfield garage, $9,000; the E. M. Mueller 
residence, $12,000; the George Roeder residence, $7,000; the E. A. Wind- 
sor residence, $12,000 ; the Pigott residence, $8,000 ; and a splendid brick 
residence of his own on Morgan Street. Mr. Cochran also rebuilt the 
A. H. Sauter residence and the Captain Harris and Johnston homes and 
many others, too numerous to mention. 

Nov. 11, 1890, W. J. Cochran and Miss Mattie Calloway Harrison 
were united in marriage. To this union have been born children as fol- 
lows: Laura Mary, wife of W. B. Whitlow, a practicing attorney at Ful- 
ton, Mo.; Jessie Pauline Cochran is her father's office assistant; Augusta 



682 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Hazel Cochran is at home; William John Cochran, Jr., is assisting his 
father in his business ; Doris Aline, James Robert, and Charles Harrison 
are at home. The mother of these children was born in Boonville, and 
is a daughter of William H. and Laura Lundy Harrison, the former of 
whom was born in Old Franklin, Mo., and the latter was a native of 
Maysville, Ky. William H. Harrison was a son of Cosby Berryman Har- 
rison, who married Mary Calloway, a daughter of William and Mildred 
Calloway. William Calloway was a son of James and Susanna (White) 
Calloway, the former of whom was a soldier of the Revolution. In the 
early days of the development of the West, William H. Harrison was a 
plains freighter. He made three trips across the Plains with Mr. Whit- 
low, and for several years he drove the mail coach to Lexington, Warsaw, 
and Springfield. He held various mail carrying contracts with the Gov- 
ernment and made a business of operating mail routes and running stage 
coaches. 

Mr. Cochran is an independent republican. He and his family wor- 
ship at the Presbyterian Church. He is affiliated with the Ancient Free 
and Accepted Masons, Blue Lodge, and Commandery, and the Mystic 
Shrine of Sedalia and is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- 
lows and the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. and Mrs. Cochran and 
daughters, Jessie Pauline, Mrs. Laura Whitlow and Hazel Cochran are 
members of the Order of Eastern Star, and Miss Jessie Pauline and Laura 
and Mrs. Cochran are members of the local chapter of the Daughters of 
the American Revolution. 

Mr. Cochran has also achieved a reputation as a farmer and breeder 
of live stock, and of late years he is credited with taking more interest in 
his farming operations than his contracting business, which he is shift- 
ing somewhat to younger shoulders. How he became a farmer can be 
explained from the standpoint of necessity, although he is descended 
from forebears who were tillers of the soil and agriculture comes natur- 
ally to him. His contracting operations require that he maintain a large 
stable of from 10 to 22 teams of draft animals. With the outbreak' of the 
World War and the rise in the price of feed for live stock, as well as 
everything else under the sun, the problem of providing provender for 
so many animals became a serious problem, and the cost of the feeding 
threatened to wipe out the profits of his business. He thereupon pur- 
chased a farm and engaged in farming on a considerable scale on a tract 
of 231 acres in Boonville township, besides renting additional land. For 
several years most of his land has been devoted to raising hay and corn. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 683 

and during 1918 he cut over 140 acres of hay. A misfortune befell his 
farm in 1918. A fire destroyed practically all of the buildings in June, 
and he suffered a loss of $10,000 in buildings and harness, etc. Mr. Coch- 
ranran is specializing, as all good farmers do, and is building up a fine herd 
of pure-bred Shorthorn cattle and a fine drove of big boned Poland China 
hogs. 

One of the most important contracts which Mr. Cochran has only 
recently undertaken, and one which has a bearing on the industrial devel- 
opment of Boonville, is the erection of the new factory of the Hamilton- 
Brown Shoe Company. This contract calls for an initial cost of $73,000, 
exclusive of foundation, which Mr. Cochran has also undertaken, and 
outside fixing of the grounds, heating and lighting, etc. The factory when 
completed will have cost in the neighborhood of $115,000, all of which 
money will have been spent in Boonville for labor and materials. 

Henry Lohse, a progressive farmer and stockman of Clarks Fork 
township, was born near Prairie Home, Oct. 12, 1877. He is a son of 
Fred and Anna (Smith) Lohse. The mother died about 25 years ago, 
and the father now resides in Clarks Fork township, at the age of 76 years. 

Henry Lohse was reared in Cooper County, and received his educa- 
tion in the Washington School. He has made farming and stock raising 
his life's work, and has met with uniform success in his undertaking. 
He purchased his present place, which consists of 200 acres, in 1905. 
This property was formerly owned by Henry Fredmeyer. It is located 
about 12 miles south of Boonville and is one of the valuable farms of 
Cooper County. The place is well improved, with good, substantial barns, 
silo, and other farm buildings. Mr. Lohse has recently erected a splendid 
eight-room, modern residence, and, altogether, the Lohse place is one of 
the best improved in the county. While Mr. Lohse is engaged in general 
farming and stock raising, he specializes in Shorthorn cattle and Spotted 
Poland China hogs, and he is recognized as one of the successful breeders 
of the county. 

Dec. 11, 1902, Henry Lohse was united in marriage with Miss Chris- 
tine Kahle, daughter of William and Hanna (Conrad) Kahle, both natives 
of Germany. The father came here when he was eight years of age, and 
settled with his parents at Lone Elm, where he still resides. To William 
and Hannah Kahle were born the following children: Lizzie, married 
Herman Oldendorf, Boonville; Mrs. Clarence Hosp, Boonville; Mrs. Min- 
nie Twillman, Bunceton ; Christine, the wife of Henry Lohse ; Stella, who 
resides at home with her parents ; Henry, Bunceton ; Albert and Herman, 



684 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

twins; Adolph; William and Anna Pauline, deceased. Herman Kahle is 
now serving with the American Expeditionary Force in France. He enlisted 
in Sept., 1917, and was trained at Camp Funston, Kans. He went to France 
in April, 1918, being a member of the 356th Infantry, 89th Division. He 
took part in much of the severe fighting during the latter months of the 
war, and was severely gassed at one time. He was in a hospital in France 
when the armistice was signed. He received his honorable discharge in 
June, 1919, and is now at home. To Mr. and Mrs. Lohse has been born 
one daughter, Lorene. 

Mr. and Mrs. Lohse are well known in the community, and are recog- 
nized as being among the substantial citizens of Cooper County. They 
are both members of the Lutheran Church at Clarks Fork. 

Charles Christian Cook. — Hard work and keeping everlastingly at 
the task at hand until it was accomplished has placed Charles C. Cook, 
of Clarks Fork township, in a position of independence as a successful 
farmer and stockman. Mr. Cook is owner of 115 acres of good land, and 
is one of the young men who have been befriended and assisted in getting 
a start in an agricultural career by Charles C. Bell, of Boonville. Mr. 
Cook's farm is improved with a handsome and imposing residence of 10 
rooms, modern in every respect, and was erected in 1915 and 1916. The 
house is fitted with a basement of four rooms underneath the entire 
structure, and is built for comfort as well as appearance. Charles C. 
Cook was born in Boonville, June 1, 1869, and is a son of Adam and Cath- 
erine (Bell) Cook the latter of whom was a sister of Charles C. Bell, of 
Boonville, and was born in 1845 and died in 1897. 

Adam Cook was born in Germany in 1846 and departed this life in 
1876. He came to Boonville when a young man and plied his trade of 
blacksmith until the outbreak of the Civil War. He served in the Union 
Army, and was among the first volunteers to offer their services to the 
Union under General Siegel. He fought in the battle of Wilsons Creek 
during his first three months' service. He then i-e-enlisted for thi-ee 
years and served under General Grant. He participated in the siege and 
capture of Vicksburg, and fought at the battles of Fort Pillow and the 
Seven Days' Battle of the Wilderness. He was with Sherman's command 
on the famous march from Atlanta to the sea. He served, in all, three 
years and three months, and after receiving his honorable discharge he 
returned to St. Louis and hired himself out as a substitute for a rich 
merchant and served until the close of the war. 

Mr. Cook married upon returning from the war and was father of 
two children: Charles C, of this review, and J. W. Cook, somewhere in 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 685 

the West. He plied his trade of blacksmith at Boonville and Bunceton, 
then went to Kansas and homesteaded a tract of land, built a home for 
his family, and died there. His family was left in poor circumstances, 
and stayed with Henry Bell until Charles C. Bell came, found them, and 
took mother and children back to Boonville. For one and a half years, 
Charles C. Cook lived in the home of John E. Elliot. He was employed by 
Julius Hosp and H. Fredmeyer for about seven and a half years. In 
1890, with the assistance of his uncle, Charles C. Bell, he purchased his 
farm. 

In 1892, Mr. Cook was married to Sarah C. Stegner, who was born 
July 6, 1870, in Cooper County, and is a daughter of Nicholas Stegner, 
concerning whose biography the reader is referred to the sketch of Marion 
Stegner. Five children have been born to Charles C. and Sarah C. Cook, 
as follows: Louis C, Minnie Mabel, Mary Ellen, Nellie Frances, and 
Charles C. Jr. Mary Ellen Cook was married June 3, 1918, to Ernest 
Walters, a farmer and stock dealer, living west of Boonville. 

Mr. Cook is a republican. He is a member and a deacon of the Mt. 
Hermon Baptist Church, and is affiliated with Modern Woodmen of Amer- 
ica, Lodge No. 3701. 

Henry Mersey, a leading farmer and stockman of Prairie Home town- 
ship, is a Cooper County citizen of real worth. He was born in Germany, 
Aug. 21, 1854, a son of Henry Mersey, and was one of the following chil- 
dren born to his parents: Mrs. Maggie Middlecamp, deceased; Mrs. Mary 
Grapherhouse, deceased ; Mrs. Elizabeth Beckerman ; and Henry, the sub- 
ject of this sketch. 

Henry Mersey left his native land when he was about 18 years of 
age, in 1872, and immigrated to America. He first settled in St. Louis, 
where he remained about two years, and in 1874 came to Boonville, 
Cooper County, where for a few years he sought employment as a farm 
laborer. Here he worked for $14.00 per month. He was industrious and 
frugal and saved his earnings, and it was not long until he was able to 
invest in a farm and make the initial payment. He purchased the place 
where he now resides, 10 miles southeast of Boonville, on the Jefferson 
City road, in 1893. This was formerly the J. S. Johnston farm, and con- 
sists of 174 acres of well improved farm land. 

Feb. 28, 1881, Henry Mersey was united in marriage with Miss Cath- 
erine Wehmeyer, daughter of Peter and Helena (Fiedler) Wehmeyt -r. 
The father was a Civil War veteran, having served in the Union Army for 
three years during that great conflict. He Avas a native of Germany, born 



686 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

at Westphalia, May 6, 1834, and came to America when he was about 20 
years of age, in 1854. He located in Cooper County, and settler on the 
place in 1864 which is now owned by Robert Byler. Here he was engaged 
in farming and stock raising for many years, and attained a very satis- 
factory degree of success. He died Feb. 20, 1913, at the age of 78 years. 
His wife departed this life June 19, 1899, at the age of 65 years, and 
their remains are interred in Clarks Fork Cemetery. She was bom at 
Bayem, Germany, March 13, 1835, and was married May 15, 1859. They 
were the parents of the following children: Catherine, born Feb. 23, 
1860, wife of Henry Mersey, the subject of this sketch; Sophia, wife of 
Henry Honerbrink, Saline township, born Feb. 21, 1862; Miss Maggie 
Wehmeyer, Clarks Fork township, born April 30, 1866; Minnie, bora Aug. 

16, 1870, wife of J. P. Heath, Prarie Home township ; Caroline, bora Aug. 

17, 1872, wife of Albert Adair, Clarks Fork township ; Lena L., born Sept. 
25. 1881, wife of Herman Rethemeyer. 

To Henry and Catherine (Wehmeyer) Mersey have been born the 
following children: George, farmer and stockman, Prairie Home town- 
ship; Herman J., a carpenter, Pilot Grove; Fred L., Boonville; Elmer E., 
who served in the United States Army during the World War, having 
been a member of the 10th Infantry, 69th Division, and was at Camp 
Funston when the war closed; William H., who enlisted in the United 
States Army, Sept. 19, 1917, and became a member of Company I, 138th 
Infantry, 35th Division, went to France in May, 1918, and saw much 
active service with his division, having been on the firing line for seventy- 
two consecutive days, and was discharged from the service May 12, 1919, 
at Camp Funston; Julius J., enlisted in United States Navy during the 
World War in May, 1918, and served until Feb., 1919, when he received 
his honorable discharge on account of the close of the war, and is now 
residing at home with his parents ; Robert L., and Maggie, also residing 
at home with their parents. 

Herman J. was born Sept. 15, 1883 ; married Grace Swanson. George 
Mersey was born Jan. 18, 1882; married Emma Ohlendorf, and has one 
child, Ruth Irene. Elmer E. was born Dec. 24, 1890; married Myrtle 
Ramsey. Fred L. was born Oct. 12, 1885. William H. was born April 
12, 1893 ; married Eula McFarland. Henrietta was born July 28, and died 
Aug. 2, 1895. Julius was born July 31, 1896. Robert was born April 19, 
1899. Margaret Elizabeth was born Jan. 6, 1888. 

Mr. Mersey is one of Cooper County's most valued and highly re- 
spected citizens, and the Mersey family stand high in the community. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 687 

Mr. Mersey has been identified with Cooper County for over 47 years, and 
has proven himself to be a worthy citizen and has reared a family which 
is not only a credit to Cooper County, but to the State and Nation. Mr. 
and Mrs. Mersey and the children are members of the Evangelical Lu- 
theran Church of Clarks Fork. 

Amos B. Gentry. — The Gentry family has been prominently identi- 
fied with the settlement of Missouri, and members of this family were 
among the pioneers of Howard County, which perhaps was the first set- 
tlement of the Gentrys in this State. Later members of this family set- 
tled in other counties in this section of the State, including Cooper. 

Amos B. Gentry was born in Howard County, Jan. 29, 1844. He is a 
son of Claybourne S. and Nancy (Detherage) Gentry, both natives of 
Kentucky, and very early settlers in Howard County. However, after 
spending a few years in Howard County, they came to Cooper County in 
1859, where both parents spent the remainder of their lives. They were 
natives of Madison County, Ky., and C. S. Gentry was prominent in the 
early day affairs of Cooper County. He was a member of the Masonic 
Lodge for 42 years. He died in 1899 at the age of 80 years, and his re- 
mains are interred in the Walnut Grove Cemetery. His wife preceded 
him in death many years, she having passed away in 1857 in Howard 
County, and her remains are buried in the Detherage family cemetery. 

Amos B. Gentry received his education mostly in private schools, and 
was reared to manhood in Howard and Cooper Counties. In 1874 he pur- 
chased his present place, which is located nine miles southeast of Boon- 
ville, in Clarks Fork township. The farm is known as "Cedar Grove 
Farm," is of 116.44 acres, and is one of the well kept and valuable farms 
of this section of Cooper County. The place is well improved and the 
farm residence is a substantial and well preserved building, which was 
built over 60 years ago. 

January 5, 1869, Amos B. Gentry was united in marriage at Bunce- 
ton, with Miss Susan M. Woodson, a daughter of George and Louisa 
(Shackelford) Woodson, both natives of Kentucky, and pioneer settlers 
in Cooper County. They are both now deceased, the mother having died 
Feb. 8, 1867, and the father survived her a number of years and died at 
Bunceton. To Mr. and Mrs. Gentry have been born five children, as fol- 
lows: Louisa, resides at home with her parents; Capt. Herschel, a sur- 
geon in United States Army, was stationed at Camp Grant, 111., having 
volunteered his services in Oct., 1918, and received a commission as cap- 
tain, discharged in May, 1919, and is now practicing surgery at Carthage, 



688 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Mo.; Osie, married J. E. Moss and resides in Boone county; Archie L., 
resides on the home place; and Nannie L., also resides at home with her 
parents. Mr. and Mrs. Gentry have three grandchildren, Margaret G. 
Moss; Catherine May Moss; and Roy Woodson Moss. 

The Gentrys originally came from Virginia to Kentucky, and for 
many years have been conspicuous in the affairs of Kentucky and Mis- 
souri. They are of English descent. Amos B. Gentry was a soldier in 
the Civil War, having enlisted in Madison County, Ky., and after serving 
three months, was taken prisoner and later paroled. He is a democrat, 
and a member of the Christian Church. 

George E. Bowmer, a prosperous farmer and stockman of Clarks 
Fork township, is a native of Missouri, and is a descendent of some of the 
early pioneer families of this State. He was born in Howard County, 
Nov. 7, 1864, and is a son of James Mahan and Luranier Ruth (Wilcoxen) 
Bowmer. James M. Bowmer was born in Howard County, Feb. 29, 1832. 
He was a son of Peter Bowmer, a native of Fauquier County, Va., and 
came to Missouri in 1816. He lived in Missouri at a time when Indian 
uprisings were frequent, and on occasions was forced to take refuge with 
the other settlers in forts for defense against the attacks of hostile 
Indians. He was one of the very early settlers of Howard County. He 
married Catherine Mahan, whose father, Patrick Mahan, was one of the 
very early settlers of Cooper County, and lived in Lebanon township. 
He operated a sawmill near Pilot Grove in the early days. He built the 
first bridge across the Petit Saline Creek. This bridge was five miles 
south of Boonville. 

James Mahan Bowmer enlisted for service in the Mexican War, and 
when he reached St. Louis peace was declared. When the Civil War 
broke out he enlisted in the Confederate Army and served under General 
Price, in Missouri, Kansas and Arkansas. He was taken prisoner in 
Arkansas and was held a prisoner of war by the Federals at St. Louis 
until the war closed. In 1869 he removed to California with his family, 
and after residing in that State for eight years, he returned to Howard 
County, where he was engaged in farming until 1884, when he removed 
to Cooper County. He died here July 24, 1906. 

George E. Bowmer was educated in the public schools of Howard 
County, and in the public schools of the State of California. He came to 
Cooper County with his father in 1884, and they bought a farm together, 
which they later sold ; and in 1898, George E. bought his present f arm of 



• HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 689 

144 acres, in Clarks Fork township, where he has since been engaged in 
general farming and stock raising. This is one of the best grain and 
stock farms in this part of Cooper County. The place is well improved, 
with a good farm residence, barns and other buildings, which are kept in 
excellent condition and present a good appearance. 

Mr. Bowmer was married March 26, 1891, to Miss Lizzie McArthur. 
She was born Feb. 3, 1867, and left an orphan at a very early age. She 
was reared by N. A. Gilbreath, of Prairie Home township. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Bowmer were born the following children: James R., born July 12, 
1892; Newton W., born Nov. 26, 1894; William E., born Nov. 19, 1897; 
Helen Louisa, born Jan. 31, 1903; Susan Catherine and Mary Margaret, 
twins, born Aug. 19, 1909. 

James R., the eldest son, served in the U. S. Navy during the World 
War. He volunteered Dec. 13, 1917, and was sent to Great Lakes Naval 
Training Station, and from there was sent to Camp Logan, 111., for rifle 
practice for two months. He was then returned to the Great Lakes 
Naval Training Station, and while there volunteered for overseas service. 
He was then sent to Newport, and embarked for France, May 26, 1918, 
landing at Brest, June 8 ; from there he was sent to Bordeaux, France, 
by rail, and was stationed at Pawillac, France. Durings his service in 
France he was a member of a motorcycle squad, which operated as dis- 
patch bearers. He returned to New York, Dec. 13, 1918, and was sta- 
tioned at Pelham Park until March 26, 1919, and from there was sent to 
the armed general barracks at Brooklyn, N. Y., and two days later trans- 
ferred to Bay Ridge, N. Y., where he was discharged, April 7, 1919. 

Newton W. Bowmer entered the army July 26, 1918, and was sent 
to Camp Funston, where he was trained. He was a member of the Medi- 
cal Detachment of the 29th Field Artillery, 10th Division, and at this 
writing is stationed at Ft. D. A. Russell, Wy. 

Mrs. Lizzie (McArthur) Bowman died Jan. 6, 1918, and her remains 
are buried in W T alnut Grove Cemetery. 

George E. Bowmer is one of Cooper County's substantial citizens, and 
the Bowmer family rank high in the community. Mr. Bowmer is a demo- 
crat. He and his family worship at the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 
He is affiliated with the Modem Woodmen of America Lodge of Boonville. 

William Fricke. a well-known and successful farmer and stockman 
of Clarks Fork township, is a descendant of one of Cooper County's 



690 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

pioneer families. Mr. Fricke was born Jan. 31, 1886, and is a son of Wil- 
liam and Minnie (Keorp) Fricke. The father was born in Clarks Fork 
township, and spent his entire life in Cooper County. He died in Decem- 
ber, 1900. The mother is a native of Missouri, having been born in 
Moniteau County in 1850. She now resides with her son William, the 
subject of this sketch. William and Minnie (Keorpe) Frick were the par- 
ents of the following children : Dora, married John Lohse ; Emma, mar- 
ried William Smith ; and William, the subject of this sketch. 

William Fricke was reared and educated in Cooper County. He at- 
tended the Jefferson School in Clarks Fork township, and the German 
school at Clarks Fork. He has been engaged in farming and stock rais- 
ing all his life on the place where he now resides, and is regarded as one 
of Cooper County's successful agriculturists. Mr. Fricke's father died, 
leaving the young man with practically all the responsibilies of conduct- 
ing the home farm when he was only 15 years of age. Thus Mr. Fricke 
has been a practical farmer since early boyhood. His farm consists of 
160 acres, located 13 miles south of Boonville, and the place bears testi- 
mony of the skill and efficiency of Mr. Fricke as a modem farmer. He 
has recently rebuilt the residence, and has constructed other ample farm 
buildings, including a metal barn 32x42 feet. He is extensively engaged 
in general farming and stock raising, making a specialty of Hereford 
cattle. 

Oct. 4, 1911, William Fricke was united in marriage with Miss Sophia 
Lohse, a daughter of Fred and Anna Lohse, pioneer settlers of Cooper 
County. The mother is now deceased and the father resides in Clarks 
Fork township. To Mr. and Mrs. Fricke have been born two children, as 
follows: Norbert, born Nov. 3, 1913, and Lucille, born March 19, 1919. 

Mr. and Mrs. Fricke are members of the Lutheran Evangelical 
Church at Clarks Fork. While Mr. Fricke does not take an active part 
in political affairs, he supports the policies and principles of the republican 
party. He is well known in Cooper County as one of its reliable and pro- 
gressive citizens, and the Fricke family is highly esteemed. 

Charles W. Schubert, proprietor of the "Cool Spring Farm," which 
is one of the interesting places of Clarks Fork township, is a native son 
of this county. He was born near Billingsville, Jan. 14, 1874, a son of 
C. A. and Wilhelmina (Langkop) Schubert. C. A. Schubert was born in 
Gelenau, Saxony, Germany, Dec, 1830, and died March 26, 1900, and emi- 
grated to America when he was a boy. He was an early settler in Cooper 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 691 

County. During the Civil War he served in the Union Army, and re- 
ceived a gunshot wound in the arm at the battle of Boonville. After the 
close of the war, he returned to the peaceful pursuits of agricultural life 
in Cooper County and here spent the remainder of his life. His remains 
now rest in the Clarks Fork Cemetery. His widow still survives him and 
resides in Prairie Home. She was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1840. 
They were the parents of the following children: Henry, Prairie Home 
township; Mrs. Minnie Langlotz, Boonville; Anna, died in infancy; and 
Charles W., the subject of this sketch. 

Charles W. Schubert received his education in the public schools of 
Cooper County, having attended school at the Washington School district. 
He has made farming and stock raising the principal pursuit of his life, 
and has met with more than ordinary success. He owns 143 acres of 
some of Cooper County's best land, where his father settled in 1879. 
Mr. Schubert has made many improvements and keeps his place well up 
to the standard of modern farm homes. On June 5, 1917, he met with 
considerable loss in the way of the destruction of many of his farm build- 
ings by a tornado. However, he soon rebuilt and repaired the damage, 
and to-day there remains no evidence of nature's great destruction on the 
Schubert place. 

Mr. Schubert was united in marriage, June 22, 1902, with Miss Mary 
Muntzel, daughter of Daniel and Wilhelmina (Kaune) Muntzel, the for- 
mer now i*esiding in Clarks Fork township, and the latter died Jan. 26, 
1912, and her remains are buried in the Lutheran Cemetery at Clarks 
Fork. Mrs. Schubert is one of the following children bora to her parents: 
August, who resides on the home place; Herman P., Clarks Fork town- 
ship; William, on the home place; John, Boonville; Mrs. Sophia Prigge, 
St. Louis, Mo. ; Mrs. Lavina Meyer, died at the age of 20 years in Cali- 
fornia, Mo.; and Mary, married Charles W. Schubert, the subject of this 
sketch. To Mr. and Mrs. Schubert have been bom two children, as fol- 
lows: Lillian, died in 1915, at the age of 12 years, and Aurelius, born 
April 27, 1906. 

The Schubert homestead is one of the historic places of Cooper 
County, and its story is interwoven with many interesting incidents of 
the early days in this section. A portion of what is now the Schubert 
residence was built prior to the Civil War, and Christ Fricke, who owned 
the place during the stirring days of that conflict, was taken from his 
home at night and hanged by bushwhackers in the vicinity of his home. 



692 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

A man who worked for him was also murdered about the same time. 
Christ Fricke's widow married Charles Brandes, and now resides near 
Lone Elm, Mo. 

The Schubert place is also noted for the great number of Indian 
relics found upon its soil. Arrow heads have been found in abundance, 
and two well-preserved tomahawks have been found here, one of which 
Mrs. Schubert has in her possession, and values very highly as a relic 
of the Red Men's handicraft. 

Mr. and Mrs. Schubert are members of the Lutheran Church at 
Clarks Fork, and are numbered among Cooper County's valued citizens. 

Charles D. Shirley. — The progressive farmer of today is not content 
to till his land in a mediocre, hit-and-miss manner, and is not satisfied to 
keep any but the best of live stock on his place. Here and there over the 
county are men of intelligence and foresight who are making a specialty 
of producing pure-bred live stock and are engaging the business as a com- 
mercial venture. Charles D. Shirley, of Clarks Fork township, is one of 
this class. Mr. Shirley is specializing in Angus cattle, and intends to 
breed this fine variety of cattle. He also keeps pure-bred Shorthorns on 
the place, and pure-bred Poland China hogs. A flock of 100 head of 
Shropshire sheep are a paying venture on the farm. The Shirley farm 
consists of 336 acres, and has been the home of the present proprietor 
since 1902. During the past 17 years all of Mr. Shirley's time that he 
could spare from crop production, has been devoted to building improve- 
ments on the farm. The big barn has been remodeled, fences built, a 
concrete silo erected, an attractive driveway is in process of building, 
and the time is coming when the Shirley estate will be one of the finest 
in the land. Mr. Shirley was born March 2, 1872, on a farm in Clarks 
Fork township, Cooper County. 

William A. J. Shirley, his father, was born on the Shirley homestead 
in the same township in 1835, and died in 1882. He was a son of Charles 
Shirley, a native of Virginia, who was an early pioneer in Cooper County, 
settling on Clarks Fork sometime in the twenties. William A. J. Shirley 
was married May 3, 1871, to Harriet Malvina Eller, who was born Dec. 
24, 1850, on a farm near Boonville, and is a daughter of David and Martha 
(Oglesby) Eller. David Eller was born in Missouri in 1822, and died in 
1864. He was killed by bushwhackers during the Civil War. He was a 
son of Jacob Eller, who was one of the first pioneers to settle in Cooper 
County, and was a native of North Carolina. The mother of Mrs. Shirley 
was born in Virginia in 1828, came to Cooper County with her parents in 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 693 

1831. and died here in 1912. Mr. Shirley's mother, Malvina (Eller) Shir- 
ley, was one of the following children born to David and Martha Eller: 
Nancy Jane, Bunceton, Mo. ; Mrs. Harriet Shirley ; Henry, Susan Elizabeth 
Kepner, Lucretia Ann Moore, William, Mrs. Mattie Knaus, Mrs. Mollie 
McFarland. 

Mr. and Mrs. Shirley lived on the Shirley home place for a few years, 
then sold it and moved to the Eller place, finally settling on the homestead 
of 120 acres in Palestine township. The children born to them are as 
follows: Charles D., of this review; Florence, wife of Bert Chamberlin; 
Harry L., living on an adjoining farm ; Susan, at home with her mothei , 
and William, managing the home farm. 

Charles D. Shirley attended the Stony Point School and also the Con- 
cord School. After his district school days he studied at Hooper Insti- 
tute in Clarks Fork township. He has always followed farming. He 
purchased his first tract of 116 acres in the fall of 1900, and placed all of 
the needed improvements on the place. He rented his present farm for 
two years prior to its purchase in 1905. The farm which Mr. Shirley 
owns is one of the oldest settled places in Cooper County, known as the 
Oglesby farm. This tract was entered as Government land by his grand- 
father Oglesby, who gave the farm to Thomas Oglesby, an uncle of Charles 
D. Shirley, and from whom the present owner purchased it. The original 
elm tree, from which "Lone Elm Prairie" takes name, stood on this farm. 

Mr. Shirley was married in September, 1912, to Miss Grace M. Cham- 
berlin, born in Cooper County, a daughter of the late Albert M. Chamber- 
lin, a sketch of whom appears in this history. Mr. and Mrs. Shirley have 
two children: Harriet Elizabeth, born Sept. 7, 1913; and Charles David, 
born March 11, 1915. 

Mr. Shirley is a democrat, as were his ancestors before him. He is 
a member of the Baptist Church, the faith of his fathers. He is a mem- 
ber of the Woodmen of the World, at Speed, Mo. 

Luther Clinton Debo, a prominent farmer and stockman of Boonville 
township, belongs to a pioneer family of Cooper County. He was born 
in Bedford County. Va., Nov. 9, 1869, a son of Reed Perry and Mary 
(Hepstonstall) Debo, both natives of Virginia. Reed Perry Debo was 
bom June 19, 1832 and died April 21, 1911. He served in the Confederate 
Army during the Civil War, enlisting April 1, 1862 in Company G, 28th 
Virginia Infantry, which was attached to Pickett's Division. He became 
1st Sergeant of his company and participated in many of the important 
battles which were fought by the army of Virginia under command of 



694 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Gen. Robert E. Lee. He was twice wounded, once by a gun shot through 
the thigh, and again on the wrist. After the close of the Civil War he 
came to Missouri and settled in Howard County, and in 1874 settled in 
Cooper County. Later he went to Livingston County where he remained 
about nine years, but returned to Cooper County and spent the latter 
years of his life. 

Luther Clinton Debo was reared in Cooper County and educated in 
the public school and has made farming and stock raising his life occu- 
pation. He bought his present place in Boonville township in 1908. It is 
a well improved farm situated 4V'-> miles southeast of Boonville, and was 
formerly the MacFarland place. Mr. Debo has improved this place, and 
has built barns, silo and other necessary equipment for the successful 
carrying on of modern day agricultural method, and has one of the valu- 
able places of the county, and it may be truly said that he is one of Cooper 
County's successful farmers and stockmen. 

June 3, 1909, Luther C. Debo was united in marriage with Miss Eliza- 
beth MacFarland, daughter of Warren and Amanda Malvina MacFarland. 
Warren MacFarland was born on the place where Mr. Debo now resides 
in Boonville township, Feb. 12, 1841. He spent his life in this county 
and died July 22, 1908. His wife was bom July 31, 1843, and died July 
24, 1895. Their remains are buried in the cemetery at Boonville. War- 
ren MacFarland was a son of Rueben and Eunice (Rice) MacFarland. 
Rueben MacFarland was born Oct. 17, 1804, and died Jan. 25, 1882. Eunice 
(Rice) MacFarland was born March 6, 1805, and died Dec. 24, 1874. Rue- 
ben MacFarland was the son of Jacob MacFarland, who was born Feb. 21, 
1772, and died Oct. 13, 1846. Jacob MacFarland's remains are buried in 
Clarks Fork township on the Melkerson farm. Jacob MacFarland came 
to St. Genevieve, Mo. in 1816 and in 1818 came to Cooper County and set- 
tled on the farm, a part of which is now owned by Mr. Debo, the subject 
of this sketch. After coming here he spent the remainder of his life on 
this place, as did his son Rueben, also; and Warren MacFarland likewise 
spent his life on this farm. Archibald Rice, great grandfather of Mrs. 
Elizabeth Debo, was born Dec. 19. 1782. William MacFarland, a brother 
of Jacob MacFarland, was the first sheriff of Cooper County. He was 
born in Buncomb County, N. C, in 1778. He came to Cooper County, in 
1816. 

Mrs. Elizabeth (MacFarland) Debo has three sisters living as follows: 
Mrs. Eunice Miller, Millerton, Okla. ; Mrs. C. Borne Talliaferro, Ardmore, 
Okla. ; and Mrs. Grover Debo, Boonville township. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Luther C. Debo have been born the following children: Elizabeth Lee, 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 695 

born Dec. 10, 1911; Louis Clinton, born Feb. 22, 1913; and Truman Reed, 
born Oct. 26, 1914. 

The Debos have some interesting historic relics of bygone days. Mr. 
Debo has the upper and lower buhr mill stones which were first used in a 
mill which was built by Jacob MacFarland in Boonville township about 
100 years ago. This was the first mill to grind flour in Cooper County. 
Mrs. Debo has in her possession one of the old fashion clocks with wooden 
wheels, which was owned by her grandfather Oglesby. This venerable 
time piece is over a century old, and was manufactured by Henry Terry 
at Plymouth, Conn. There are many other interesting historic relices in 
the Debo home, which have been collected from generation to generation, 
during the long residence of this pioneer family in Cooper County. The 
Debo home is one of the pleasant and interesting places of Cooper County 
and Mr. and Mrs. Debo have an extensive acquaintance and are among 
Cooper County's most valued citizens. 

Edwin K. Smith, proprietor of "Woodville Mill Farm" in Clarks Fork 
township, is a native of Cooper County. He was born in Boonville, Dec. 
24, 1890, a son of Leslie and Fannie P. (Thompson) Smith. Leslie Smith 
was a native of Virginia and settled in Cooper County, prior to the Civil 
War. He spent the remainder of his life here and died in Boonville in 
1894. His widow now resides in Kansas City, Mo. They were the par- 
ents of the following children: Major Richard Smith, who served with 
the American Expeditionary Force in France; Elizabeth, married Gerald 
Hughes, Kansas City, Mo.; and Edwin K., the subject of this sketch. 

Major Richard Smith was educated in the public schools of Cooper 
County, and graduated from the Boonville High School. He first enlisted 
in the Missouri National Guards and served on the Mexican border, and 
was later mustered out of service. When the United States entered the 
World War he reenlisted and in Sept., 1917, went to France with the 
Rainbow Division. During the latter months of the war Major Smith 
commanded the 117th Field Battalion Signal Corps. During his service 
in France he was decorated with the distinguished service cross and also 
the French Croix de Guerre. He arrived in Amei'ica with his battalion 
in May, 1919 and remains with the army, stationed at Camp Funston. 
Major Smith was married in May, 1919, to Miss Bething Plank, of Kan 
City, a daughter of Cooper County pioneer parents. 

Edwin K. Smith, whose name introduces this sketch, received his 
education in the public schools of Boonville and the Westport High School, 
of Kansas City, Mo. He has made farming and stock raising his principal 



696 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

occupation, and has been very successful in this field of endeavor. In 
the spring of 1917 he purchased 92 acres of the R. S. Rankin farm, five 
miles southeast of Boonville. The following year he added 71 acres and 
now owns 163 acres of valuable farm land, which is well improved and 
under a high state of cultivation. The Rankin mill is located on this 
place, which is one of the landmarks of Cooper County. Mr. Smith bought 
a half interest in this mill and operated it four years. This mill was built 
in 1840 and rebuilt in 1893. For the last two years it has not been oper- 
ated very extensively. 

Edwin K. Smith was united in marriage July 24, 1912, with Miss 
Robna Rankin, a daughter of R. S. Rankin, sketch of whom appears in this 
volume. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith has been born one child, Elizabeth Louise. 

Mr. Smith carries on general farming and stock raising, making a 
specialty of high grade Jersey cows, and registered Hampshire hogs. He 
is one of Cooper County's progressive farmers and stockmen. He is a 
member of the Presbyterian Church. 

Christian W. Fahrenbrink, one of the leading farmers and stockmen 
of Clarks Fork township, is a native of Cooper County, and was born in 
the township where he now resides, Jan. 13, 1874. He is a son of Henry 
and Magdalena (Schnack) Fahrenbrink, both natives of Germany. 
Henry Fahrenbrink was born June 8, 1842, and came to America about 
1867, and settled in Cooper County. Here he first worked as a farm 
laborer, and at different times was employed by Henry Knaus, John King 
and Nick Smith. He later rented land from Robert Clawson. He then 
purchased a farm of 425 acres, part of the old Colonel Pope place, and was 
successfully engaged in farming the rest of his life. He died July 8, 1917, 
age 75 years and 1 month, and his remains are buried in the Lone Elm 
Cemetery. His widow now resides in Clarks Fork township. They were 
the parents of the following children: C. W., the subject of this sketch; 
H. H. lives in Clarks Fork township; John died in infancy; H. W., a min- 
ing man of Yuma, Ariz.; Emma married A. C. Brandes, and resides in 
Moniteau township; Lena, residing at home with her mother, and J. J., 
also on the home place. 

C. W. Fahrenbrink was reared in Cooper County, and was educated 
in the Jefferson School in Clarks Fork township, and the parochial school 
at Clarks Fork. He was reared on a farm, and his early training well 
fitted him for the business of farming and stock raising, which has been 
his life's vocation. He owns a valuable farm of 173 acres, which is 



X 
z 

3 



r 




HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 697 

located 6!/> miles northeast of Bunceton. He purchased this place in 
1901 from the Hall estate. There were no improvements on the place 
when Mr. Fahrenbrink bought it. He has built a good modem residence 
which is fitted with acetylene light and other modern conveniences. He 
has erected two large barns upon the place and other farm buildings, 
which classifies his place as one of the best improved farms of the county. 
He is engaged in general farming and stock raising, being extensively 
interested in breeding registered Poland China hogs and Shorthorn cattle. 

Mr. Fahrenbrink was united in marriage in 1902 with Miss Dora 
Brandes, a daughter of Charles and Margaret Brandes, of North Moniteau 
township. Charles Brandes was a successful farmer and an early settler 
in Cooper County, coming here prior to the Civil War and serving four 
years as a Union soldier. He died in 1911, and his widow now resides on 
the old home place in North Moniteau township. To Mr. and Mrs. Fahr- 
enbrink have been born the following children: Erna, died in infancy; 
Margaret; Carl and Paul, twins; and Gertrude. 

To Charles and Margaret Brandes were born the following children: 
Christ J., who resides in Moniteau township; Maggie, married Henry 
King, Clarks Fork township; Josie, married John Pethan, Clarks Fork 
township ; Emma, married Henry Langkop, Boonville ; Lizzie, married 
William Brokamp, Clarks Fork township ; John A., North Moniteau town- 
ship ; Theodore, North Moniteau township ; Dora, the wife of C. W. Fahr- 
enbrink, the subject of this sketch, and Albert C, North Moniteau town- 
ship. By a former marriage of the mother to Christ Fricke, who was 
killed by bushwhackers during the Civil War, two children were born, as 
follows: Sophie, the wife of Christ Rasmussen, of Clarks Fork township; 
and Caroline, who is now the wife of D. Alpers, Prairie Home township. 

Mr. Fahrenbrink is a republican, and takes a good citizen's interest 
in local affairs. He has been a member of the School Board of Consoli- 
dated District No. 1 for six years. He is a member of the board of direc- 
tors of the Farmers Elevator Company, of Bunceton, and he and Mrs. 
Fahrenbrink are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Zion Church at 
Lone Elm. Mr. Fahrenbrink is a stockholder in the Cooper County Bank 
at Bunceton, and is a stockholder in the newly organized Farmers Trust 
Company, of Boonville. He is a substantial and valued citizen. 

J. H. Rethemeyer, a successful farmer and stockman of Saline town- 
ship, who is well known in Cooper County, is a native of Missouri. He 
was born in Gasconade County, Feb. 11, 1881, a son of Henry and Mary 



698 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

(Fleer) Rethemeyer. Henry Rethemeyer was born in Germany in 1842 
and when he was two years of age was brought to America by his parents, 
who settled in Gasconade County, Mo. He now resides in Sedalia, at the 
age of 79 years, and his wife is 64 years old. They were the parents of 
the following children: Henry, St. Louis; Minnie, married Peter Adair 
and lives in Prairie Home township, Cooper County; J. H., the subject of 
this sketch; Annie, married Ed. Roseman, St. Louis; Alvina, deceased; 
Mary, married Neal Dancing, Portland, Ore. ; Amanda married Frank 
Less, Sedalia; and Huldah married Ernest Marshall, Sedalia. 

J. H. Rethemeyer was reared in Gasconade County and received his 
education in the public schools. He remained on the home farm until he 
was 19 years of age, when he went to St. Louis and drove teams for a 
time, and did other general labor for about five years. He then came to 
Cooper County and conducted a general mercantile store for two years. 
He was engaged in the milling business at Pilot Grove for two years. In 
1909 he bought his present place in Saline township. He first purchased 
80 acres from W. J. Hurt, to which he has added from time to time, as 
opportunities offered and his means permitted, until he now owns 197 
acres of valuable and well improved land on the Boonville and Jefferson 
City highway. He has made many improvements on his place until he 
has made of it one of the model farms of Cooper County. He raises 
cattle, hogs and sheep, as well as carrying on general grain farming, and 
is also interested in raising brown leghorn chickens, and altogether, Mr. 
Rethemeyer is one of Cooper County's successful citizens. 

May 7, 1905, J. H. Rethemeyer was united in marriage with Miss 
Helena Wehmeyer, a daughter of Peter and Magdalena (Fiedler) Weh- 
meyer, both natives of Germany. Peter Wehmeyer was born March 13, 
1835, and came to America when he was 16 years of age. He first worked 
by the month as a farm laborer for Fred Fricke, and a short time after 
coming here purchased 80 acres of land in Clarks Fork township, to which 
he later added 80 acres. He sold his farm later and conducted a store at 
Clarks Fork for nearly 20 years. Retiring from this business, he bought 
a 42 acre farm in Prairie Home township, which he sold in 1912. He 
died in Feb., 1912. His wife preceded him in death, having departed this 
life June 19, 1899. Their remains are both interred in the Evangelical 
Lutheran cemetery at Clarks Fork. Mrs. Rethemeyer is one of the fol- 
lowing children born to her parents: Katie, married Henry Mersey, 
Prairie Home township; Sophia, married H. C. Honerbrink, Prairie Home 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 699 

township; Miss Margaret Wehmeyer, Saline township; Minnie, married 
J. P. Ruth, Prairie Home; Carrie, married Albert Adair, Saline township; 
Helena maried J. H. Rethemeyer, the subject of this sketch ; Emma and 
Martha both died in infancy. 

Mr. Rethemeyer is a republican and one of Cooper County's most sub- 
stantial and progressive citizens. The Rethmeyer family are well known 
and highly respected in this county. 

Leonard Langkop, proprietor of "Jefferson Valley Farm" in Clarks 
Fork township, is one of Cooper County's successful and well known farm- 
ers and stockmen. He was born in this county Sept. 1, 1874, a son of 
Ferdinand and Margaret (Smith) Langkop, natives of Germany. Ferdi- 
nand Langkop was born in 1844, and was brought to America with his 
parents when he was three years old. The family located in Iowa. 
Ferdinand Langkop followed farming and stock raising all his life. Dur- 
ing the Civil War he enlisted in the Union Army in 1862, and served 
until the close of the war. He died at Bunceton, March 3, 1919, age 75 
years, and his remains are buried in the Lutheran Church cemetery at 
Clarks Fork. His wife died in 1888. They were the parents of the fol- 
lowing children: W. H., a mail carrier, Bunceton; Lizze, married Frank 
Theiss, Clarks Fork township ; Leonard, the subject of this sketch ; Anna, 
married H. J. Kopp, Bunceton; Martin resides in Moniteau County; Mag- 
gie died at the age of 10 years; Tillie married Ben Hurt, Bunceton, and 
one son died in infancy. After the death of his first wife, Ferdinand 
Langkop married Mrs. Mary Henry, and one daughter was born to this 
union, Lydia, who now resides at Bunceton. 

Leonard Langkop was reared in Cooper County and educated in the 
German school at Clarks Fork, and the public school at New Salem. He 
was reared on a farm and has made farming and stock raising his life's 
vocation. He purchased his first land in 1903, which consisted of a farm 
of 50 acres. He has added more land from time to time to his original 
farm and now owns 220 acres, which is considered one of Cooper County's 
best farms. The place is well improved, a good farm residence having 
been built in 1904, and a large barn was erected in 1906. Mr. Langkop 
is engaged in stock raising as well as general farming and raises large 
numbers of Poland China hogs, cattle and sheep. 

July 12, 1903, Mr. Langkop was united in marriage with Miss Minnie 
Barron, a daughter of Walter and Virginia (Hurt) Barron. A review 
of the Barron family history appears in this volume. To Mr. and Mrs. 



700 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Langkop have been born two sons: Ralph, born May 10, 1904, now a 
student in the Boonville High School, and Waldo is at home with his par- 
ents. The Langkop family is well known in the community and Mr. Lang- 
kop is one of Cooper County's most progressive citizens. 

George T. Taliaferro, who died at his home in Clarks Fork township 
in the spring of 1910, was born in that township June 16, 1860, son of 
Robert H. and Louise M. (Hickox) Taliaferro, both members of old fam- 
ilies in this county. Robert H. Taliaferro was born on Feb. 3, 1822, and 
his wife was born on Dec. 28, 1832. They were the parents of eight chil- 
dren, as follows: Charles W., born on Jan. 8 1853, Kansas City; James 
B., Dec. 8, 1854, deceased; Johnson A., Sept. 10, 1856, New Mexico; 
George T. ; Anna M., Sept. 22, 1862, deceased; Hattie Louise, Aug. 26, 
1869, deceased; Robert Burns, Nov. 21, 1870, Oklahoma; and Mary Vir- 
ginia, Aug. 4, 1873, now living at Kansas City, Kan. 

Reared on the home farm in Clarks Fork township, George T. Talia- 
ferro received his schooling in the district schools, and from the days of 
his boyhood his life was devoted to farming. He married at the age of 
30, and after his marriage established his home on the farm of 110 acres 
on which he died, a part of the Carpenter estate in Clarks Fork township, 
and the rest of his life was spent in the labor of developing the place. It 
was in 1900 when he established his home there, and in that same year 
he erected on the place a comfortable six-room house and made other 
improvements. A few years later he built a new barn, and before his 
death he had an admirable farm plant, and his affairs were prospering. 
Mr. Taliaferro died on April 3, 1910, leaving his widow with the care of 
seven children, the eldest of whom then was under 17 years of age. Mrs. 
Taliaferro maintained the place, superintended the operations of the same 
until her sons came of an age to be of material assitance in relieving her 
of the burden of management, and at the same time continued to make 
improvements on the farm, these including the erection of an addition to 
the house in 1916. In 1912, she bought an adjoining tract of 84 acres, 
and now has a well-improved farm of 194 acres, which her sons are oper- 
ating. Mrs. Taliaferro has kept her children together, has a very pleas- 
ant home, and she and her family are comfortably situated. 

Mrs. Taliaferro was born in Cooper County, Julia Ann Carpenter, 
daughter of Gabriel and Sarah (Harris) Carpenter, both members of 
pioneer families in this county. She was reared in Clarks Fork township, 
and was living there when married to George T. Taliaferro, Dec. 31, 1890. 
To that union were born eight children: Mary Mable, born Oct. 23, 1893, 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 701 

a Cooper County teacher; Virginia Myrtle, June 24, 1895, who is a stu- 
dent in the State Normal School at Warrensburg; Louis Gabriel, March 
17, 1897, who has but recently returned from service with the United 
States Army; Robert Luther, May 17, 1898; Thomas Alfred and Albert 
Weight (twins), Feb. 10, 1900, who are giving special attention to the 
operations of the farm ; Clara Mildred, Feb. 4, 1904, and an infant son, 
April 28, 1905, who did not live to receive a name. Louis Gabriel Talia- 
ferro, the soldier son, enlisted for service in the United States Army, 
Aug. 15, 1918. He was sent to Camp Jackson, S. C, and was there 
attached to Company A, First Regiment, Fifth Division, when the sign- 
ing of the armistice ended hostilities, and his command was mustered out 
and he returned home to resume the pursuits of peace. 

William Kahle, a leading farmer and stockman of Clarks Fork town- 
ship, and a member of one of Cooper County's respected pioneer families, 
was born in Germany, Oct. 16, 1847. He is a son of Henry and Eliza- 
beth Kahle, both natives of Germany. The mother died in her native land 
in 1852; three years later Henry Kahle came to America with his family 
and settled in St. Louis County, Mo. In 1857 he came to Cooper County 
and settled in Clarks Fork township, where he bought a farm of 40 acres 
from Joel Hurt, for which he paid $5.00 per acre. This land is now owned 
by Charles Schubert. Upon this place Henry Kahle built a log cabin and 
cleared about 10 acres of ground. He died in 1860 and his remains are 
buried in a private burial ground on the Muntzel farm in Clarks Fork 
township. The children born to Henry and Elizabeth Kahle were as fol- 
lows : Sophia ; Henry ; Mrs. Mena Lohman, Reno, 111. ; Mrs. Bettie Obuch, 
who died in Texas, and William, the subject of this sketch. 

William Kahle was the youngest of the family, and after his father's 
death he lived with Peter Muntzel for about seven years. He attended 
school in the Washington and Crabapple school district and in early life 
was employed as a farm laborer at wages ranging from $15.00 to $25.00 
per month. He bought his first land in 1873 with Herman Toellner as a 
partner. This farm consisted of 150 acres for which they paid $35 per 
acre. Later Mr. Kahle sold his interest to Mr. Toellner. In 1881 he pur- 
chased 87 acres and later added to his acreage until he now owns 625 
acres, located in Clarks Fork. North Moniteau and Kelly townships, 
comprising some of the most valuable land in Cooper County. There are 
two sets of farm improvements on Mr. Kahle's place all of which are of 
good substantial character, including residences, barns and other buildings. 

William Kahle was married Feb. 18, 1874 to Miss Johanna Kunrath. 



702 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

a daughter of John and Anna (Schmalfeldt) Kunrath both natives of Ger- 
many, where they spent their lives and are now deceased. They were 
the parents of the following children: Johanna, the wife of William 
Kahle, whose name introduces this sketch ; Elizabeth who died at the age 
of 21 ; Catherine and John. Mrs. Kahle came to this country in company 
with her uncle, John King, when she was 17 years of age. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Kahle have been born children as follows: Mrs. Lizzie Ohlendorf; 
Anna, died at the age of 40 years ; Christine, married Henry Lohse ; Dora, 
married Clarence Hosp ; Minnie married He"nry Twillman; Henry J., who 
resides on the home place ; Herman F. ; Albert ; Adolph ; Stella and William 
J. Herman F. served in the World War. He was inducted into the 
National Army in Sept., 1917 and became a member of Company L. ssGth 
Infantry, 89th Division. He reached France with his command in June, 
1918, and participated in much of the important fighting as a private- 
mechanic during the closing months of the war. He was at the battle 
of Argonne Forest, the St. Mihiel drive, and the Meuse River and was at 
the battle front when the armistice was signed. He was honorably dis- 
charged from the service at Camp Funston, June 11, 1919, and is now at 
home. 

William Kahle has had an active and successful career and has seen 
much of the development of this section of the state. He has a distinct 
recollection, as a boy, of the stirring days of the Civil War. He remem- 
bers the killing of Christ Fricke and Henry Schulte by guerrillas during 
the war. Mr. Fricke owned the farm now owned by Charles Schubert and 
Henry Schulte was working for him when the tragedy took place. 

Mr. and Mrs. Kahle are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church 
of Lone Elm and rank among the best citizens of Cooper County. 

Henry Fahrenbrink, now deceased, was a Cooper County citizen of 
sterling worth, who contributed his share to the upbuilding and develop- 
ment of this county. He was a native of Germany, born near Westphalia, 
July 8, 1842. He was reared to manhood in his native land and immi- 
grated to America in 1866. He came directly to Cooper County, Mo., 
where for a time he worked as a farm laborer. Later he rented land, the 
first farm which he operated being the Clawson farm, which is now owned 
by George Brandes. He operated rented land extensively, at one time 
farming over 800 acres. In 1875 he purchased 425 acres of the Colonel 
Pope farm. He improved this place extensively, erecting farm buildings 
and setting out trees until he made of it one of the best improved farms 
in the county. In 1893 he erected a large modern residence, with all 
modern conveniences. He was a successful farmer and stockman. He 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY . 703 

fed cattle extensively and met with success in his undertakings. He was 
a substantial citizen and a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church 
of Lone Elm. He died July 8, 1907, and his remains are buried in the 
Lone Elm cemetery. 

March 28, 1873, Henry Fahrenbrink was united in marriage with 
Miss Magdalena Schnack, a native of Holstein, Germany. She was born 
Feb. 24. 1852, a daughter of Christian and Magdalena (Pengle) Schnack, 
both natives of Holstein. Mrs. Fahrenbrink came to America when she 
was 18 years of age, with the family of John King, who were neighbors 
of the Schnack family in their native land. Her transportation to this 
country cost $66.00 and she worked one year after coming here to pay it. 

To Henry and Magdalena Fahrenbrink were born the following chil- 
dren: Christ W., a sketch of whom appears in this volume; H. H., a 
sketch of whom also appears in this volume ; H. W., a mining man of 
Yuma, Ariz. ; Mrs. A. C. Brandes ; Lena, resides at home with her mother, 
and Julius J., who operates the home place. 

Julius J. Fahrenbrink was reared on the home farm and educated in 
the Jefferson school and parochial school of Lone Elm. Since he was 
18 years of age he has had charge of the home place and has demonstrated 
his capability as a manager and successful farmer and stockman. He 
raises Shorthorn cattle, Spotted Poland China hogs, and brown leghorn 
chickens. 

The Fahrenbrink farm was one of the first places settled in the 
vicinity of Lone Elm Prairie. At the time Colonel Pope located on this 
land it was generally believed by the settlers that prairie land was not 
productive, or, at least, that it was impractical to undertake to farm it. 
This theory was one of the many delusions of the early pioneers. When 
Mr. Fahrenbrink bought this land he paid $24.50 per acre for it. The 
place is well improved with a good residence, ample barns and other farm 
buildings, although one of the bams was destroyed by fire March 22, 1918. 

The Fahrenbrinks are numbered among the leading citizens of Cooper 
County and Julius J. Fahrenbrink is one of the progressive young men of 
the community. 

A. J. White, a prominent farmer and stockman of Kelly township, 
was born in Moniteau County, Dec. 25, 1865. He is a son of Stephen ancr 
Martha (Robertson) White. 

A. J. White was educated in the public schools of Moniteau County, 
and since early manhood has been engaged in farming and stock raising. 
He purchased his present place in Kelly township, which is known as the 
Tipton Loop Farm, in 1899. This farm was formerly the property of 



704 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Charles Dunaway and since buying the place Mr. White has made many 
valuable improvements, including a good eight room residence, a barn 
40x50 feet and a silo built of concrete block, with a capacity of 135 tons. 
Mr. White raises cattle, hogs and horses, and carries on general farming, 
and has met with success. He is one of the prosperous farmers of Kelly 
township. 

March 8, 1898, A. J. White was married to Martha Bear, a daughter 
of J. H. and Mary D. (Morris) Bear. To Mr. and Mrs. White have been 
born two daughters, Blanche, married George Tutt, Bunceton, and Maude, 
resides at home with her parents. The W"hite family are members of the 
Baptist Church at Tipton, and rank among the representative families of 
this section. 

William F. Schmalfeldt, proprietor of "Alfalfa Valley Farm," in 
Clark's Fork township, is one of the leading farmers of Cooper County. 
He was born on a farm near Lone Elm in 1871, son of Otto and Polly 
(Arnold) Schmalfeldt, the latter of whom is living at Lone Elm. 

Otto Schmalfeldt, a Union veteran of the Civil War, was born at 
Honerkirchen, Germany, March 4, 1842, and was about 18 years of age 
when he came to this country accompanied by his sister and brother 
John, another brother dying while crossing the Atlantic. He settled in 
this county, where he was living when the Civil War broke out. He 
enlisted in the Union army, and served until the close of the war. The 
gun which he carried is still preserved in the family, now in the posses- 
sion of his grandson. Otto Schmalfeldt. At the close of the war, Otto 
Schmalfeldt located on a farm at Lone' Elm and there spent the remainder 
of his life, his death occurring on Jan. 14, 1874, and his body lies in Clarks 
Fork Cemetery. His widow later married Peter Smith. She was born in 
Holmes County, Ohio, Dec. 18, 1850, and was about 16 years of age when 
she came to this county with her parents, Daniel Arnold and wife, after 
the close of the Civil War. By her marriage to Otto Schmalfeldt she was 
the mother of three children: J. H. Schmalfeldt, who died at the age of 
32 years ; William F., and Mrs. Christina Freiling, of Speed, Mo. By her 
marriage to Peter Smith she was the mother of two children, Mrs. Mar- 
garet Friedmyer, now living at California, Mo., and M. D. Smith, who 
owns the old Schmalfeldt farm at Lone Elm. 

William F. Schmalfeldt was reared on the home farm, and received 
his early schooling in the public school at Lone Grove and the parochial 
school at Clarks Fork and Prairie Home Institute. From boyhood, Mr. 
Schmalfeldt has followed farming, beginning on rented land. He con- 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 705 

.tinued as a renter until 1900, when he purchased from Frank George the 
farm of 184 acres, in Clarks Fork township, on which he has since lived. 
This land was entered by Peter T. Bowler, who in 1840 sold 120 acres, 
the tract on which the farm house stands, for $600 to David Smith, who 
in 1882 sold the same tract to Frank George for $1,800. In 1912 he pur- 
chased a 60-acre tract of Levi Arnold, and later, in 1918, he bought 76 
acres from J. T. Patterson. Mr. Schmalfeldt has given the very appro- 
priate name of "Alfalfa Valley Farm" to his place, owing to the luxuri- 
ance of the growth of alfalfa there, his fields having given him as high 
as five cuttings a season, the first cutting coming in the middle of May. 
Mr. Schmalfeldt has remodeled the buildings, erected a new tenant house, 
built adequate fences, and made other improvements. He has his house 
piped for both hard and soft water, has an acetyline gas plant for light- 
ing purposes, and his basement is fitted with furnace and laundry. In 
addition to his general farming he gives considerable attention to the 
raising of live stock. Mr. Schmalfeldt has 180 head of pure-bred Chester 
White hogs. He has been a breeder of O. I. C. hogs since 1902, and in 
1918 began to sell registered hogs. He is making a specialty of regis- 
tered stock, and has some of the best hogs in Missouri. An accurate 
record of the "Alfalfa Valley Drove" is kept by Mrs. Schmalfeldt. 

Oct. 4, 1894, William F. Schmalfeldt was united in marriage to Anna 
Brandes, who was born in this county on April 23, 1873, daughter of 
Christian H. and Sarah (Willshire) Brandes, the latter of whom, born in 
New Zealand and reared in Melbourne, Australia, is still living, making 
her home at Lone Elm. She was born on Feb. 28, 1847. Christian H. 
Brandes, who died at his home in this county, Nov. 9, 1902, and is buried 
at Lone Elm, was a native of Germany, and in young manhood went to 
Australia, where he married Sarah Willshire, and later came to this 
country to join relatives who had located in this county. The trip from 
Australia occupied six months, and he made a careful record of the inci- 
dents of the long journey, that record now being carefully preserved by 
the family. Upon his arrival here, Christian H. Brandes became engaged 
in farming, and here spent the remainder of his life. He and his wife 
had 10 children, as follows: Mrs. Chris T. Smith, of Bunceton ; Mrs. 
Sophia Hall, of Cotton; E. N. Brandes, of Kansas City; Mrs. Schmalfeldt ; 
Mrs. Florence Martin, deceased; Mrs. Emily Mansager, of Jewell, Iowa; 
Esther, wife of Andrew C. Smith, of Lone Elm; Henry, of Macon, Mo.; 
Walter, of Lone Elm; and Speer, on the home place. To Mr. and Mrs. 
(41) 



706 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Schmalfelclt five children have been born, namely : Ethel G., born on June 
21, 1896, married Henry Toellner, of Clarks Fork township; Emma C, 
March 25, 1898, wife of P. W. Loesing, of same township; Edward L., 
June 20, 1899, on the home farm ; Florence N., Jan. 17, 1904, also at 
home; and Helen E., Sept. 28, 1912, died Sept. 13, 1915. The Schmal- 
feldts are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church at Clarks Fork, 
and Mr. Schmalfeldt is a member of the board of trustees. 

John N. Whitlow, proprietor of a well improved farm of 265 acres in 
LaMine township, was born in Metcalf County, Ky., April 4, 1867, son of 
James A. and Martha L. (Pedigo) Whitlow. James A. Whitlow was born 
in Metcalf County, Ky., Jan. 24, 1830. He grew up a farmer in his native 
state and remained there until in 1874, when he came to Missouri and 
located in Cooper County, arriving here with his family February 14th 
of that same year, settling on the farm now owned by his son, John, who 
has thus been a resident of that place for 45 years. There James A. 
Whitlow was begining to develop his farm when death interrupted his lab- 
ors in Jan., 1876. His widow kept the family together and is still living on 
the home place. She was born in Henry County, Va., Jan. 24, 1830, and was 
11 years of age when her parents moved into Kentucky, where she grew 
to womanhood and married. To James A. Whitlow and wife were born 
10 children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the eighth in order 
of birth. 

John N. Whitlow was eight years of age when he came with his par- 
ents to Cooper County from Kentucky and here he has resided ever since. 
He was but 10 years of age when his father died and he thus early had to 
take his part in the labors of maintaining the home place. About 1889 
he bought 100 acres of his present farm, a part of the place which his 
father had bought upon coming to Cooper County, and to this he has added 
until now he is the owner of a fine farm of 265 acres, which he has im- 
proved in excellent fashion, the improvements including a new and mod- 
ern dwelling house, a silo and other improvements in keeping with the 
same. Mr. Whitlow is a Democrat. 

Feb. 26, 1902, John N. Whitlow was united in marriage to Ada L. 
Gorrell, who was born in this county April 30, 1872, daughter of Amos 
Gorrell and wife, of whom further mention is made in this volume, and to 
this union seven children have been born, namely : Martha C, Jesse E., 
Wilbur R., Louise L., Ada S., Linnie Oma and Woodrow. 

Andrew C. Smith, proprietor of an excellent farm in Clarks Fork 
township, is one of the progressive and wideawake farmers of Cooper 
County. He was born on a farm in the Lone Elm neighborhood, Oct. 10, 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 707 

1878, son of Henry and Julia (Hosp) Smith, both of whom live in Boon- 
ville, where they have resided since their retirement from the farm. 
Henry Smith is a native of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, and was a grown 
man when he came to this country with his father, Claus Schmidt, 
and located in this county. A few months after coming here, in 
1877, he married Julia Hosp, twin sister of Julius Hosp and daughter of 
Andrew and Amelia (Sombart) Hosp, and after his marriage settled on a 
farm near Lone Elm, where he lived until his retirement some years ago 
and removal to Boonville. Mrs. Smith was born at Boonville, where her 
father had located upon coming to this country from his native Germany. 
Her mother also was born in Germany and was about three years of age 
when her parents came to America. To Henry Smith and wife were born 
four sons, the last born of whom, Charles, died when two years of age, 
the others, besides the subject of this sketch (the first born), being Wil- 
liam, of Bunceton, and George, who continues to make his home on the 
Henry Smith farm, near Lone Elm. 

Andrew C. Smith received his schooling in the local parochial school 
and in the Washington District School in Clarks Fork township. In 1901 
he bought the farm on which he is now living and after his marriage, in 
the following year, established his home there. Mr. Smith has a well 
cultivated place of 120 acres, six miles east and north of Bunceton and 
since has made numerous substantial improvements on the place, includ- 
ing the rebuilding of the farm house, the erection of a barn, the drilling 
of a deep well, the erection of a garage and other buildings. In addition 
to his general farming, he gives considerable attention to the raising of 
live stock. He has served on the local school board. He and his family 
are members of the Lone Elm Lutheran Church. 

In 1902 Andrew C. Smith was united in marriage to Esther Brandes, 
who was born in this county, daughter of Chris and Sarah Brandes, the 
latter of whom is still living near Lone Elm. Chris Brandes died in 1902. 
He and his wife had nine children, of whom Mrs. Smith is the youngest, 
the others being as follows: Edward, Kansas City; Henry, Macon; Wal- 
ter, Bunceton; Speer, Bunceton; Augusta, wife of Chris T. Smith, of this 
county; Sophia, wife of John Hall; Emalina, married M. J. Mansager, 
resides in Iowa ; Anna, wife of William Schmalfeldt, Clarks Fork, and 
Mrs. Florence Martin, deceased. To Andrew C. and Esther (Brandes) 
Smith have been born two children, Raymond and Elvadene Ruth. Be- 
sides these, they are rearing two children of Mrs. Smith's deceased sister 
Florence, Edna and Spencer Martin. Edward Martin, father of these 
children, is now living in St. Louis. 



708 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

William Meyer, one of Cooper County's most prosperous and promi- 
nent farmers and stockmen, was born in Moniteau County, April 9, 1858, 
a son of Henry and Anna (Bahlmann) Meyer, the former a native of 
Hanover, Germany, and the latter of Oldenberg, Germany. 

Henry Meyer immigrated to America after his marriage to Anna 
Bahlmann, in 1842, and he and his wife located in New Orleans, La., 
moving thence to St. Louis, and from there to Moniteau County, where 
Mr. Meyer entered a tract of land comprising 200 acres, to which he later 
added 100 acres, acquired by purchase He sold the farm in Moniteau 
County after farming there for several years, and moved to Cooper 
County, where he settled on the farm now the country place of his son, 
William, the subject of this sketch. Henry Meyer resided in Cooper 
County from 1867 to the time of his death. During the Civil War, he 
served with the Home Guards in Moniteau County. He was a very suc- 
cessful farmer and stockman, and was highly regarded in Cooper County. 
The children of Henry and Anna Meyer are as follows: Mary, who died 
in childhood ; Catherine, the wife of John Schnuck, of Boonville ; Eliza- 
beth, who died in infancy; Levina, the wife of Christian Muntzel, of 
Black water; Sophia, the wife of Henry Friedmeyer, and she is now de- 
ceased ; Louise, now deceased, the wife of Henry Molau ; George, deceased ; 
Henry, Jr., and Ana, twins, deceased; and William, the subject of this 
sketch. 

William Meyer was educated in the public schools of Cooper County. 
Practically his entire life thus far has been spent in farming and stock- 
raising in Clarks Fork township. He is the proprietor of "Buena Vista 
Stock Farm," located eight miles southeast of Boonville in Clarks Fork 
township, a place comprising 425 acres of valuable land, equipped with 
two sets of improvements, all of which have been placed on the farm by 
Mr. Meyer, the buildings including a handsome two -story residence, three 
bams, and a tenant house. The farm is very neatly kept, the land is 
well watered and stocked, an ideal stock farm. Mr. Meyer has, at the 
time of this writing in 1919, 400 head of sheep of good quality, Jersey 
cattle, and Poland China hogs. Mr. Meyer and his son, Elmer, in part- 
nership, have conducted stock sales at the "Buena Vista Stock Farm," 
in connection with W. B. Windsor and C. N. Menefee, and in cataloguing 
the stock, the Meyer cattle and hogs invariably ranked as the best quality. 

Aug. 23, 1883, William Meyer and Henrietta M. Steigleder were 
united in marriage. Mrs. Meyer was born on a farm near Oskaloosa, 
Iowa, a daughter of George Frederick Andrew and Mary Elizabeth (Hoch- 



2 



- 
> 




HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 700 

stetler) Steigleder, the former, born July 30, 1829, at Michelbach on der 
Haide, in Germany, and the latter born Aug. 16, 1834, in Holmes County, 
Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Steigleder were united in marriage, Jan. 28, 1855, 
in Ohio, by Rev. J. G. Zohner, and to them were born eight children: 
William Frederick and George Henry; Anna Elizabeth Wilhelmina, the 
wife of H. P. Muntzel, of Boonville ; Louis Robert, of Big Cabin, Okla. ; 
Matilda H., the wife of subject of this sketch; Martha Amelia Louise, 
the' wife of Elmer George, of Bunceton ; Sophia Barbara, the wife of 
Thomas Etter, of Richville; and Louvina Luella, of Bunceton. Jacob 
Hochstetler immigrated to America from Rotterdam, and his descend- 
ents are scattered throughout America, Mrs. Meyer being a lineal de- 
scendent. The Hochstetlers settled originally in Somerset County, Pa. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Meyer have been born two children: Elmer C, married 
Elsie Stumpf, Jan. 31, 1918, a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Marie 
Stumpf ; and Stella A. E., at home with her parents. 

William Meyer is one of the original "boosters" of good roads in 
Cooper County, and one of the first to be interested in the establishment 
of the rural telephone and rural routes. He is a charter member of the 
Farmers Bank of Boonville, of which he has been a director for 21 years, 
until the bank was sold. He was a school director in his district for 15 
years. Mr. Meyer stands high in the respect and trust of his fellowmen 
and there is no man in this section of the State more worthy of admira- 
tion and confidence. 

Henry Smith, well known in the Lone Elm neighborhood for many 
years, now living retired in Boonville, was born in Schleswig-Holstein, 
Germany, Oct. 15, 1847, son of Claus and Margaret (Sulau) Schmidt, the 
latter of whom died in that country. After the death of his wife, Claus 
Schmidt came to the United States with his seven children and located 
in this county, where he spent the remainder of his life. He died in 1896, 
being then nearly 86 years of age, and is buried in the Clarks Fork Ceme- 
tery. He was the father of seven children, as follows: Peter, Lone Elm; 
Henry; Joseph, died in Henry County; John, San Francisco; Heinrich, 
Petersburg, Mo. ; Anna, manned Frederick Lohee and is deceased ; and 
Mrs. Margaret Naumann, Lone Elm. 

In the spring of 1877 Henry Smith, with his father, located in this 
county. Nov. 16, 1877, he married here Julia Hosp, who was born in 
this county, and after his marriage, he followed farming, until his retire- 
ment and removal to Boonville, where he and his wife are now living at 
509 East Third Street. Mr. Smith still owns his farm in Clarks Fork 



710 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

township. To him and his wife were born four sons: Andrew C, a 
farmer, Clarks Fork township; George, farming the home place at Lone 
Elm; William, Bunceton; Charles, died, aged two years. 

Mrs. Julia Smith, the mother of these sons, was born at Boonville, 
a daughter of Andrew and Amelia (Sombart) Hosp, both natives of Ger- 
many, whose last days were spent in this county. Andrew Hosp was 
born in Prussia in 1825, and there remained until he had attained his 
majority when, in 1846, he came to the United States, locating at Boon- 
ville. Feb. 1, 1849, he married Amelia Sombart, who was born in 1828, 
and who had come to this country with her parents when about three 
years of age. The same year that he was married came the announce- 
ment of the great gold discovery in California, and Andrew Hosp joined 
a party and set out for the coast. From there he went to Australia, after 
about two years of experience in California, and did not return to Cooper 
County until in 1854, in the meantime having undergone numerous hard- 
ships, but saved considerable money. Upon his return he bought a farm 
of 125 acres two and one-half miles south of Boonville, the place now 
owned and operated by his son, Julius A. Hosp, and there lived until his 
removal to Boonville, where, for a time, he conducted a hotel. He died in 
1916, at the age of 91 years. His wife died in 1904 and is buried in Wal- 
nut Grove Cemetery. Andrew Hosp and his wife had seven children: 
Mrs. Smith and her twin brother, Julius; Mary Hosp, Boonville; Mrs. 
William Kosted, Peoria, 111. ; Dora, died at the age of 58 years ; Amelia, 
married William Allison and is deceased; and Laura, died in infancy. 
The Hosp children received their schooling in the Mt. Sinai School. 

Toler Brothers, 0. K. and Grover C. Toler, well known and substan- 
tial young farmers and stockmen, doing business in partnership on their 
well improved farm of 200 acres, 14 miles southeast of Boonville, in 
Clarks Fork township, were born on a farm one-half mile south and have 
lived there all their lives, proprietors of the place since 1915, when, upon 
the retirement of their father, who also was born on the farm, they 
bought the place and have since devoted their attention to its develop- 
ment. These brothers are sons of Jesse R. and Ella A. (Oakman) Toler, 
who, upon their retirement from the farm in 1915, moved to Prairie 
Home, where they are now living. Jesse R. Toler is a son of Elijah R. 
Toler, who opened for cultivation the farm now owned and operated by 
his grandsons, the Toler brothers. 

Elijah R. Toler was born Aug. 15, 1804, and died on July 4, 1879. He 
was twice married. His first wife, Sarah Jane Toler, died Sept. 24, 1841, 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 711 

and his second wife, Nancy Toler, Feb. 4, 1902, and all are buried in the 
private burial plot on the old Toler homestead, on the rise of the knoll 
just north of the residence of the Toler brothers. A single monument 
carries the essential data relating to those lying there and four beautiful 
cedar trees shade the well-kept plot. It was on that pioneer farm that 
Jesse Toler was born and reared, and it was there that after his marriage 
to Ella Oakman, he established his home and reared his family. To him 
and his wife were born six sons, as follows : Roy, lives at Sedalia, where 
he is employed as a carpenter for the Missouri Pacific Railroad ; 0. K. 
and Grover C, subjects of this sketch; Frank George, who is now (spring 
of 1919) with the American Expeditionary Forces in France ; Joseph, at 
home with his parents; and Freeman, at home. Frank George Toler, the 
soldier son, enlisted in the American Army in June, 1918, and sailed for 
overseas service, a member of Company A, 351st Infantry, and was at 
the front when the armistice was signed, his command later being made 
part of the Army of Occupation, and was discharged in July, 1919. 

0. K. Toler was born May 1, 1886, and Grover C. Toler was born Aug. 
9, 1888. They received their schooling in the Washington and Jefferson 
District Schools. With the exception of four years, during which 0. K. 
Toler was employed in the pipe factory at Boonville, the brothers have, 
from the days of their boyhood, been engaged in farming together on the 
home place, and upon their father's retirement in 1915, they bought the 
place and have since been operating the same in partnership. The Toler 
farm is admirably situated, about 60 acres of the 200-acre place being 
bottom land and the remainder upland, the drainage thus being excellent. 
In addition to a 201-foot driven well, there are two excellent springs on 
the place, affording an ample supply of pure water. About 160 acres of 
the place is under cultivation and there is a well-kept Orchard. The farm 
house is a substantial two-story structure and there are two good barns 
with the proper complement of other farm buildings to add to the con- 
venience of the well-ordered farm plant, these including a 12x32 Dickey 
silo. Besides the horses on the place and a good herd of milch cows, the 
brothers have a flock of fifty Shropshire sheep and a good drove of Duroc 
Jersey hogs, the place being admirably adapted for stock raising. The 
brothers are carrying on their operations in accordance with up-to-date 
methods and are doing well. Both are members of the local lodge of the 
Woodmen of the World at Boonville and of the Mystic Workers at Pisgah. 

July 1, 1912, 0. K. Toler, the elder brother, was united in marriage 
with Rosa Miller, daughter of George and Mary (Myers) Miller, of Boon- 



712 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

ville, and to this union one child has been born, a daughter, Alberta Cath- 
erine. July 26, 1913, G. C. Toler married Lillie Bybee, an orphan, who 
was reared by her grandmother, Mrs. Graydoff, and both families are 
making their home together -very pleasantly. 

Robert Boone Smith, a well known and highly respected citizen of 
Prairie Home, is a native of Cooper County. He was born in Prairie 
Home township in 1855, a son of Jeremiah and Lutitia (George) Smith, 
the former a native of Tennessee, and the latter of North Carolina. 

Robert Boone Smith received his education in the public school and 
Prairie Home College. In early life he engaged in farming and stocK 
raising. His place was located in Prairie Home township, and is now 
known as "Forest View Farm," the name which Mr. Smith gave it. He 
improved this place and made of it one of the prettiest stock farms in 
that part of Cooper County, and for 30 years made his home there. He 
sold it in 1910 and moved to Prairie Home, where he purchased 10 acres 
of land within the town limits. He has made extensive improvements 
on this place, building a modern residence, with garage, bam, poultry 
house, etc., and has a pretty home. 

Mr. Smith was married the first time to Miss Catherine Boswell, a 
daughter of James Boswell, of Pleasant Hill, Mo. Three children were 
born to this union: Myra, married William Hurt, Clarks Fork township, 
and they have one daughter, Wilma ; Lena and Ruth, deceased. Mrs. 
Catherine Smith died in 1895. June 27, 1897, Mr. Smith was united in 
marriage with Miss Anna Yankee, a daugher of Wesley Yankee, a native 
of Kentucky. He was twice married. His first wife bore the name of 
Underwood, and to this union were born the following children: Andrew, 
deceased ; Samuel, deceased ; Mrs. Eliza Maxwell, Kansas City, Mo. ; 
Amelia, deceased ; and Joel, deceased. After the death of his first wife, 
Wesley Yankee married a Miss Franklin, and the following children were 
born to this union : Frank, Lone Jack, Mo. ; Fannie, now Mrs. Thompson, 
near Lone Jack, Mo. ; Anna, wife of Robert B. Smith, the subject of this 
sketch; Mrs. Elizabeth Huston, Strasburg, Mo.; Benjamin, Lone Jack; 
William, Independence, Mo., and Mrs. Emma Hurt, Lone Jack. Mrs. 
Smith was educated in Cass and Jackson Counties. Mr. Smith is a mem- 
ber of the Masonic Lodge, Modern Woodmen of America, Mystic Work- 
ers, and Mrs. Smith is a member of the Eastern Star. They both belong 
to the Methodist Episcopal Church South. 

Mr. Smith has in his possession a family heirloom which is highly 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 713 

prized by him. It is an old rocking chair which was made nearly 100 
years ago, and was the property of his grandfather, Jeremiah Smith. 

The Smith family are among the best citizens of Cooper County, 
and Robert Boone Smith is a progressive and public spirited man who has 
had a successful career, and stands ever ready to co-operate with any 
commendable public enterprise. 

George W. Carl, proprietor of "Woodland Farm," an excellent piece 
of property on both sides of the Rankin Mill road, three miles southeast 
of Boonville, in Boonville township, where he has resided since 1911, is 
a native son of Missouri and has resided in this State all his life. He was 
born on a farm in Warren County, Dec. 3, 1849, son of George and Anna 
(Phillip) Carl, the former an Alsatian and the latter born in Switzerland, 
who were married in Missouri and whose last days were spent here. 

The senior George Carl was born Nov. 12, 1812, and left his native 
Alsace and in the thirties came to Missouri, and for three yeais worked 
on a farm in Gasconade County to pay his board and repay the man who 
had paid for his passage to this country. The next year he worked for 
a small pair of steers, cut wood on Rush Island for a little money and 
afterward traded his steers for 40 acres of land in Gasconade County, 
which land he later sold for $50. In 1847 he bought a tract of 80 acres 
in Warren County and on that place, in the spring of 1849, established his 
home and reared his children. To this tract he gradually added until he 
had 200 acres, which in time he sold for $1,500 and with this purchase 
money secured an equity in a farm of 100 acres in Franklin County for 
$6,500, and seven years later had the place paid for. He died here Nov. 

20, 1880, and is buried at Etla. His widow died March 19, 1912, and she 
is buried at Independence, Mo. She was bom Feb. 1, 1828 ,and came to 
this country with her parents in 1844, the family settling in Gasconade 
County, where on March 7, 1849, she married George Carl. To that union 
were born 13 children: George W., subject of this sketch; John Jacob, 
born March 6, 1851; Joseph, born March 15, 1852, died Sept. 17, 1854; 
Margaret, bom May 2, 1853 ; Rosa, born Oct. 29, 1855 ; Robert, born Feb. 
14, 1856; Anna, born Sept. 9, 1857; Henry, born Feb. 5, 1859; Ferdinand, 
bom Dec. 26, 1861 ; Mary, born Oct. 25, 1862 ; August, bom July 10, 1864 ; 
Julia, born March 2, 1866, died Sept. 7, 1867 ; and Wilhelmina, born March 

21, 1869. 

George W. Carl was reared on the farm in Warren County and re- 
ceived his schooling in a little log school house. He remained with his 
father until he was 21 years of age. For six years he worked in a saw and 



714 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

grist-mill. For seven years thereafter he made his home in Osage 
County, where he bought a small farm, selling that farm, he returned 
to Franklin County, where he bought 85 acres and remained there for 23 
years. In 1911, he came to Cooper County and took possession of "Wood- 
land Farm" of 205 acres, which he had bought in 1910, and where he has 
since made his home. Besides this farm, he still owns his farm in Frank- 
lin County, a place which he had brought up to a high state of cultivation. 
In addition to his general farming, Mr. Carl raises live stock and raises 
Red Polled cattle. An ample supply of water is obtained from a drilled 
well, 105 feet in depth, a gas engine being utilized for pumping purposes. 

May 19, 1880, George W. Carl was united in marriage with Amelia 
Witthar, who was born in Franklin County, Jan. 28, 1859, daughter of 
Henry and Mary (Juedemann) Witthar, natives of Holland, whose last 
days were spent in Missouri, to which State the former had come with 
his parents when about 12 years of age, and the latter, with her parents 
when about 14. They were married in Franklin County, where they made 
their home for years, later moving to Independence, where they spent 
their last days and where they are buried. Mrs. Carl is the fourth born 
of the seven children born to her parents, the others being the following: 
Henry Witthar, Independence; Fred, Independence; Chris, Kansas City; 
Mrs. Louis Carl, Independence ; Mrs. Lottie Borgemann, Buckner ; and Mrs. 
Catherine Drewel, Buckner. To George W. and Amelia (Witthar) Carl 
seven children have been born : Minnie, wife of Ernest Berkmeier, Inde- 
pendence; Delia, wife Of Ernest Wattenburg, Independence; Anna, at 
home; Rosa, wife of William Twiehaus, Independence; Dora, wife of Wil- 
liem Loesing, of Clarks Fork township; Edwin Carl, who served with the 
American Expeditionary Force in France during the World War, and 
Emil, at borne. Edwin Carl enlistsd for service in the World War Oct. 2, 
1917, and after a period of intensive training, sailed in the spring of 1918 
for overseas service, a member of Company D, 110th Ammunition Train, 
35th Division, and with that command participated in some of the hottest 
fighting which preceded the armistice, including battle of the Argonne 
Forest. Following the armistice the command to which he was attached 
was made a part of the Army of Occupation. He was discharged May 5, 
1919, and is now at home. Mr. and Mrs. Carl have six grandchildren: 
George Berkmeier, Freda and Carl Wattenburg; Dorothy Twiehaus and 
Delphie and Wilbur Loesing. The Carls are members of the Evangelical 
Church at Boonville. 

Aaron T. Hockenberry, one of the substantial fanners and stockmen 
of Clarks Fork township and owner of a fine farm of 585 acres in that 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 715 

township, is a native of Pennsylvania, but has been a resident of Cooper 
County for more than 50 years, living for nearly 45 years on his present 
farm. He was bom in Butler County, Pa., April 21, 1853, son of John and 
Matilda (McCandless) Hockenberry, both also born in Pennsylvania, and 
who spent their last days there. John Hockenberry was a son of Joseph 
Hockenberry, also a native of Butler County, who was a son of John 
Hockenberry, a native of Maryland and a soldier of the War of 1812, 
whose father, John Hockenberry, also a native of Maryland, was a sol- 
dier of the Revolutionary War, and who lived to be 104 years of age. The 
Hockenberries in this country were founded by a family of Covenanters 
which came from County Down, Ireland, in Colonial days. Mr. Hocken- 
berry's mother, Matilda McCandless, was a daughter of John McCandless, 
a native of Pennsylvania and a soldier in the War of 1812, whose father, 
William McCandless, was a native of North Ireland, of Scotch-Irish de- 
scent, and whose mother was a native of England. 

Reared on a farm in his native county, Aaron T. Hockenberry re- 
ceived his schooling in the local schools, and remained at home until he 
was 18 years of age, when, in 1868, he came to Missouri with the family 
of his uncle, Oliver Pizer, and for 20 years made his home with Mr. and 
Mrs. A. J. Weight in this county. After his marriage in 1892, Mr. Hock- 
enberry has since continued to reside there. In 1878 Mr. Hockenberry 
bought from J. Richard Davis 90 acres of his present tract of 585 acres 
and to this he gradually added until he became to be one of the leading 
farmers of Cooper County. This farm lies on the Clarks Fork-Moniteau 
township line, and all the substantial improvements now marking the 
place as one of the best farm plants in that section of Cooper County 
have been made by Mr. Hockenbei-ry. In addition to his general farming, 
he is engaged in the raising of live stock, feeding all his cattle and hogs, 
and ships about five carloads of hogs and cattle annually. During the 
current year (1919) he has 115 acres in wheat. There are two sets of 
improvements on the place. 

June 9, 1892, Aaron T. Hockenberry was united in marriage, in 
Bates County , to Fannie Pope, who was born in DeKalb County, daughter 
of Henry and Margaret (Word) Pope, both members of pioneer families. 
Henry Pope was a native of Kentucky who came to Missouri with his 
parents, Henry Pope and wife, the family first settling in Cooper County 
and then going to DeKalb County. The senior Henry Pope, who was a 
native of Tennessee, was a school teacher and after coming here was en- 
gaged in teaching at Round Hill in Kelly township. His granddaughter, 
Mrs. Hockenberry has an old rollbook of the pupils attending his school 



716 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

at that place, for the term beginning Sept. 1, 1856, which is an interest- 
ing souvenir of pioneer days, carrying the names of some whose great- 
grandchildren are the school children of this generation. The junior 
Henry Pope died in 1893, at the age of 49 years, and is buried in Pisgah 
Church yard. He and his wife had two daughters, Mrs. Hockenberry 
having a sister, Anna, wife of R. E. Neale, of Bunceton. Mr. and Mrs. 
Hockenberry have a son, Weight Pope Hockenberry, who attended high 
school at Bunceton and at California, afterward taking a course in the 
Business College at Sedalia and a two-year course in agriculture at the 
Missouri State University, and is now a valued assistant to his father. 

Philip Davis, who lived on the farm where William Davis now lives, 
in the vicinity of the Davis school house, in Kelly township, was acci- 
dentally killed by being thrown from a horse, the accident being caused 
by the horse starting from fright at the sudden whirring of the wings 
of a prairie chicken, which rose immediately in front of it while the rider 
was cantering across the prairie in quest of game. Philip Davis was a 
man of unusual activity and was a famous hunter in his day, apparently 
satisfied only when out hunting or exploring some new part of the unset- 
tled portion of the West. So noticeably true was this that the neighbors 
jokingly called his wife "the Widow Davis," because her husband often 
was absent for so much of the time. He would organize a crew to go 
West in search of fortune and adventure, and in this way had crossed the 
plains and had frequently been in skirmishes with hostile Indians. The 
accident by which he came to his death occurred at a point about a quar- 
ter of a mile from the Clarks Fork and Moniteau township line, near the 
present residence of Mr. Hockenberry. Philip Davis was the father of 
George and Porter Davis, the grandfather of Mrs. Dr. Williams, of Ver- 
sailles, the great-grandfather of Dr. Porter Williams and the great-great- 
grandfather of Mrs. Rod Williams. 

James M. Hurt, an honored pioneer of Cooper County, is a native of 
Clarks Fork township, a member of a highly respected family, one of the 
first families of Missouri. Mr. Hurt was born April 10, 1853, a son of 
William and Catherine (Robertson) Hurt, natives of Cooper County. 

William Hurt was born in Cooper County in 1817, at old Cole's Fort, 
a son of Col. Clayton and Mary (Dillard) Hurt. Col. Clayton Hurt was a 
native of Virginia. He was born Jan. 15, 1790, in Bedford County, Va. 
In 1814, he was farried to Mary Dillard, a daughter of James Dillard, of 
Kentucky, and in 1815 they came to Missouri and settled in Boonville 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 717 

township, Cooper County. They resided at Fort Cole for a short time, 
after coming to Missouri, and there William Hurt was born. William 
Hurt was united in marriage with Catherine Robertson, Sept. 6, 1837. 
Catherine (Robertson) Hurt was a daughter of Capt. Andrew Robertson, 
one of the earliest settlers of Cooper County. William and Catherine 
Hurt were the parents of the following children: W. A.; Mrs. Mary C. 
McFarland, of Clarks Fork township; James M., the subject of thifc 
sketch ; Jenkins D., Beniga, and Mrs. Nancy E. Davis, who are deceased. 

James M. Hurt was educated in private schools, as he was of school 
age when the Civil War war raging. Since attaining maturity, he has 
been engaged in farming and stock raising. He was given a farm of 100 
acres of land by his father, when he, the son, had attained the age of 22 
years. To this tract of land, James M. Hurt has added 125 acres of land, 
and he now has one of the best country places in the county. His land 
is well watered and is located 7'/:> miles southeast of Boonville. There 
are two good barns and a comfortable residence on the place, which has 
been improved by Mr. Hurt since he acquired the ownership. He raises 
cattle, horses and mules. 

Nov. 25, 1874, James M. Hurt was married to Adaline Rogers, a 
daughter of Dr. Benjamin and Harriet (McDonald) Rogers, the former a 
native of Kentucky, and the latter of Saline township, Cooper County, 
both of whom are now deceased. The remains of both parents of Mrs. 
Hurt are interred in the cemetery at New Salem Church. Dr. Rogers 
came from the South to Missouri in the early fifties, and opened his office 
in Saline township at his home. Adaline (Rogers) Hurt was reared and 
educated in Saline township. She is one of six children born to her 
parents, as follows: Mrs. Ann Johnston, deceased; Mrs. James M. Hurt, 
the wife of the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Lucy Williams, deceased; 
Mrs. Jeff Stone, deceased; Mrs. Hattie Parson, of Colorado Springs, Colo.; 
and Benjamin F.. Jr. To Mr. and Mrs. Hurt have been born three chil- 
dren: Jessie, the wife of Hubert Brubaker. of Madison, Wis.: William .1., 
a farmer of Clarks Fork township ; and Grace, the wife of S. S. Hickam. 
Mr. and Mrs. Hurt are very proud of their two grandchildren: Lois 
Hickam and Adaline Brubaker. 

James M. Hurt and Mrs. Hurt are worthy and consistent members 
of the Presbyterian Church. They are highly regarded in their com- 
munity, and they are numbered among the best families of the county. 

James Franklin Carpenter, proprietor of "Lone Cedar Farm," in 
Clarks Fork township, one of the leading farmers of that section, was 



718 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

born on a farm in Clarks Fork township, Jan. 21, 1875, son of Gabiiel and 
Sarah Catherine (Harris) Carpenter, the former born in that township 
and both spent their last days there. 

Gabriel Carpenter was born Oct. 15, 1837, son of Samuel Carpenter 
and wife, Pennsylvanians, who were among the pioneers of Clarks Fork 
township. The farm on which Samuel Carpenter settled upon coming 
here is now owned by the Reavis estate, and the grave of that pioneer is 
on the H. J. Reavis farm. Gabriel Carpenter grew to manhood on that 
farm and became a farmer and stockman on the farm now owned by G. W. 
Morris, to which place he moved in 1866 and where he made his home 
the rest of his life. He died April 6, 1914. His widow died March 5, 1915, 
and both are buried at Pisgah. They were the parents of five children, of 
whom James F. was the third, the others being George H. Carpenter, a 
farmer of Clarks Fork township; Julia Ann, widow of George T. Talia- 
ferro, Clarks Fork township ; Mrs. E. L. Allison, Kansas City, and Andrew 
M., deceased. 

James F. Carpenter grew to manhood on the farm on which he was 
born, receiving his schooling at Prairie Home Institute and at Wentworth 
Military School, completing his schooling when 18 years of age, after 
which he engaged in farming. He has made many substantial improve- 
ments, including the erection of a new eight-room house, a barn, garage, 
tool shed and the like, his farm plant now being admirably equipped. The 
farm, an almost level tract of 118 acres, takes its name from the fact 
that in the front yard there is a single cedar tree which was planted there 
by Gabriel Carpenter about the year 1884. "Lone Cedar Farm" is situ- 
ated five and one-half miles east of Bunceton and is well adapted to stock 
raising, to which phase of farming Mr. Carpenter gives considerable at- 
tention, particularly to the raising of Jersey cattle and Duroc Jersey 
hogs. Mr. Carpenter is connected with the Knights of Pythias and the 
Woodmen of the World at Bunceton and with the Modern Woodmen of 
America at Pisgah. He and his family are members Of the Christian 
Church. 

Nov. 18, 1896, James F. Carpenter was united in marriage with Ger- 
trude Hayes, who also was born in this county, and to this union three 
children have been bora, Gabriel William, Catherine Lourinda and How- 
ard Tilden. Mrs. Carpenter is a daughter of William A. and Lourinda 
(Miller) Hayes, the latter of whom lives at Bunceton. William A. Hayes 
died in 1898 and is buried in Concord Cemetery. He and his wife were 
the parents of seven children, those besides Mi's. Carpenter being George 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 719 

T. Hayes, of Boonville; Mrs. Bessie Doyle, deceased; Mrs. Delia Watson, 
of Livingston, Mont. ; Mrs. Mary Hinton, of Chelsea, Okla. ; Mrs. Lora 
Davis, of Kansas; and Mildred, resides with her mother. Samuel Car- 
penter, the pioneer, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, crossed the 
plains in 1848 and spent some time prospecting in the West. Unlike so 
many who set out on an adventurous trip, he profited quite heavily from 
the trip. He was a great lover of the chase and the experience appealed 
to him doubly on this account, for he combined his business enterprises 
with hunting along the way and in this way found real pleasure in what 
to so many who ventured West in those days was but an arduous and 
toilsome trip. Samuel Carpenter especially liked to hunt the buffalo and 
often engaged in that sport in the early days, in company with Johnson 
Reavis. 

Peter W. Loesing, one of the energetic and progressive young farmers 
of Clarks Fork township, who is assisting in the operation of "Alfalfa Val- 
ley Farm," owned by his father-in-law, William F. Schmalfeldt. He was 
bora on a farm near Bunceton in 1894, son of August and Louisa (Falter) 
Loesing. 

August Loesing was bora in St. Louis County, Mo., in 1861, and has 
been a resident of Cooper County since young manhood. It was here that 
he married Louisa Falter, who was born in Monroe County, 111., in 1863, 
and who had come to this county with her parents. After their marriage, 
he and his wife established their home on a farm in this county and their 
children were reared here. Mrs. Louisa Loesing died in Feb., 1916, and 
is buried in the Lone Elm Cemetery. August Loesing and his wife were 
the parents of 12 children, as follows: Lena, wife of H. H. Fahrenbrink, 
Bunceton; Fred, Bunceton; William, of Clarks Fork township; Bruno, 
same township; Christina, housekeeper for her father; George Henry, 
who recently returned home from service in the United States Army; 
Peter W. ; Minnie, died at the age of two years; Julius, at home; Eliza- 
beth, at home; Edgar, died in infancy; and Emily, resides with her sister, 
IV*vr. Fahrenbrink. George Henry Loesing, the soldier son, enlisted Oct. 
21, 1918, and was sent to Camp Bowie (Texas) for training. There he 
was attached to the 23rd Regiment, United States Infantry. He was dis- 
charged March 28, 1919, after which he returned home. 

Peter W. Loesing was reared on the home farm and received his 
schooling at Lone Elm and at Glendale. From the days of his boyhood 
he has given his attention to farming and after his marriage in the fall of 
of the community. 



720 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

1918, he put in his lot with that of his father-in-law, William F. Schmal- 
feldt, at "Alfalfa Valley Farm," Clarks Fork township, and has since 
been engaged in the operations of that extensive farm, he and his wife 
making their home on the place. 

Sept. 10, 1918, Peter W. Loesing was united in marriage with Emma 
C. Schmalfeldt, who was born in this county March 25, 1898, daughter of 
William F. and Anna (Brandes) Schmalfeldt, both natives of this county. 
Mr. and Mrs. Loesing are members of the Lutheran Church at Clarks 
Fork and take part in church work as well as the general social activities 
of the community. 

P. Lee Debo. — The Debo Farmstead, in Boonville township, consist- 
ing of 177 acres, is a well kept and productive tract of land. Mr. Debo 
erected a large, modem residence of cement blocks in 1909. This home 
contains 10 rooms and has every convenience for the comfort of the 
family. He erected the first silo ever built in Cooper County in 1910. 
Mr. Debo is a breeder of Black Angus cattle and has been specializing in 
this famous breed of live stock since 1915. He now has a herd of 30 
head, nearly all of which are pure-bred stock. Mr. Debo does not handle 
this breed of cattle for show purposes or for fanciers, but simply raises 
the Angus cattle to satisfy his own fancy and desire for a good, pure 
bi^eed of cattle on his farm. 

P. Lee Debo was born June 6, 1864, in Bedford County, Va., and is 
a son of R. P. Debo and Mary Jane (Hepstonstall) Debo, both of whom 
were members of old Virginia families. The family came to Howard 
County in 1870 and five years later the parents came to Cooper County 
and made their home with the subject of this review. Reed P. 
Debo, his father, was born Jan. 19, 1832, and died April 21, 1912. Mary, 
his mother, was born Oct. 18, 1840, and died July 23, 1888. Reed P. Debo 
served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. He enlisted 
from Bedford, Va., and served for four years in a Virginia regiment. 
He was wounded at the battle of Gettysburg, while fighting with Gen. 
Lee's invading army and was taken prisoner by the Federals. 

Reed P. and Mary Debo were parents of the following children: 
P. Lee, of this review; Luther C, a farmer in Boonville township; Grover 
E., a farmer across the highway from P. L. Debo. For the first 15 years 
Reed P. Debo lived on a farm two and a half miles east of Boonville on 
his own place. 

When he became of age, P. Lee Debo began farming on his own 
account, and for 10 years he rented farm land. He then settled on a farm 



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> 

2 




HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 721 

owned by Mrs. Debo, the old George place, and lived there until October, 
1906, and then came to their present place. 

Jan. 2, 1890, he was married to Miss Alice W. George, who was born 
Sept. 6, 1870, a daughter of Jacob George, who is one of the old pioneers 
of Cooper County. Her grandfather, William George, entered the land 
in 1817, the land patent being signed by President James Monroe on Nov. 
15, 1817. The Debo farm was first settled in 1817 by the Chambers 
family, and is the oldest settled place in the neighborhood. James Cham- 
bers came to Missouri from North Carolina in 1817, raised a crop and 
returned to North Carolina and brought back cherry and apple trees, 
which he planted, establishing the first nursery here. These trees ma- 
tured and bore fruit until just four years ago, when the last of them 
disappeared. 

Mr. and Mrs. Debo have one child: Thelma Louise, born May 10, 
1904. 

The Georges came to Cooper County during the War of 1812, and 
were warned by the people that they would have to remain in the forts 
or go back, inasmuch as it was dangerous for settlers to live upon the 
land. They went to St. Genevieve, remained during the war, and then 
came to Cooper County in 1816. Mr. Chambers built a two-room cabin, 
and established the first nursery in Cooper County. In the years which 
followed his settlement here, he assisted many people in getting located 
in Cooper County. Six brothers of the George family settled here. Else- 
where in this history is a fuller account of the George family. 

Mrs. Alice W. (George) Debo is a daughter of Jacob L. George (born 
May 4, 1831, died March 25, 1897), who was born on a farm just one-half 
mile south of the Debo place. He was a son of Reuben George, born Feb. 
25, 1792, in North Carolina, whose wife was Sarah McFarlan, prior to her 
marriage, and was born Aug. 8, 1792. Jacob L. George migrated to St. 
Genevieve County Mo., in 1815, and two years later came to Cooper County 
with the Chambers family. He had four children : Nancy L, born Jan. 9, 
1823; Thomas L., bora Jan. 5, 1826; Ellen K., bom Sept. 11, 1829; and 
Jacob George. 

Jacob George married Mary E. Chambers (born March 20, 1836, died 
Oct. 12, 1912), who was a daughter of James and Jane Chambers, who 
had three children: Mrs. Mary E. George; Louisa Jane, bora April 12, 
1841; Martha E. Givens, of La Plata, Mo., born March 8. 1844. Mrs. 
Debo is the only child of her parents. 



722 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Mr. Debo is an independent democrat. He and Mrs. Debo are mem- 
bers of the Presbyterian Church, and are intelligent, progressive people 
who have many friends in Cooper County 

William F. Poertner, one of the progressive young farmers of Clarks 
Fork township and owner of a well-kept farm, five and one-half miles 
southeast of Boonville, was bom on a farm near Berger, Franklin 
County, Dec. 1, 1887, son of Henry and Jennie (Kroeger) Poertner, the 
latter now residing at Boonville. 

Henry Poertner was of European birth, born in 1853, and was 15 
years of age when in 1868 he came to the United States and settled in 
Warren County, Mo.. He married at the age of 28 and bought a farm in 
Franklin County and improved the place and died there in 1909, aged 56 
years. In 1910, his widow came to Cooper County with her family and 
bought the Steigleder place, on which she made her home until she sold 
it to Albert Shannon. She is now living in Boonville, where she is very 
pleasantly situated. To Henry and Jennie (Kroeger) Poertner were born 
eleven children: Mrs. C. H. Witthar, Kansas City; Mrs. August Wiss- 
mann, New Haven ; Mrs. A. J. Allemann, Boonville ; Mrs. A. E. Schepper- 
claus, Kansas City; Henry, also of Kansas City; William F. ; John, died 
at the age of five years; Otto, who was killed in battle while serving as 
a soldier in the American Expeditionary Force in France in the World 
War in the fall of 1918; Ernest, now (spring of 1919) with the American 
Army in Europe; Anna, died at the age of two years, and Flora, attend- 
ing college at Nevada, Mo. Otto Poertner, the elder of the two soldier 
sons of Mrs. Poertner, responded to the call to arms immediately follow- 
ing this country's declaration of war in April, 1917, and in that same 
month, as a member of the local company of state guardsmen at Boon- 
ville, to which he had been attached for some time, was inducted into the 
Federal service, going with his company to Kansas City and thence to 
Ft. Sill (Oklahoma), whence, after a period of intensive training, he was 
sent with his command on overseas service, attached to a machine gun 
company of the 35th Division, until he met a soldier's death in the battle 
of the Argonne Forest in France, Sept. 28, 1918, he then being 26 years 
of age. Ernest Poertner, the second soldier son of this family, was 
drafted for service in the National Army and the greater part of that 
time being in active service with the American Expeditionary Force in 
France, attached to the Third Division of the United States Army, long 
at the front. While at the front, he was severely gassed and for 21 days 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 723 

thereafter was confined in hospital, his condition for some time being re- 
garded as critical. He received his honorable discharge from the service 
and is now at home. 

William F. Poertner was reared on the home farm in Franklin 
County and educated in the schools of Berger. As a young man he con- 
tinued his labors on the farm and was 21 years of age when he came to 
Cooper County with his mother in 1910. Two years later, in 1912, he 
bought the farm on which he is now living, in Clark's Fork township. 
This is a well-kept farm of 80 acres, which Mr. Poertner bought from 
Arby Mills. The farm is rich black second bottom land and there are 
two excellent running springs on the place. In addition to his general 
farming, Mr. Poertner raises cattle and hogs. 

May 26, 1914, William F. Poertner was united in marriage with Ida 
Kohlsbusch, born in Franklin County, and to this union one child has 
been born, Grace, born in May, 1915. Mrs. Poertner is a daughter of 
Herman and Minnie Kohlbusch, natives of Missouri and whose last days 
were spent in Franklin County. Herman Kohlbusch died on March 18, 
1919, and his wife died about 10 years prior to that time. They were the 
parents of eight children, of whom but three are still living, Mrs. Poert- 
ner having a brother, Louis Kohlbusch, a farmer in Franklin County, and 
a sister, Mrs. Charles Oberg, also of that county. The children now de- 
ceased were August, Edward, John, Sophia and Mary. Mr. and Mrs. 
Poertner are members of the Evangelical Church at Boonville. 

Henry Brokamp, owner of a well-kept farm of 80 acres, six and one- 
half miles northeast of Bunceton in Clarks Fork township, is a native 
son of Cooper County and has lived here all his life. He was born on a 
farm near Pisgah, Jan. 12, 1878, son of Henry J. and Mary Louise (Behle) 
Brokamp, and was the fourth of the six children born of that parentage, 
as follows: Mary, wife of Newton Mills, Clarks Fork township; William, 
same township; Bettie, wife of Chris Hein, Palestine township; Annie, 
wife of M. H. Lohse, of Clarks Fork ; and Emil, on the home place. Henry 
J. Brokamp and his wife were natives of Germany, who came to this coun- 
try in 1869, locating in St. Louis County, whence they came to Cooper 
County and settled on a farm in Clarks Fork township, the place where 
Emil Brokamp now lives. Henry J. Brokamp died in 1903 and his widow- 
died in 1916. Both are buried in the CTarks Fork Cemetery. 

Reared on the home farm in the vicinity of Pisgah, Henry Brokamp 
received his schooling in the local parochial school and in the Jefferson 
District School, and from the days of his boyhood, has followed farming. 



724 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

He bought the farm on which he is now living in 1905, and since his mar- 
riage in the following year, he has lived on this place. Mr. Brokamp 
bought his farm, a part of the old Clark Hall farm, from John Hall and 
since taking possession of the same has made substantial improvements, 
including a remodeling of the farm house, the erection of a new barn 
and adequate drainage. 

In 1906, Henry Brokamp was united in marriage with Minnie Kaiser, 
who, also, was born in this county ; to this union one child has been born, 
Edgar, born Dec. 9, 1910. Mrs. Brokamp was born in Prairie Home town- 
ship May 24, 1878, daughter of George and Henrietta (Smith) Kaiser, 
and one of the five childxen: Mrs. Mary Schilb, of Otterville; John H. 
Kaiser, of North Moniteau township; and August and George, deceased; 
and Mrs. Brokamp. The late George Kaiser, father of Mrs. Brokamp, 
was for years one of Prairie Home township's best known and most sub- 
stantial farmers, the owner at the time of his death of a fine place of 240 
acres, the farm now owned by L. B. Laws. Mr. Kaiser was born Nov. 4, 
1827, and died on Oct. 26, 1903. His wife died Feb. 19, 1897. She was 
born May 18, 1840. Both are buried in the Pleasant Grove Lutheran 
Church Cemetery. 

Elmer George, a well known and successful farmer and stockman of 
Kelly township, and judge of the County Court of the eastern district, is a 
native of Cooper County. He was born in Boonville, March 17, 1862, a 
son of Thomas L. and Lucy (McCulloch) George. Thomas L. George was 
also a native of Cooper County, born Jan. 6, 1826. He spent his entire 
life in this county, and died in 1890, and his remains are buried in the 
McCulloch Cemetery. Thomas L. George and Lucy A. (McCulloch) George 
were married June 21, 1850. She was born in Albemarle County, Va., 
Nov. 1, 1826, a daughter of Robert and Patsy (Mills) McCulloch. The 
McCulloch family settled in Clarks Fork township, Cooper County, in 
1835, and here the parents spent the remainder of their lives. 

To Thomas L. and Lucy A. (McCulloch) George were born the fol- 
lowing children : Charles, Boonville ; Frank, Boonville ; Albert and Elmer, 
twins, Albert residing at Rock Island Texas, and Elmer, the subject of 
..his sketch; Mrs. Ada Rudolph, deceased; and Maggie, a successful Cooper 
ounty teacher. 

Elmer George was reared in Cooper County and educated in the pub- 
lic schools. Since early manhood he has been engaged in farming and 
stock raising, and has met with well-merited success in this field of 
endeavor. He owns 120 acres of well improved and productive land 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 725 

adjoining the town site of Bunceton. He has material on the place for 
the building of a new residence to succeed the old one, which is a brick 
structure, and has done service for many years, although it is still in a 
good state of preservation. 

Since early life, Mr. George has manifested a strong liking and an 
unusual ability for mechanical work, and especially for machinery. He 
has always kept a machine and repair shop, which is equipped for general 
machine and repair work. He is capable of doing almost any kind of 
mechanical work. He has rebuilt threshing machines, manufactured 
wagons, and built an automobile. In connection with his other work he 
has operated a sawmill for a number of years. 

March 21, 1888, Elmer George was united in marriage with Miss 
Martha E L. Steigleder, a daughter of Andrew and Mary Elizabeth (Hoch- 
stetler) Steigleder, the former born July 30, 1829, and the latter Aug. 15, 
1834. The father died in 1909, and the mother now resides at Bunceton. 
They were the parents of the following children : William F., Bunceton ; 
George H., Bunceton ; Anna E., married Herman P. Muntzel ; Louis Rob- 
ert, Big Cabin, Okla. ; Matilda Henrietta, married William Meyer, Clarks 
Fork township; Martha E. L., married Elmer George, the subject of this 
sketch ; Sophia Barbara, married T. H. Etter, Richville, Wash., and 
Leona Luella, resides at home with her mother. 

Mr. George is a republican, and has taken an active part in the polit- 
ical affairs of this township and county. He was elected in November, 
1918, and is serving as judge of the County Court from the eastern dis- 
trict, and giving a satisfactory and praiseworthy administration. He 
was the first republican to be elected judge of the County Court from this 
District. He has been a member of the School Board for 21 years, and 
has always consistently advocated and encouraged the betterment of the 
public school system. Mr. George is an industrious man of good habits. 
He is 57 years of age and never drank liquor or used tobacco in any form. 

To Mr. and Mrs. George have been born one son, T. Edgar George, 
born July 8, 1893, and resides at home with his parents. The George 
family are well known in Cooper County and rank among its leading 
citizens. 

Christian F. King, one of the best known citizens of Clarks Fork 
township and is the second of the three sons of Jacob and Annie (Nohrn- 
berg) King. The other brothers, J. W. and H. M. King also reside on 
the place and C. F. King has a bachelor's home, which he built in the door- 
yard of his brother H. M. King and in which he thus feels himself very 



726 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

properly "boss of his own household". Jacob King, the father of these 
sons, was one of the real pioneers of that section of Cooper County and 
on the first clearing made on his quarter section of land there he set out 
an orchard, the first orchard in that neighborhood. This pioneer was a 
skilled cabinet-maker, an art he had learned in his native Denmark, and 
after settling here built a little cabinet-making shop and at "odd" times 
engaged in making furniture not only for his own household but for his 
pioneer neighbors, the products of his skill being in much demand. This 
handicraft skill was inherited by his son, C. F. King, and the latter is a 
cabinet-maker of exceptional ability, many of the products of his skill 
finding their way into the homes of the neighborhood, and his bachelor 
quarters are furnished in like manner. One of his most highly prized 
bits of furniture is a writing desk made by his father and a replica of 
which was sold in its day for $100. Mr. King also is an amateur photo- 
grapher of much skill and in his rooms are many evidences of his pro- 
ficiency in that art, to the development of which he gives much of his 
leisure which is not devoted to his prized wood-working tools. Some of 
the most interesting of the photographs which Mr. King has thus secured 
are scenes disclosed by his camera following the passing of the cyclone 
of 1916. One of these views shows the axle of a corn planter with wheel 
attached driven into a tree on the Smalsey farm. Another view shows a 
one-by-four scantling piercing an elm tree. Mr. King also has a number 
of exceedingly interesting views taken along the Missouri River during 
the height of the flood of 1903. 

While fine woodworking and photography give Mr. King much pleasure 
in his leisure moments, it must not be supposed that he devotes all his 
time to these interesting and valuable "hobbies". Far from it, indeed. 
He owns a saw-mill and threshing machine rig and in connection with the 
former also operates a neighborhood store; while as a carpenter his 
services are in much demand, one of his recent bits of work along that 
line having been the construction of the fine woodwork on the house not 
long ago built by H. H. Fahenbrink and on which the finishing is of the 
very highest order. 

Joseph A. Davis, one of the best known of the "old time" residents 
of Prairie Home township, was born on his present farm and has lived 
there all his life. The little old log cabin in which he was born is still 
standing in the dooryard of his present home and, with its contents serves 
to recall the memory of pioneer times. Mr. Davis' parents established 
their home here in 1857 and there are preserved many interesting relics 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 727 

of that period, including a brass kettle, familiar adjunct of the great lire 
place which occupies the greater part of one end of the cabin; a hackle 
with which the flax was rendered fit for spinning, the mother's spinning- 
wheel and quite a few other bits of furniture of the period. Mr. Davis 
also owns his father's old rifle, bearing the manufacturer's date of 1831, 
and this he also prizes very highly, as well as the powder horn, the bullet 
pouch and the charge measure. But perhaps the most vital point of 
interest connected with that little old log cabin is the fact that it very 
properly may be regarded as the practical birthplace of the Christian 
Church in Cooper County, for it was his father, the Rev. 0. P. Davis, 
who settled there in 1857 and who preached the gospel of Christ in accord- 
ance with the tenets of the Christian Church throughout this county and 
in the neighboring counties of Moniteau and down as far as Miller County, 
to whom the history of that period ascribes a very large measure of the 
credit for establishing and building up the Christian Church hereabout. 

Rev. Oliver Perry Davis was born in Wayne County, Ky., Sept. 26, 
1816, son of Major Drury Davis and wife, the latter of whom was the 
daughter of Capt. North East, of that county, and was the first born of 
twelve sons and four daughters. Major Drury Davis, a veteran of the 
War of 1812, came with his wife and their first-born son. the latter being 
carried on horseback in the arms of his mother, from Wayne County, Ky., 
to Missouri in the fall of 1817 and settled in Howard County, where not 
'cng afterward he was elected the first justice of the peace. About three 
years later he moved to Cole County and settled at the site of a great 
spring 16 miles southwest of Jefferson City, where he began the manufac- 
ture of gunpowder. He was elected justice of the peace there, was com- 
missioned a major of the state militia and represented Cole County in 
the state Legislature. In 1832 he moved to Cooper County and for 11 
years made his home here, moving then to Macon County, where he was 
engaged in farming and merchandising until 1856, when he returned to 
Cooper County and spent the remainder of his life. He died Oct. 10, 
1872, aged 85 years. 

In 1837, while the family were living in this countv. Rev. 0. P. Davis 
became a member of the Baptist Church at Pisgah. In 1839, in company 
with his younger brother, Jeremiah, he went to Macon County and there 
in 1842 was licensed to preach. In the spring of 1843 he was regularly 
ordained as a minister. For three years thereafter the Rev. 0. P. Davis 
preached for the Baptist church, or until he was formally accused of 
preaching Campbellism; whereupon he withdrew from the Baptist com- 



728 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

munion and in the fall of 1848 identified himself with the Christian 
Church, with which he ever afterward remained affiliated. 

Sept. 12, 1843, the Rev. 0. P. Davis was united in marriage to Sallie 
L. Robinson, of Mercer County, and to that union were born eight chil- 
dren : Margaret Ann, married Judge J. H. Zollinger and is now deceased ; 
Samuel R., died at St. Louis, during the Civil War; D. L. Davis died at 
Sedalia while on a visit ; Nancy Jane, wife of Hugh Logan, Sr. ; U. E. 
Davis, Chicago ; Susan F., married D. J. Judy and is deceased ; Joseph A. ; 
and Lucy B., wife of Hugh Logan, Jr. 

Joseph A. Davis, son of the Rev. O. P. and Sallie L. (Robinson) Davis, 
was born Sept. 19, 1857. He received his schooling in the New Salem 
district school, James F. Adams being his first teacher. Mr. Davis has 
made farming his life's work but is now practically retired, renting the 
place to his son-in-law, Roger Q. Mills. Mr. Davis is a democrat, has 
filled offices on the local school board and is an elder in the Walnut Grove 
Christian church, of which he has been a member since his boyhood. 

Jan. 25, 1888, Joseph A. Davis was united in marriage with Kate 
Logan, who was born in Missouri and to this union two children were 
born: Fannie Logan died in infancy and Jessie Ann, wife of Roger Q. 
Mills, who is farming the home place. Mrs. Davis was born March 9, 
1858, died Jan. 2, 1908, and is buried in the Walnut Grove Church yard. 
Though born in this state, she was reared in the neighborhood of Stam- 
ford in Lincoln County, Ky., where her father died. Her mother died in 
Chicago and her body was taken to Lincoln County, Ky. for interment 
beside that of her husband. 

William Foreman Johnson. — If signal achievement in a civic sense is 
a criterion whereby a good citizen's standing in the community is meas- 
ured and a definite place in history is thus assured him by reason of his 
labors in behalf of his home city and county, then W. F. Johnson's place 
in the history of his home county of Cooper is established. During his 
30 years of practice in the courts of central Missouri and throughout the 
state, he has won a place of importance among the legal fraternity ; those 
years have likewise been spent in promoting the development of his home 
city in ways which are enduring and beneficial, with the welfare of his 
fellow citizens and the city and county ever uppermost in his thoughts. 
Mr. Johnson may not have amassed great wealth as some men have; he 
may not have won nation wide fame but he possesses what few Cooper 
County citizens can boast — the warm friendship and esteem of the great 
mass of citizens of this county. William Foreman Johnson was born Feb. 




V. 

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■I. 

V. 

X 













^i ■■■-•■ H 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 729 

8, 1861, in Shelbyville, Shelby County, Mo. He is the son of Prof. Charles 
Brown Johnson, a native of Owen County, Ky. 

Prof. Charles Brown Johnson was born Oct. 22, 1824, the fourth child 
of a family of seven children born to William C. and Harriet (Dillon) 
Johnson of Kentucky. William C. Johnson was a Kentucky pioneer who 
removed to that state from Ohio and followed the profession of government 
surveyor. He entered large tracts of land in Kentucky and developed a 
considerable estate. The Johnson family became prominent in Kentucky 
and the seven children of William C. Johnson were reared and educated 
in that state. Prof. C. B. Johnson, after completing a preparatory course 
of study, was graduated from St. Mary's College, and also completed the 
course in the Kentucky Military School, near Frankfort. Following the 
completion of his education he was engaged in the manufacture of plows 
until his removal to Shelbyville, Mo., in 1856, where he established a male 
and female seminary. During the Civil War he organized a company of 
soldiers for service in the Confederate army, attempted to join General 
Price's army, was captured by the Federals and paroled. For over 40 
years, Professor Johnson was engaged in teaching and during that time he 
had charge of some of the best academic schools in Kentucky and Mis- 
souri. He served two terms as school commissioner of Shelby County. 
In 1881 he came to Pilot Grove and with his son William F. of this re- 
view, took charge of the Pilot Grove Collegiate Institute which had been 
previously established by his oldest son, Charles Newton Johnston. He 
with his son W. F. had charge of this widely known institute for six years 
and spent his last days in Boonville where he died Sunday morning, June 
8, 1900. Professor Johnson was a Presbyterian and a Mason and was 
always a democrat. 

Prof. C. B. Johnson was twice married. His first marriage was on 
May 15, 1849, with Miss Hannah Walton, of Kentucky, who died in Nov., 
1851. He was again married Feb. 22, 1853, to Miss Elizabeth Ford, a 
daughter of Jeremiah, and Artemesia (Baker) Ford of Kentucky, both 
of whom were natives of Virginia. The other son born to this union 
besides the subject of this review was Prof. Charles Newton Johnson, a 
graduate of the Annapolis Naval Academy, the Chicago Conservatory of 
Music and the Hamil School of Elocution. He taught in Shelbina College 
and established the Pilot Grove Collegiate Institute in 1879. He died 
three years later, in 1882. 

Mrs. Elizabeth Johnson, mother of W. F. and Charles N. Johnson 
was a woman of fine attainments and education. She was an accomplished 



730 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

teacher who shared the labors of her husband and sons in their educational 
work. She died in Boonville in July, 1916, aged 90 years. In dedicating 
this volume of Cooper County History to the memory of his parents, Mr. 
W. F. Johnson is conveying a tribute to their memories and building a 
monument which will be as enduring as any marble or granite shaft. 

The education of William F. Johnson was obtained largely under his 
father's preceptorship in the Brandenburg, Ky. Seminary and Shelbina 
College. He held the position of assistant principal of the Shelbina, Mo., 
public schools in 1880. He came to Pilot Grove and was associated with 
his brother in the Pilot Grove Collegiate Institute for one year. He and 
his father then conducted the institute until 1888. He then served as 
publisher and editor of the "Pilot Grove Leader" until his election to the 
office of State representative in the General Assembly at the revising 
session 1888-89. In 1889 he was admitted to the practice of law and 
removed to Boonville in 1894. For a number of years Mr. Johnson was 
prominent in county, state and national politics and was one of the real 
leaders of the democratic party in the state. He was elected prosecuting 
attorney of Cooper County in 1906, re-elected in 1908 and 1910, serving 
six years in all. In 1912 he was a delegate to the National Democratic 
Convention held at Baltimore and there supported his kinsman, Champ 
Clark for the presidential nomination. 

Mr. Johnson was married in 1882 to Miss Margaret Harris, a daugh- 
ter of E. H. Harris, of Pilot Grove, Mo. Three children have blessed this 
marriage, as follows: Mary Elizabeth, wife of Walter M. Small, a 
geologist whose home is in Franklin, Pa. ; Marguerite, wife of E. H. Green, 
a capitalist of New York City, mother of one child, Marguerite, born in 
Dec, 1918 ; Newton H., born Dec. 9, 1884, educated in Kemper Military 
School, engaged in the real estate and insurance business, married Miss 
Tess Underwood and has two children, Joellis and Barbara. 

Mr. Johnson became a member of Wm. D. Muir Lodge No. 277, of 
Pilot Grove, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons in 1882, and is a past 
master of this lodge. He became affiliated with Cooper Lodge No. 36, of 
Boonville, in 1897, and is past master of this lodge. He has filled the post 
of Grand Senior Warden of the Missouri Grand Lodge of Masons ; is Past 
Grand High Priest of the Royal Arch Chapter; is past commander of 
Olivet Commandery Knights Templar and a member of the council and 
a Shriner. 

Mr. Johnson served for six years as a member of the Missouri Re- 
formatory in Boonville. For fifteen years he has been a member of the 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 731 

Boonville Board of Education and has been the foremost champion of edu- 
cational progress in the city. He championed the erection of the Laura 
Speed Elliot High School building and through his personal influence with 
Col. John Elliot, the city became the recipient of Col. Elliot's generosity 
in giving the lot upon which the building stands, to the city. 

No greater friend to the cause of education resides in Cooper County 
than Mr. Johnson. For eight years he served as president of the Com- 
mercial Club and during his period of office many notable civic improve- 
ments were fathered by the club and brought to fruition, all of which 
stand as testimony to his worth as a citizen and his abiding love for his 
home city. This history of Cooper county which he has written has been 
a labor of love and a pleasure on his part to record the story of the mak- 
ing of Cooper County in order that posterity might know what manner 
of men and women were those who developed this fair and fertile tract 
of land into the present thriving and rich county, and built the cities and 
towns which grace the country side. — Written by Robert M. Gibson. 

Charles Newell Menefee, proprietor of an excellent farm of 200 acres 
in Prairie Home township, was born on a farm in Nicholas County, Ky., 
Aug. 4, 1850, son of Frank S. and Mary Frances (Hamilton) Menefee, both 
natives of that county and the latter of whom was a daughter of Col. 
William Hamilton, an officer of the War of 1812, who died on that farm 
at the age of 89 years. 

Frank S. Menefee came to Missouri with his family in 1860 and 
located in Knox County, but two years later returned to Kentucky, where 
he remained until 1867, when he came back to Missouri with a view to 
settling in Calloway County, but came over into Cooper County and settled 
on the farm now owned by C. N. Menefee and here spent the rest of his 
life. During the Civil War Frank S. Menefee was an ardent Southern 
sympathizer and was for three months held as a prisoner of war by the 
Federals on account of his outspoken views. He was born on Jan. 30, 
1825, and died on Sept. 20, 1888. His widow died May 29, 1900. She 
was born on June 28, 1827. They were the parents of six children: 
Charles Newell; John A., living in Montana; William H., whereabouts 
unknown; Jonah, whereabouts unknown; Samuel G., Denver, Col., and 
Mrs. George Adams, Boulder, Col. 

C. N. Menefee grew to manhood on the farm where he is now living, 
and in time bought the other heirs' interests. This is a well improved 
farm of 200 acres and the house was erected by Jesse McFarland, the 
owner prior to the Civil War. McFarland sold the place to Benjamin and 



732 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Solon Smith. The Smiths sold to Frank S. Menefee upon the latter's 
arrival here in 1867 and it has been in the possession of the Menefee 
family since. Mr. Menefee is a democrat, but has never sought office. 
He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America at Prairie Home. 
For 25 years he was an extensive breeder of Poland China hogs and while 
thus engaged held 19 sales. 

March 10, 1881, C. N. Menefee was married to Elizabeth Taylor, who 
was born in Missouri, daughter of William Taylor and wife, both of whom 
also were born in this state and died at Herndon, Mo. William Taylor 
and wife were the parents of six children: Mrs. Menefee; Mrs. Mary 
Finley, Saline county ; Mrs. Linnie Champion, Montrose, Colo. ; James, 
Saline County ; Henry, Montrose, and Robert, Herndon. Mr. and Mrs. 
Menefee have one child, Mary, wife of Frank Poindexter, who was with 
the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe and a part of the Army 
of Occupation in Germany. Mr. Poindexter was one of the first men in 
Cooper County to be inducted into the National Army and was sent to 
Camp Funston in April, 1918, to France for overseas service with the 
356th Regiment, 89th Division, which after the signing of the armistice 
was a part of the American Army of Occupation and was sent back to 
America and received his honorable discharge at Camp Funston, June 10, 
1919. 

John H. Windsor. — A strong character, a stm-dy and upright citizen 
who was universally respected and admired throughout this section of 
Missouri, was the late John H. Windsor, extensive farmer and stockman 
of Clarks Fork township. He was born on the Mt. Vernon estate in Fair- 
fax County, Va., Sept. 4, 1832. He was a son of Horace Simeon Windsor, 
of Virginia, who settled in Cooper County in 1838. 

Thomas Windsor, the predecessor of the Windsors in Cooper County, 
was born in England, May 14, 1714. He was born near Old Sarum Castle. 
In early manhood he immigrated to America and settled on a large farm 
in Fairfax County, Va., where he operated a large plantation. He mar- 
ried Sarah Warden, who bore him a large family of children: John, 
Thomas, Sarah, Elizabeth, George, William, Libbie, Jemima, Millie, Sam- 
son, Mary and Richard. 

Richard Windsor was born March 15, 1778. He married Elizabeth 
Numan who bore him the following children: Numan, Catherine. Pris- 
cilla, James, Elizabeth, James, Richard S., Mary Ann, Loftin, and Horace 
Simeon. The last named married Anne Matilda Allison and at his death 
left her a large state. He came to Cooper County in 1838 and became 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 733 

owner of a large tract of land south of Boonville. Returning to Virginia, 
he brought his family, movable belongings and a number of slaves on the 
return trip and settled in this county. He farmed on an extensive scale 
after the manner of the Virginia planters. Horace Simeon Windsor died 
in Boonville. His only child was John H. Windsor of this review, who 
became one of the most successful farmers and stockmen in Missouri dur- 
ing his lifetime. He received from his father a tract of 320 acres upon 
which he settled. Mr. Windsor accumulated a total of 1,200 acres of land 
which is noted for its splendid improvements. He raised all the feed 
for his cattle and hogs and when asked the secret of his success in feed- 
ing live stock, he would reply, "I have never lost anything by feeding as 
the Lord gave me the corn and the Lord gave me the cattle'*. At his 
death he left his heirs a large estate, comprising 1,700 acres of land 
located chiefly in Clarks Fork township. 

When a young man he married Eleanor Zollinger, who was born at 
Hagerstown, in 1835 and died in 1890. She was a daughter of George 
Zollinger, a pioneer of Cooper County, who migrated from his native state 
of Maryland in about 1844 and settled southeast of Boonville near the 
Clarks Fork store. He entered land, accumulated 400 acres which was 
tilled by the slaves which he brought with him from Maryland. To John 
H. and Eleanor Windsor were born children as follows: Horace George, 
one of the most successful farmers in Cooper County, and an extensive 
corn grower and stockman who is owner of over 600 acres of land ; Walter 
B. Windsor, owner of 500 acres of land south of Boonville, and success- 
fully engaged in raising cattle, sheep and hogs; John L. Windsor died 
in 1882; Alma, wife of E. H. Harris, Jr., cashier of the Third National 
Bank of Sedalia, Mo.: Eugene A. Windsor; and Dr. Norman Windsor, a 
successful physician who for 20 years has been located in St. Louis. 

The late John H. Windsor found time to take an interest in civic and 
religious matters aside from the management of his extensive farming 
interests and he was a man universally respected and admired through- 
out the country. He was an elder of the Cumberland Presbyterian 
Church and served for many years as superintendent of the Sunday school 
of his church. 

Warren E. Carpenter, a progressive young farmer of Prairie Home 
township, owner of "Meadow Brook Farm", is a native son of Cooper 
County and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm in the 
Clarks Fork township near Pisgah, Feb. 28, 1886, son of George A. and 
Mary McCune (McCulloch) Carpenter, the latter was a daughter of Col. 



734 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Robert Allen McCulloch, an officer of General Forrest's cavalry in the 
Confederate service during the Civil War and who, as well as George A. 
Carpenter's grandfather, Samuel Carpenter, was a '49er, both were grand- 
fathers and great grandfathers of Warren E. Carpenter, having been 
among that courageous band which faced the practically unknown dangers 
of the plains and the mountains in the days when the California gold fields 
were attracting the attention of the world. 

"Meadow Brook Farm", now the property of Warren E. Carpenter 
was originally entered by William Tyre, Dec. 16, 1833, and the govern- 
ment patent granting his claim bears date of Oct. 1, 1835. Samuel Car- 
penter and his wife Lucy, grandparents of Warren E., bought the farm 
Feb. 10, 1865, from John F. Smith and later transferred it to their son, 
M. P. Carpenter, who sold it to Francis M. Davis, who in time sold it to 
Louis Erhardt. who sold it to George A. Carpenter, who on Jan. 5, 1909, 
transferred the old homestead of 320 acres to his sons Warren and Homer, 
the present owners. Distinctively ornamental features of the place are 
several noble pine trees standing in the dooryard, which were planted 
by Samuel Carpenter, and a noble elm which was set out by William 
Henry Carpenter, an uncle of the present owners. 

Reared on the farm, Warren E. Carpenter received his schooling in 
the local schools and has devoted his attention to farming. He and his 
brother Homer became joint owners of the old Samuel Carpenter home- 
stead and which they have since greatly improved. The place is well 
adapted to stock raising. "Meadow Brook Farm" is admirably located 
on the Prairie Home-Bunceton road, has a substantial two-story nine- 
room house, which was rebuilt by W. E. Carpenter, a good tenent house, 
an ample stock barn, machine shed and other buildings and an excellent 
water supply, the water being pumped from a deep well by a gas engine 
which also furnishes power for small machinery used about the place. 
A tractor which pulls eight fourteen-inch plows and is capable of turning 
over 25 acres a day is a valuable adjunct to the operation of the place. 

Jan. 10, 1907, Warren E. Carpenter was married to Ola Myrtle 
McDonald, who also was born in this county, daughter of John and Sarah 
(Savage) McDonald, formerly of Clarks Fork, both deceased, their daugh- 
ter Ola having been reared in the household of Judge George W. Morris. 
and to this union five children have been born, Mary Matilda, George Emil, 
Bessie Virginia, Ada Lucille and Warren E., Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter 
are members of the Pisgah Baptist Church and take an interested part 
in church work as well as in general social and cultural activities. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 735 

R. S. Rankin was born at Woodville Mills, Cooper County, Dec. 13, 
1849, and is a son of William and Elizabeth (MacFarland) Rankin, both 
natives of Virginia. William Rankin was born near Winchester, Va., in 
1806. He came to Cooper County in 1838 and settled at Boonville. In 
1840 he built the Woodville Mill and operated it for a number of years. 
This mill was originally a water-power mill, but steam power was added 
in 1854. The old mill continued to do service until 1893, when it was torn 
down and the present mill erected on the site of the old one by S. L. and 
R. S. Rankin. S. L. Rankin died in 1914, age 69 years. 

R. S. Rankin has been engaged in the milling business nearly all his 
life. He was married in 1873 to Miss Marie L. Duncan, a daughter of 
George W. and Mary Duncan, of Clarks Fork township. They are both 
now deceased. Mrs. Rankin died Nov. 5, 1890. 

The Rankin family is one of the old pioneer families of Cooper County, 
having been identified with this section of the state for over 80 years. 

William H. Carpenter, one of the substantial farmers of Prairie Home 
township and the owner of "Oakland", a fine farm, is a member of one of 
Cooper County's pioneer families. He was born on the Henry Reavis 
farm in Clarks Fork township on Sept. 4, 1857, son of Samuel Carpenter, 
born in 1835, who was a son of Samuel Carpenter, who came from Ken- 
tucky with his family to this county and here spent the remainder of 
his life. During the days of the gold rush to California in 1849 he went 
to the gold fields. He died on the Carpenter homestead and is buried 
there, as is his son Samuel and the latter's wife. The younger Samuel 
Carpenter, who became one of the large landowners in this section, died 
.May 17, 1907. His wife, who before her marriage was Lucy Catherine 
Dooley, died in 1899. They were the parents of four living children, of 
whom the subject of this sketch was the first born, the others being 
George A. Carpenter, a farmer and stockman of Clarks Fork township; 
M. P. Carpenter, an inventor, Chicago, and Mrs. Ella Taylor, Holden, Mo. 

William H. Carpenter has followed farming all his life. He completed 
his schooling in Slaughter College, Prairie Home and after his marriage 
settled on the place where he is now living, which he has developed into 
one of the best farms in that neighborhood. He has 160 acres and his 
'on, S. Alvin Carpenter, has an adjoining farm of 120 acres; they carry 
on their operations in close cooperation. In addition to his general farm- 
ing Mr. Carpenter has for many years also given considerable attention 
to the raising of live stock. 



736 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

May 6, 1886, William H. Carpenter was united in marriage to Letitia 
Belle Harris, a daughter of Judge A. T. Harris, of Prairie Home, and to 
this union one child has been bom, S. Alvin Carpenter, born on April 3, 
1889. Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter are members of the Baptist Church at 
Prairie Home. He is an independent democrat. 

Eugene A. Windsor. — In writing the history of the families of Cooper 
County, the biographer is impressed with the fact that the early pioneers 
of this county were from the older states of Virginia and Kentucky. They 
were people of substance, perseverance and standing, and many of them 
were of the better class from these older states. These traits have 
endured in their descendants to this day and the sons and grandsons of 
these early Virginia pioneers are the leaders in this county and the stale 
of Missouri in the business and professional walks of life. Eugene A. 
Windsor, successful real estate and farm loan dealer of Boonville, is a 
descendant of one of the earliest of the Cooper Coui*;y pioneers. Mr. 
Windsor was born on the Windsor homestead, six miles south of Boon- 
ville, Jan. 4, 1870. He is a son of the late John H. Windsor and is a 
grandson of Horace Simeon Windsor who settled in this county in 1838. 

Eugene A. Windsor was educated in the old Cooper Institute and the 
Pilot Grove Collegiate Institute After farming for some years he engaged 
in banking in the Pilot Grove Bank for a year. He has followed the real 
estate business for the past 25 years and has been and is one of the most 
successful dealers in farm lands in central Missouri. Mr. Windsor has 
handled thousands of acres of farm lands and is owner of 700 acres of 
land located near Boonville, Choteau Springs, and Prairie Lick in this 
county. His offices are located in what was formerly known as the Wind- 
sor Building in Boonville. 

Mr. Windsor is owner of the Choteau Springs Resort, ten miles south- 
west of Boonville, which he purchased in 1900. This resort consists of 40 
acres of picturesque ground and is noted for its springs which yield a 
medicinal water. The place is equipped with a hotel, baths, swimming 
pool and several cottages for summer dwellers and is an inviting spot in 
which to spend a part or all of the summer season. Choteau Springs has 
an interesting history. Mr. Windsor's holdings are a part of a grant of 
30,000 "arpens" of land or 26,250 acres which was made to Pierre Cho- 
teau by the Spanish King in 1799 when this entire territory belonged to 
the Spaniards. Later, trouble was made in getting the title to the land 
ratified by the American Congress and Congressman William H. Ashley 
rode to Washington, had the title perfected and purchased the land of 




EUGENE A WINDSOR 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 737 

Choteau. Mr. Ashley discovered the medicinal springs and named the 
locality alter its former grantee, Pierre Choteau. The original land grant 
was made Nov. 28, 1799 and the deed conveys all of the tract from the 
Governor of Upper Louisiana, Charles DeHault DeLassus to Pierre Cho- 
teau. The scenery around the springs is beautiful and inviting and hun- 
dreds of people visit the Springs each year for the benefit of the baths 
and the medicinal waters. 

March 20, 1907, Mr. Windsor and Miss Gertrude Hudson were united 
in marriage. This marriage has been blessed with two children: Eugene 
A. Windsor, Jr., aged nine years ; and Horace Hudson Windsor, aged seven 
years. 

Mrs. Gertrude (Hudson) Windsor is a daughter of the late H. T. 
Hudson, formerly a prominent and well known merchant of Boonville, 
who was founder of the firm of H. T. Hudson & Co. Mr. Hudson was born 
in Miami, Saline County, Mo., in 1849, was there reared to manhood, mar- 
ried Lina A. Meyers who was born in 1845 and died in 1900. H. T. and 
Lina Hudson were parents of six children: Hallie, wife of Doctor 
Dunlap. Dallas, Texas; Elizabeth, wife of Richard H. Keith, Kansas City, 
Mo. ; Mrs. Gertrude Windsor, of this review ; Taylor, Los Angeles, Cal. ; 
Mrs. Alice McGee, Los Angeles, Cal. ; Hargrave, a member of the Bell 
Coal Company, Kansas City, Mo. Mr. Hudson died in Los Angeles, April 
20, 1916. 

Mr. Windsor is a stockholder in the Commercial Bank and is one of 
the enterprising and successful citizens of Boonville and Cooper County. 
His handsome residence at the southwest comer of Chestnut and Fourth 
streets is an ornament to the city. He is a democrat and takes a com- 
mendable interest in political affairs. He is a member of the Presby- 
terian Church and is liberal in his support of the church and all worthy 
enterprises. No call upon his purse for a worthy project to advance the 
interests of his home city goes unheeded, but he is always found in the 
forefront of good movements. He is a member of the Ancient Free and 
Accepted Masons, is affiliated with the Commandery, is a Shriner and a 
member of Aarat Temple of Kansas City, having attained the York Rite 
in Masonry. He is an active member of the Knights of Pythias. To 
know Eugene A. Windsor is to have a sincere regard for him and to 
admire his qualities. 

Herman H. Fahrenbrink, a well known and progressive farmer and 
stockman of Clarks Fork township, is a native son of Cooper County. He 
was bom on the old Clawson place four miles northeast of the place where 
(42) 



738 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

he now resides Feb. 9, 1876. A son of Henry and Magdalena (Scnnack) 
Fahrenbrink. A more extensive" history of the Fahrenbrink family is 
given in connection with the sketch of C. W. Fahrenbrink, which appears 
in this volume. 

Herman H. Fahrenbrink was reared on the home farm in Clarks 
Fork township, and received his education in the Jefferson school district 
and the parochial school at Lone Elm. He also attended the high school 
at Bunceton for a time. He has made farming and stock raising his life 
occupation, and has met with more than ordinary success in this field of 
endeavor. Mr. Fahrenbrink owns one of the valuable and attractive 
farms of the county, it being a part of his father's old home place. He 
owns 170 acres of well improved land, which is located in Clarks Fork 
township, about six miles northeast of Bunceton. The Fahrenbrink home 
is a neat six room residence, and was built in 1903. It is modern through- 
out and lighted with acetylene gas. There are two barns on the place 
and other ample farm buildings. Mr. Fahrenbrink in addition to general 
farming, is extensively engaged in raising cattle and hogs and he also 
raises large numbers of pure bred brown leghorn chickens. 

March 31, 1912, H. H. Fahrenbrink was united in marriage with Miss 
Magdalena Loesing, a daughter of August and Louise (Falter) Loesing, 
both natives of Missouri. Mrs. Loesing died in 1914, and her remains 
are buried at Lone Elm. August Loesing now resides in Clarks Fork 
township. To August and Louise (Falter) Loesing were born the fol- 
lowing children: Fred lives in Oklahoma; William, Clarks Fork town- 
ship; George Henry, who served in the United States army during the 
World War, now resides at home in Clarks Fork township ; Peter, Clarks 
Fork township; Julius, Christine, Lizzie and Emily all residing at home. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Fahrenbrink have been born four children : Helen Louise, 
born Feb. 20, 1917, and three died in infancy. 

Mr. Fahrenbrink is a member of the Farmers Elevator Co., of Bunce- 
ton, and is one of the progressive and public spirited citizens of Cooper 
County. He and Mrs. Fahrenbrink are members of the Lone Elm Evan- 
gelical Lutheran Church. 

S. Alvin Carpenter, proprietor of "The Maples", a well kept farm of 
120 acres in Prairie Home township, was born in that township and is 
one of the substantial young farmers of the county. He was born April 
3, 1889, son of William H. and Letitia Belle (Harris) Carpenter, the latter 
a daughter of Judge T. A. Han-is, of Prairie Home. William H. Carpenter 
is a son of Samuel Carpenter, who was a son of Samuel Carpenter, a Ken- 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 739 

tuckian, who settled in Clarks Fork township, in pioneer days and became 
one of the leading men in that community. William H. Carpenter and 
his wife are living on the farm adjoining that of their son Alvin and father 
and son carry on their farming operations in close cooperation. 

Reared on the farm, S. Alvin Carpenter completed his schooling in 
Clarksburg College and in William Jewell College and upon his return from 
college resumed his place on the farm, assisting his father and so con- 
tinued until in 1914, when he bought the place of 120 aci-es adjoining that 
of his father, buying the place from Robert Heinen. Since taking posses- 
sion of that farm Mr. Carpenter has made numerous substantial improve- 
ments, these including the remodeling of the farm house, the erection of 
a new barn 48x50 feet, a large water tank of tile and concrete, a wash 
house and engine house and other buildings. Mr. Carpenter is pursuing 
modem methods in his farming and included in the mechanical equip- 
ment of his farm plant is a high-power tractor. He raises some cattle, 
Duroc Jersey hogs and Buff Orpington chickens. "The Maples" is delight- 
fully situated and Mr. Carpenter and his family have a very pleasant 
home. 

July 10, 1913, S. Alvin Carpenter was married to Edna Hale, who also 
was born in this county, and to this union three children have been bom, 
Claud Elliott and Dorsey Earl Juanita. Mrs. Carpenter was born in 
Clark's Fork township, a daughter of Thomas F. and Sallie (Carey) Hale, 
who are now living in California. Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter are members 
of the Prairie Home Baptist Church. 

Henry P. McPhatridge, a well known farmer of Prairie Home town- 
ship, residing at "Edgewood Farm", is a Virginian, but has been a resi- 
dent of Cooper County for nearly forty years. He was bom in Virginia 
.March 29. 1853, a son of Alfred and Mary M. (Latham) McPhatridge, both 
bom in Virginia. Alfred McPhatridge died in Tennessee and his widow 
came to this county and here spent her last days, she being 83 years of 
age at the time of her death. She is buried in the family burial plot on 
"Woodland Farm" in this county. Alfred McPhatridge and his wife had 
three children, of whom Henry P. is the youngest, the others being Mrs. 
William H. Ellis, of Prairie Home, and Napoleon, who is now living in 
Arkansas. 

Reared in Virginia, Henry P. McPhatridge completed his schooling 
in a private school there. In 1881 he came to Missouri and located in 
Prairie Home township, which has ever since been his home. After his 
marriage, four or five years after coming here, he settled on his present 



740 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

place and has since resided there. "Edgewood Farm" is a part ol tne 
Ellis estate and consists of 110 acres of well improved land. The house 
stands at the edge of a fine wood of natural trees, one of the most pic- 
turesque spots in that neighborhood. 

March 10, 1886, that Henry P. McPhatridge was married to Minnie 
- L. Ellis, who is a member of one of the pioneer families of Cooper County, 
who have been represented here since the early days of this section of 
Missouri. She is a daughter of William H. and Ann M. Ellis, the former 
of whom died in 1886, aged 65 years, and the latter in 1897, at the age of 
69 years. Both are buried in the Ellis cemetery. William H. Ellis and 
wife were the parents of four children : William H. Ellis, Jr., Prairie Home ; 
Mrs. McPhatridge; Collin E., died in Kansas City, and Anna Gray, died 
in 1894. Mrs. McPhatridge is a member of the Baptist Church. 

Robert S. Tevis, farmer and stockman, who with his sister, Lillie M. 
Tevis, is owner of 240 acres of the old Tevis homestead, southwest of Lone 
Elm, Clarks Fork township, was born Oct. 4, 1875. Mr. Tevis was born 
on a farm west of Bell Air and came with his parents to the old Tevis 
homestead in 1895. 

The history of the Tevis family in Missouri begins with Jeremiah 
Tevis, great grandfather of Robert S. Tevis, who came to Cooper County 
from Kentucky in 1831. His wife was Miss Hixie Lowry, prior to 
her marriage. Others who came to Cooper County at the same time was 
William Lowry, a brother of Mrs. Tevis and a sister, Mrs. Gillie, wife of 
Henry Corum, and another sister, Mrs. Lucy, wife of James Bridges. 
Jeremiah Tevis settled on the farm north of Bell Air, now owned by 
George Schlotzhauer. The Corums settled south of Bell Air on land now 
comprised in the Ravenswood Stock Farm. 

Capt. Simeon P. Tevis, grandfather of Robert S. Tevis, settled on 
the Tevis homestead in 1831. His first visit to Cooper County, Mo., was 
made in 1823. He worked as a carpenter in this county, returned to 
Kentucky, married Emily Berkeley of Louisville, and upon his return to 
this county settled on land which he entered from the government. He 
had a family of six children: Cassandra, wife of William Allen; Daniel 
W. B. ; Jeremiah, St. Clair County, Mo.; John W. ; Nestor C. ; one child 
died in infancy ; Susan died in childhood ; and Mrs. Anna McCrosky, de- 
ceased. Mrs. Emily Tevis died March 19, 1888, at the age of- 76 years. 

Capt. Simeon P. Tevis drilled a company of militia which was enrolled 
during the Mormon trouble in Missouri. His company was called for the 
purpose of putting down what was called the Mormon insurrection near 





NESTOR C. TEVIS 



MRS, NESTOR C. TEVIS 





CAPT. SIMEON P. TEVIS 



KOIIIOKT S. TKVI.S 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 741 

Independence in the forties. Captain Tevis was born in 1806 and died 
in 1893. 

Nestor C. Tevis, father of Robert S. Tevis, was born March 25, 1839 
and died April 11, 1912. He was married on July 14, 1874 to Julia A. 
Smith who bore him children as follows: Robert S. of this review; Simeon 
P., lives in Texas, married Bertie Jeanette Allen and has two children, 
Charlotte Julia and Anna Elizabeth; Lillie M. Tevis resides with her 
brother on the homestead. The mother of these children was bom in Ala- 
bama, May 19, 1848 and departed this life Dec. 25, 1918. She was a 
daughter of William Nelson Smith who met death on the Manassas battle- 
field. He was a grandson of Governor Page of revolutionary times and 
was a native of Yorktown, Va. He volunteered in the Florida War in 
1836. 

Genealogy of the Smith Family in Virginia: (I) Major General 
Lawrence Smith, of York County, Va., laid out Yorktown, Va. in 1691. 
He died in 1700. His son (II) Col. Lawrence Smith, justice, sheriff of 
York County Va., and member of the House of Burgesses in 1683. He 
died in 1700. His wife was Mildred Reed. Will proved, 1754. Their 
son, (III) Robert Smith, born 1733, died 1787. His wife was Mary Cal- 
thorpe. Their son, (IV) Dr. Augustin Smith of York County, Va., edu- 
cated in Edinburg University, married Alice Page in 1793. She was born 
in 1775 and was a daughter of Gov. John Page of Virginia. They had 
six children. His son, (V) William T. N. Smith, born March 18, 1804, 
in York County, Va., married Elizabeth M. Fugua who was born near 
Farmville, Prince Edwardsville County, Va., Dec. 2, 1805, died Dec. 18, 
1854 in Rogersville, Ala. William T. N. Smith was a direct descendant 
of a Revolutionary soldier. He was a volunteer in the P'lorida War of 
1836. The soil in which he was buried was probably in other years 
owned by his ancestors. William T. N. Smith was father of nine chil- 
dren, the youngest daughter of whom, born near Rogersville, Ala., was 
married to Nestor C. Tevis at Lexington, Mo., July 14, 1848. William 
T. N. Smith was killed at the first Battle of Bull Run, or Manassas, July 
21, 1861. 

In 1686, Ludlow's land was sold to Lawrence Smith. This tract con- 
tained 1,452 acres in York County on Wamley Creek. The land came into 
possession of his great grandson, Robert Smith, and afterwards became 
Templa Farm. The Articles of Surrender of Cornwallis' army to General 
Washington were signed in the Smith mansion. 

The Tevis home place in Cooper County is one of the oldest settled 



742 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

places in this section of Missouri. The old Versailles Trail passed the old 
Greenhalge and the Tevis places. 

Robert S. Tevis is a worthy descendant of excellent ancestors and 
is keeping alive the traditions of the family. He has made some sub- 
stantial improvements on the old homestead and is successful as a farmer 
and citizen. He has recently completed a 200 ton concrete silo on the 
place. 

Mr. Tevis is a democrat as were his ancestors. He is prominent in 
the affairs of his township and county and is well and favorably known 
throughout the county. Mr. Tevis is a member of the Methodist Church 
South. 

Edgar A. Carpenter, an energetic young fanner of North Moniteau 
township and owner of an excellent farm of 120 acres eight miles east of 
Bunceton, was bora on a farm in Clarks Fork township Nov. 13, 1890, son 
of George A. and Mary M. (McCulloch) Carpenter, prominent residents 
of that community. Col. R. A. McCulloch, maternal grandfather of Mr. 
Carpenter, was an officer of the Confederate army during the Civil War 
and spent his last days in this county. He died Dec, 1911, and was 
buried in Pisgah cemetery, which is a part of the original confines of 
Mr. Carpenter's farm. 

Reared on the home farm in Clarks Fork, Edgar A. Carpenter re- 
ceived his early schooling in the Ellis district school and during the years 
1909, 1910 attended the Missouri Valley College at Marshall. He then 
resumed farming on the home place until 1911, when he began farming 
on his own account. He bought the farm on which he is now living and 
Feb. 28, 1912, moved onto the same. Mr. Carpenter has made substantial 
improvements. He has a good two-story seven-room farm house, a sub- 
stantial barn 48x48, a machine shed and other suitable buildings. In 
addition to general farming, Mr. Carpenter gives considerable attention 
to the raising of live stock, is now feeding a car load of cattle and has 
a fine bunch of Duroc Jersey hogs. 

June 7, 1911, Edgar A. Carpenter was united in marriage to Edna 
Missouri Lewis, who also was born in this county, and to this union two 
children have been born, Gladys Margaret and Robert Allen, the latter 
named in honor of his great-grandfather, the late Col. Robert Allen Mc- 
Culloch. Mrs. Carpenter is a daughter of J. F. and Margaret (King) 
Lewis, of North Moniteau township. J. F. Lewis also was born in this 
county, son of John M. Lewis, who was an early settler near Otterville. 
Mrs. Lewis was born in Moniteau County, where the Kings had located in 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 743 

pioneer days. She and Mr. Lewis were married at Tipton. To their union 
seven children were born: Miss Aura Lewis, of Kansas City; Mrs. Car- 
penter; Minnie, died at the age of 19 years, and Susan Frances, Mary 
Belle, Mildred and Lucille, at home. Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter are mem- 
bers of the Pisgah Baptist Church and Mr. Carpenter is affiliated with the 
Mystic Workers of the World at that place. 

John R. Smith, a former teacher of Cooper County and for the past 
20 years engaged in the mercantile business at Pisgah, one of the best 
known men in that section of the county. He was born on a farm near 
Clarksburg, Moniteau County, June 30, 1858, son of John I. and Peggy 
(Guyer) Smith, who were among the best known residents of Pisgah. 

John I. Smith was a Kentuckian. He came to this state during the 
early '40s and located in Cooper County. He was for a short time a 
resident of Moniteau County, but soon made his permanent home half a 
mile southeast of Pisgah, in North Moniteau township, this county, and 
here spent the remainder of his life, as did his wife. She was born in Vir- 
ginia and came to this county with her parents. John Smith and his wife 
are buried in the Guyer cemetery. They were the parents of ten chil- 
dren, of whom three are still living: John R.; Mrs. Christina Diffenbaugh, 
Eldon; and Mrs. Birdie Scott, Pleasant Green. The deceased members 
of this family are Berry, Mrs. Mallie Allison, William, Mrs. Lucy Yancey, 
Henry, Mrs. Mattie Russell and Charles. 

J. R. Smith received his schooling in the local schools and as a young 
men was for three winters engaged in teaching in this county, continuing 
his farm labors during the summers. In 1897, he bought an interest in 
the business of his father-in-law, Squire Moore, of the Moore Mercantile 
Company at Pisgah, and became actively engaged in the mercantile busi- 
ness at that place. This mutually agreeable partnership continued until 
the death of Squire Moore, after which the latter's son, T. J. Moore, 
bought his father's interest. A year later Mr. Smith bought his new 
partner's interest in the business and has since been conducting the store 
alone. He carries a general line of goods required in the local trade, 
handles all kinds of country produce and is recognized as one of the lead- 
ing merchants in that part of the county. Mr. Smith is a member of the 
Mystic Workers of the World at Pisgah. 

In Aug., 1897, J. R. Smith was married to Ollie Frances Moore, daugh- 
ter of Squire Moore and Frances (Lovell) Moore, both now deceased. 
The late Squire Moore, who for years was one of the best known and most 
influential figures in the community life of the Pisgah, is buried in Pisgah 



744 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

cemetery. He and his wife had four children, Mrs. Smith having three 
brothers, Robert Moore, Wyoming; T. J. Moore, Moniteau township, and 
Edward Moore, Moniteau township. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have five chil- 
dren: Ruth, who was graduated from the Pisgah High School and is now 
a Cooper County teacher; Zaney, who also was graduated from Pisgah 
High School and is now teaching; Roy, who is now attending high school 
at Bunceton, and Woodson and Squire. The Smiths have a pleasant home 
at Pisgah and have ever taken an interested and helpful part in the gen- 
eral social activities of that community. 

Charles H. Drechsel, one of Boonville township's best known and most 
substantial farmers was born in Saxony, Oct. 18, 1859, son of Charles H. 
and Wilhelmina (Pasley) Drechsel, both natives of that country, to whom 
were born five children, of whom the subject of this sketch is now the 
only survivor. In 1865 the senior Charles H. Drechsel and his wife and 
children came to America and settled at Boonville, where the father pres- 
ently bought a farm in Boonville township. Fifteen years later, in 1880, 
he made a visit back to his old home across the water and remained about 
three months, returning then to Boonville. About a week after his return 
he was taken suddenly ill and died, being then at the age of 53. His 
widow was married first time to Philip Pasley and by this first union was 
the mother of two children, of whom but one, Charles Pasley, of Kansas 
City, Mo., is living. She died in 1908 at the age of 72 years. 

Charles H. Drechsel was but five years of age when he came to this 
country with his parents. He was reared on a farm in Boonville town- 
ship, receiving his schooling in the Clear Spring district school. As a 
young man he worked for some time by the month and then began to 
farm his father's place, inheriting 40 acres of it upon the death of his 
father. From time to time, as his affairs prospered, he bought more 
land, until he now is the owner of 551 acres, 260 acres of which lies in 
his home farm in section 1, well improved and amply equipped for the 
general farming and stock raising carried on so successfully by the pro- 
prietor. Mr. Drechsel is a republican. He and his family are members 
of the Evangelical Church, the faith in which he was reared, and he is 
affiliated with the Knights of Pythias at Boonville. 

In 1883, Charles H. Drechsel was united in marriage with Ellen 
Mellor, a member of one of the old families in this community. To this 
union seven children have been born, namely: Henry, deceased; Fred, 
deceased; Sophia, wife of John McNorton, of Boonville township; Rosa, 
wife of C. Meeks, of Kansas City, Mo.; Ernest, of Boonville township; 
Robert, at home, and Florence, wife of E. Quint, of Boonville. Mrs. 




MR. AND MRS. CHARLES II. DRBCHSEL 



HISTOEY OF COOPER COUNTY 745 

Drechsel was born at Belleville, 111., Jan. 10, 1864, and was but a child 
when her parents, Fred and Jessie (Payne) Mellor, came to Cooper County, 
where kinsfolk had preceded them, and located on a farm in Boonville 
township. Fred Mellor was a native of Germany and his wife was born 
in Virginia. 

Hon. Henry Judson Yancey, former state senator and for many 
years one of the best known and most influential figures in the political 
life of Cooper County, was born near the place on which he is now living, 
a mile south of Pisgah, in North Moniteau township, in 1853, son of Capt. 
Alfred and Jane Ann (Bowles) Yancey, both members of pioneer fam- 
ilies. Mrs. Bowles, grandmother of Senator Yancey, was a charter mem- 
ber of the Pisgah Baptist Church, and her brother, the Rev. John Longan, 
will always be held in pleasant memory hereabouts as the pioneer Bap- 
tist minister of this region. Almost from the days of his boyhood, the 
Rev. John Longan was a devoted missionary throughout this country, 
traveling horseback from settlement to settlement, preaching the gospel 
and neither expecting nor receiving compensation. It is a matter of early 
note that the only material compensation this devoted missioner ever re- 
ceived was on one occasion when his horse died and the members of his 
scattered congregations bought him another horse. But his memory is 
still green heareabout and when Pisgah Church celebrates its centenary, 
his long and faithful labor of love will be brought to mind. 

Capt. Alfred Yancey, father of Senator Yancey, was born in Ken- 
tucky in the year 1820 and was but six years of age when he came with 
his parents to Missouri in 1826, the family first settling in Howard 
County and later came to Cooper County, where the Yanceys have ever 
since been prominently represented. Captain Yancey married here and 
settled on the farm just south of Pisgah, near where his son, the Senator, 
is now living. Preceding the outbreak of the Civil War, he was commis- 
sioned captain of the local company of state militia and rendered valuable 
service to the Union cause. After the war he settled down to his farm- 
ing and became a substantial farmer and landowner. Captain Yancey 
died in 1893 and his widow died in 1894. Both are buried in the Sapping- 
ton Cemetery at Clarksburg. They were the parents of four children, of 
whom Senator Yancey is now the only survivor, the others having been 
Mary Belle, who married George T. Clark, of Clarksburg; Mrs. Bettie 
Patrick and Jesse Layton Yancey. 

Henry Judson Yancey received his schooling in the Yancey district 
and has given his chief attention to farming. When he was a boy of 17, 
he went to western Texas, where his uncle, Joseph Bowles, was engaged 



746 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

in cattle ranching, and for some time was engaged as a "cowboy," assist- 
ing his uncle in driving cattle through the then Indian country to Abilene, 
Kans. Though he enjoyed the wild, free life of the great plains, he re- 
turned from Abilene, quite content to give his whole time thereafter to 
th best interests of his home county. From the days of his young man- 
hood, Senator Yancey has given his earnest and thoughtful attention to 
civic affairs and has for years been reckoned as one of the strong per- 
sonal factors in the political life of this section, a leader in the ranks of 
the Democratic party, and in 1914 was elected to represent this sena- 
torial district in the 48th and 49th General Assemblies. During this 
period of service in the Senate, Senator Yancey rendered conspicuous 
service not only to his own district but to the State at large and had place 
on several of the important committees of the Senate ; his most notable 
act perhaps being that of introducing and pushing through through the 
Senate to enactment the bill abolishing capital punishment in the State 
of Missouri. 

Nov. 28, 1876, he was united in marriage to Isabel McNeal, who was 
born in Ohio, and to this union four children have been born: Jennie 
Alberta, died at the age of 23 years, and is buried at New Zion church- 
yard ; Alfred Jesse, who is now connected with the State Grain Inspection 
Department, with headquarters at Kansas City ; Mary Belle, wife of Ar- 
thur Elliott, North Moniteau township, and Anna E., who is at home with 
her parents. Senator and Mrs. Yancey have 14 grandchildren, the El- 
liotts having eight children, James Earl, Louis Judson, Vincel Weight, 
Mervin Lee, Anna May, Leta Belle, Luther Brant and Edward Raymond, 
while A. J. Yancey and his wife have six children, William Henry, Jesse 
Poindexter, Ada, Charles Brant, Woodrow Wilson, and Mary Frances. 
The Senator and his wife are members of the Pisgah Baptist Church and 
he is a member of the Mystic Workers of the World at Pisgah. 

Mrs. Yancey's father, Archibald McNeal, also was a soldier in the 
Union Army during the Civil War and died in service. He was a native 
of Ohio, as was his wife, who before her marriage was Mary Elizabeth 
Lippy. They were among the early residents of Moniteau township, and 
there Mrs. McNeal spent her last days. She died on May 5, 1887, and is 
buried in New Zion churchyard. Mrs. Yancey has a brother, George Mc- 
Neal, of Montrose, Mo. 

Benjamin L. Morris, a substantial farmer of North Moniteau town- 
ship, has been for more than 20 years one of Cooper County's best known 
school teachers. Mr. Morris was born on a farm near Tipton, Mo., Dec. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 747 

7, 1866, son of Hugh B. and Juda (Davis) Morris, both born in Missouri, 
the former in Howard and the latter in Cooper County, and who reared 
a family of 10 children, all of whom are living. Hugh B. Morris was a 
son of Shadrack Morris, who was a son of Hammond Morris, a Virginian, 
who settled in this section of Missouri more than a hundred years ago. 
Hugh B. Morris was born in 1825 and died in 1907. His wife was born in 
Moniteau township in 1833 and died in Nov., 1918. Both are buried in 
the Pisgah Baptist Cemetery. 

Of the 10 children of Hugh B. and Juda (Davis) Morris, B. L. Morris 
was the eighth in order of birth. He received his schooling in the local 
district schools, and Missouri State University at Columbia. Among his 
classmates at the university was the late Judge Divelbis, of Richmond, 
whose recent tragic death at that place was the occasion of such a shock 
to his friends. Upon his return from the university, Mr. Morris resumed 
farming and has ever since been thus engaged. In addition to his farm- 
ing, he has been for more than 20 years engaged in teaching school dur- 
ing the winters and is thus one of the best known and most influential 
members of Cooper County's excellent teaching force. In 1891, Mr. Mor- 
ris bought the farm on which he is now living, at the edge of the pleasant 
village of Pisgah, and has since resided there. In 1897, he erected a new 
house. In 1904 he built a new barn, which was swept away in 1909 in a 
cyclone, and he straightway put up another and better barn, a substantial 
structure 46x40 feet. His farm is one of the best in that neighborhood. 
The farm is well watered, several excellent springs being supplemented 
by a never-failing driven well, 176 feet in depth. Naturally Mr. Morris 
has given his close attention to local school conditions and in May, 1913, 
was one of the organizers of consolidated School District No. 1, of which, 
with the exception of two years, he ever since has been secretary, and to 
the genei'al extension of which he devoted his efforts. Mr. and Mrs. 
Morris are members of the Pisgah Baptist Church, and their son, Lewis 
L. Morris, is clerk of the congregation. 

December 22, 1891, B. L. Morris was married to Patience Baughman, 
who was born on the farm near Bunceton. She is a daughter of Henry 
and Anna (Cole) Baughman, both bom in this county, the former in 1835 
and the latter in 1847. Both the Baughmans and the Coles are among 
the real "old families" of this section, particularly the Coles, for Mrs. 
Morris's maternal grandfather, Samuel Cole, was a son of Hannah Cole, 
after whom Cole's Fort received its name in the days of the Indian trou- 
bles in connection with the war of 1812. The Coles came from Virginia. 



748 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Henry Baughman died in 1911 and his widow died in 1918. Both are 
buried in the Baptist Cemetery at Pisgah. They were the parents of 
seven children, of whom Mrs. Morris was the third in order of birth, the 
others being Charles Baughman, of Bunceton; Mrs. Margaret Underwood, 
of Webb City ; Mrs. Minnie Morris and Mrs. Flora Edwards, of Bunceton ; 
Mrs. Mary Hadley, of Glendora, Calif ; and Mrs. Katie Gilbert, of Bunceton. 

Mr. and Mrs. Morris have one son, Lewis L. Morris, born on Dec. 28, 
1893, graduated from the Bunceton High School, and on Nov. 23, 1916, was 
united in marriage to Alice Doll, daughter of Ellen Edward and Nannie 
(Patton) Doll, residents of this county. Mrs. Alice Morris was bom in 
Illinois, coming to this county with her parents, and was graduated from 
the Bunceton High School. Lewis L. Morris, who, with his wife, makes 
his home on the Morris farm, is a valued assistant to his father. 

Philip Peter Meef, owner of "Riverside Farms" in Boonville town- 
ship, is a substantial farmer and stockman, was born in that township and 
has lived there all his life. He was born May 13, 1857, in Boonville town- 
ship, son of Jacob and Elizabeth Neef, natives of Germany. 

Jacob Neef came to this country with his parents in 1848, immediately 
following the unsuccessful revolution in Germany, the family locating on 
a farm three miles west of Boonville. Not long after coming here he was 
married and began farming on his own account in Boonville township. 
During the Civil War he espoused the Union cause and served as a mem- 
ber of the Home Guards and was killed at the battle of Boonville in 1864, 
he then being about 36 years of age, and his widow was left with a family 
of small children to look after. She kept her family together and sur- 
vived her husband many years. She died in 1896, at 75 years of age. 
To Jacob Neef and wire were born six children as follows: George, de- 
ceased; Fred, living near Boonville; Mollie, wife of E. L. Moehle, Boon- 
ville township; Philip Peter; Frank, deceased, and Jacob, deceased. 

Having been but seven years of age when his father was killed in 
battle, Philip P. Neef early found himself facing responsibilities and 
labors such as are spared the average boy and he thus grew up self- 
reliant and able to face the future. He stuck to the farm and after his 
marriage in 1879 rented a farm. In 1882 he bought 85 acres, a part of 
the farm on which he is now living and there established his home in a 
log cabin that was standing on the place. The ground was but incom- 
pletely cleared and was full of stumps, but the new owner went to work 
with a will and soon had it cleared and it also was not long until he had 
a more habitable dwelling house on the place. Mr. Neef added to his 




I'HIl.ir PETER NEEF AND KAMII.V 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 749 

land holdings until now he is the owner of 317 acres of excellent land, 
195 acres of which is in the home place, and he is one of the well-to-do 
farmers of the community. In 1900, Mr. Neef bought 110 acres adjoin- 
ing his original 85 and in 1906 he bought another farm of 123 acres as a 
home for his elder son, Carl, who also is making his home in Boonville 
township. Mr. Neef and his sons are republicans and the family are 
members of the Evangelical Church. 

Dec. 28, 1879, Philip P. Neef was married to Julia C. Huth, who also 
was born in Boonville township, and to this union were born two sons, 
Carl A. and John H., the latter of whom, born on June 21, 1882, is unmar- 
ried and remains at home and is managing "Riverside Farms", the home 
place, and is one of the most successful breeders of Cooper County. He 
breeds Mammoth jacks, Percheron horses, Shorthorn cattle and 0. I. C. 
and Chester White hogs, eligible to registration. For 13 years he has 
been a successful breeder of S. C. R. I. Reds, Reid's Yellow Dent seed 
corn and Poole, Marvelous, Fultz and Harvest King seed wheat. 

Carl A. Neef, who was born on Dec. 15, 1880, married Flora Gantner 
and is living on a farm not far from his father's place. He and his wife 
have four children, Philip F., Catherine J., Carl E. and Margaret J., lively 
youngsters in whom their grandparents take much delight. Mrs. Julia 
C. Neef was born in Boonville township on Sept. 5, 1856, one of the seven 
children born to John Peter and Mary Madeline (Back) Huth, five of which 
children, three sons and two daughters, are still living. John Peter Huth 
and his wife Were both in Germany and were married in this county, 
where their last days were spent. Mr. Huth came to the United States 
in 1848 and not long after his arrival in this country joined the rush fir 
the gold fields of California, making the arduous overland trip. He re- 
turned in 1852 via Cape Horn and New York City and came to Missouri, 
locating on a farm in Boonville township, where after his marriage in 
1853 he and his wife lived. There Mr. Huth died May 26, 1896, aged 74 
v« ars. His widow died in 1909 and was 79 years of age. 

Truman H. Morris, one of the best known agriculturists in the south- 
ern part of Cooper County, and formerly one of the county's best known 
school teachers, is a native son of Cooper County, and a member of one of 
the county's pioneer families. He was born on a farm four miles north of 
Tipton, son of Hugh B. and Juda A. (Davis) Morris, both members of 
pioneer families. Hugh B. Morris entered from the government a farm 
north of Tipton. Eight of his 10 children were born, the two younger chil- 
dren being born on the farm to which he moved in 1868, and which is 



750 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

now owned and occupied by his son, Snode Morris. The Morrises have 
been represented in this section since territorial days. 

Truman H. Morris received his schooling in the local district school 
and Missouri State University, which he attended during the years 1881- 
82-83. Meanwhile he had been giving his attention to farming during 
the summers, at the same time teaching school during the winters, and 
for 25 years continued this dual vocation, 13 years of this period being 
spent at teacher at the Greenwood school. In all of that time Mr. Morris's 
employment as a teacher did not take him into districts farther than two 
miles removed from his home and he thus was enabled to carry on his 
farming operations uninterrupted. In 1904 Mr. Morris bought from the 
J. W. Penn estate his present farm of 200 acres, seven miles east of 
Bunceton. This is the old John R. French farm and the house of 15 
rooms which stands on the place was erected by Mr. French before the 
Civil War. In this house are three great stone fire-places, which were 
built by the late Col. Robert A. McCulloch, and which are in good condi- 
tion. A stone fence and stile, together with great stone hitching-posts, 
at the front of the house, built more than 60 years ago, and a stone fence 
to the west, probably built at the same time, still stand, as true to the line 
as when built. The fine forest trees in the front yard were planted by 
Mr. French. It is recalled that in the days of the French proprietorship 
there, Mr. French maintained an orchard of 60 acres and the cider vine- 
par which he produced from the products of that orchard helped no little 
in establishing the reputation Missouri has long held as a vinegar state. 
The old building in which he operated his cider-mill is still standing. On 
one occasion, Mr. French was unable to get barrels in sufficient quantities 
to care for his cider and he pumped the water out of his four cisterns and 
filled them with cider. Since taking possession of the place, Mr. Morris 
has made substantial improvements, including the erection of two barns, 
one 56x64 and the other 36x40. and has in other ways brought the farm 
plant up-to-date. Mr. Morris is a democrat and in 1895 he made the race 
in the primaries for the nomination for clerk of the Circuit Court. Fra- 
ternally, he is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons at 
Prairie Home and he and his family are members of the Christian Church 
at Pisgah. 

Dec. 21, 1883, Truman H. Morris was married to Bettie Clawson, 
who also was born in this county, and to this union three children have 
been born ; Jesse Teel, who is in government service in Washington, 
D. C. ; and John Paul and Edith Gertrude, twins, who were graduated 
from the high school at Bunceton with the class of 1919. Jesse Teel 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 751 

Morris, who is a graduate of the State Normal School at Warrensburg, 
Columbia University (New York), and of Carnegie Technical Institute at 
Pittsburgh, was for some time engaged as supervisor of manual training 
in one of the high schools at Pittsburgh, but transferred his services to 
the Government, and is now connected with the agricultural department 
in the bureau of live-stock inspection at Washington. Mrs. Morris was 
born in Clarks Fork township, a daughter of Jesse and Catherine (Pal- 
mer) Clawson, both long since deceased. Jesse Clawson was a well-known 
business man, and had an interest in a St. Louis packing plant. He died 
in 1865, and his widow died in 1900. Bot hare buried in Pisgah Cem- 
etery. They were the parents of nine children, five of whom are still 
living, Mrs. Morris having two brothers, R. M. Clawson, of Cass County, 
this State, and J. W. Clawson, of Vinita, Okla., and two sisters, Miss Kate 
Clawson and Mrs. L. M. Hagen, who are living in Los Angeles, Cal. 

Chris J. Brandes, one of the well-known and successful farmers and 
stockmen of Cooper County, was born in Clarks Fork township, July 6, 
1866. He is a son of Charles and Margaret (Smith) Brandes, further 
mention of whom is made in this volume in connection with the sketch of 
Theodore L. Brandes. 

Chris J. Brandes received his education in the Washington and the 
Lee School districts. He also attended the German school at Clarks Fork 
for a time. He remained at home with his parents until he was 21 years 
of age, when he engaged in farming for himself on rented land for about 
five years. In 1894 he purchased 160 acres of his present place. He has 
added to it until he now owns 380 acres of well-improved farm land with 
three sets of farm buildings. The home residence was built by Mr. 
Brandes shorty after he bought his first land. The family lived in a 
temporary building on the place while the residence was being erecte.l. 
Mr. Brandes practically built his house alone, from excavating the cellar 
to doing the carpenter and mason work. His first barn on the place was 
;■ double log building, which he also built himself, and which cost him 
beside his own labor only $7.75. This old building is still standing. Mr. 
Brandes carries on general farming and stock raising, making a specialty 
of Callaway cattle. Poland China hogs, and Shropshire sheep. The place 
is well adapted for both general farming and stock raising. The water 
supply is pumped by a gas engine from a well 207 feet deep. The Brandes 
place is one of the well improved farms of Cooper County. 

Sept. 2?., 1888, Chris Brandes was united in marriage with Miss Lee 
Long, a native of Cooper County, born in Kelly township, Aug. 22, 1868. 



752 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

She is a daughter of William H. and Mary (Dale) Long. W. H. Long was 
born in Bourbon County, Ky., in 1833, and died in Cooper County in 1909, 
and his remains are buried at Pisgah. He served as a captain in the 
Confederate army during the Civil War, under Gen. Sterling Price. When 
the war broke out he enlisted in Cedar County, Mo., and served through- 
out the war, and was wounded. His wife was a native of Indiana, born in 
1835. They were married in Cedar County, and the following children 
were born to them: Mrs. Lizzie Salmons, Rockville; Josie died in infancy; 
Florence married William E. Draffen and died at the age of 36 years, 
in 1903 ; Lee married Chris J. Brandes, the subject of this sketch ; Thomas 
lives in North Moniteau township; Charles M., North Moniteau township; 
W. R., San Antonio, Texas; Sterling Price died in infancy, and Wade 
Hampton, Jefferson City. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Chris J. Brandes have been born the following chil- 
dren: Clara N„ married William T. Martin; Edna M., died in infancy; 
William Carl resides at home with his parents; Edgar resides at home. 
Six children died in infancy. William Carl is a veteran of the World 
War. He entered the United States service, Sept. 5, 1918, and was 
trained at Camp McArthur, Texas, until Nov. 4, 1918, when he transferred 
to Camp Merrit, N. J., and was aboard the English transport Cedric, 
which was preparing to start for France when the armistice was signed 
Nov. 11, 1918. He was then returned to Camp Merrit, and later to Camp 
Grant, 111., where he was mustered out of service, Dec. 31, 1918. Mr. 
and Mrs. Brandes have three grandchildren : Mary Lee, Irma Gray, and 
Grace Lucille Martin, who live with their grandparents. Mr. Brandes 
is a member of the Masonic Lodge at Bunceton, and he and his wife are 
members of the Baptist Church at Pisgah. 

William H. Turley, who died at his home in LaMine township in the 
fall of 1909 was one of the most substantial and progressive farmers of 
the county. He was born on the farm on which he died and had spent 
all his life there. His father also was born on that farm, a son of one 
of the real pioneers of this region, the Turleys having been represented 
in this community practically since the days of its beginning. Milton 
Turley, the father, married Louisa Ricks and to that union were born 
four children, three 'sons and a daughter, all of whom are now deceased. 
Of these William H. Turley, born on March 8, 1856, was the eldest, the 
others being Harvey C, Stephen G. and Adelia. William H. Turley began 
operations there on his own account on reaching manhood and established 
his home there. He and his brother, Harvey C. Turley owned in partner- 




WILLIAM II. TIULKY AND WIFE 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 753 

ship a tract of 340 acres of excellent land and did well- in their operations. 
Their farm was well improved and they made a specialty of good live 
stock. William H. Turley was a democrat, a member of the Christian 
Church and was affiliated with the M. W. of A. He died Oct. 12, 1909, 
and his widow is still making her home on the home place, which is now 
owned and operated under the general direction of her elder son, John H. 
Turley. 

Dec. 13, 1881, William H. Turley was united in marriage with Anna 
B. Herndon, who also was born in LaMine township, July 6, 1861, second 
in order of birth of the seven children born to George and Elizabeth 
(Pope) Herndon, the others being as follows: Benjamin T. Herndon, 
Saline County; William, deceased; John M., deceased; Ella D., deceased, 
and Lester H. and James G. Herndon, of Saline County. George Herndon, 
also was born in LaMine township, about 1824, son of one of the earliest 
settlers in that section, a Virginian, who came to this county in 1811. 
George Herndon died at his home in this county in 1884. His wife died 
at the age of 35 years in 1872. She was born in Garrett County, Ky., a 
daughter of Thomas Pope and wife, the latter of whom was a Bland, who 
came to Cooper County about 1836, settled on a farm here and reared 
a family of three children. 

To William H. and Anna B. (Herndon) Turley were born nine chil- 
dren, namely: Susan E., born on Oct. 17, 1882, died Oct. 30, 1883; John 
H, further mention of whom is made below; Mary D., born on May 11, 
1885. married Wade Keuckelhan, Dundee, Texas; Harvey H., born Nov. 
17, 1886, died on Dec. 2, 1909; Ethlyn M., June 16. 1888, died Sept, 5, 
1908; William G., June 30, 1890, at LaMine, engaged in the building trade; 
Harry and Hazel (twins), March 23, 1894, the latter died July 10, 1894, 
and the former is living in LaMine township, and Margaret, Nov. 12, 1898, 
died March 20, 1899. 

John H. Turley was born Nov. 4, 1883, and has always lived on the 
farm which he now owns, except a few years during when he was en- 
gaged in railroad service. He supplemented the schooling received in the 
local schools by a course in Hill's Business College at Sedalia and from 
1907 to 1911 was employed as a clerk for the Missouri Pacific Railroad. a1 
Boonville and later at Marshall. He then returned to the home farm and 
operated the same for his widowed mother until in 1918, when ho bough! 
the place. Since taking possession of the farm Mr. Turley has made 
numerous improvements on the place and now has an excellent farm. 
That portion of the old Turley place which he bought consists of 100 



754 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

acres and in addition to his general farming he gives considerable atten- 
tion to the breeding of Poland-China hogs. Mr. Turley is a democrat and 
in the campaign of 1916 he was the nominee of his party for the legis- 
lature, but went down in the face of the republican majority of that year. 
Aug. 24, 1918, he married Ethel Clickner, who was born at Edina, Mo., 
was graduated from Fayette High School and attended Howard Payne 
College, also the Warrensburg Normal School, and is now the teacher at 
the Locust Grove school in LaMine township. Mr. Turley is a member 
of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and of the Independent Order 
of Odd Fellows, and he and his wife are members of the Christian Church. 

Robert Thomas Draffen, a Civil War veteran, and a member of one 
of the pioneer families of Cooper County, was born in Kelly township, 
July 16, 1844. He is the son of William and Atlanta (McCullough) Draf- 
fen, both natives of Virginia. William Draffen was born in 1820, and 
died in Moniteau township in 1906, on his home place, where he had lived 
since settling in Cooper County in the thirties. His wife died in 1907, 
and their remains are buried at Pisgah. William Draffen was a son of 
Robert Thomas Draffen, who settled at Boonville at a very early date. 
He was a cigar manufacturer and also bought and sold tobacco. 

Robert T. Draffen was educated at Lee's School, and has always lived 
in Kelly and Moniteau townships, and has been engaged in farming and 
stock raising. He bought his present place, which consists of 84 acres, 
in 1885. This is one of the historic old places of Cooper County. A still 
was operated here during the Civil War and for some years afterwards. 

When the Civil War bi-oke out, Mr. Draffen enlisted in the Confed- 
erate army under General Marmaduke. He participated in a number of 
engagements, and was at the battle of Mine Creek, where General Mar- 
maduke was captured. Later, in 1862, Mr. Di-affen was taken prisoner 
and held in the Boonville jail for a time, when he was paroled. He after- 
ward joined the army and was at Shreveport, La., when the Confederate 
army under General Price surrendered there. He then returned to 
Cooper County, where he has since been engaged in farming and stock 
raising. 

Mr. Draffen was first married in 1870 to Miss Rebecca McLean, a 
daughter of James and Jennie (Bull) McLean, pioneers of Cooper County. 
Two children were born of this union, Sterling Price, who resides near 
McBain, Mo., and Laura, married Elmer Hedspeth, who resides in Ala- 
bama. The mother died in 1878, and on Dec. 15, 1881, Mr. Draffen was 
married to Miss Bettie Carpenter, a daughter of Robert L. and Priscille 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 755 

(Robinson) Carpenter, the former a native of Copper County, who died 
March 25, 1892, aged 61 years, and the latter a native of Kentucky, died 
Feb. 16, 1913, aged 83 years. Their remains are buried in the cemetery 
at Bunceton. They were the parents of the following children: James, 
Jefferson City; Mrs. Helen Richey, Bunceton; Mrs. J. B. Scott, Bunceton; 
William, Bunceton ; Robert, Bunceton ; Emmett, married Maggie Rowles 
and is now deceased ; Josie, died at the age of 50 years, and Bettie, wife 
of Robert T. Draff en, the subject of this sketch. 

To Robert T. and Bettie (Carpenter) Draffen have been born the fol- 
lowing children: William Robert, residing at home; Gussie, married 
Andrew Snorgrass, Vermont, Mo.; Lynne Lee, a student at the State 
Normal School at Warrensburg, has been a teacher at Blackwater, Mo., 
for three years ; Wallace, married Edith Embry, Moniteau township ; 
Weight, a teacher; and Benjamin McCulloch, at home. 

The land which constitutes Mr. Draffen's farm was entered from the 
Government by his grandfather, Robert Thomas McCulloch, who entered 
several hundred acres of land in this vicinity. William Chambers, great- 
grandfather of Mrs. Draffen, was one of the pioneers of Boonville, and 
his career was intimately associated with the early history of that town. 
Thus, both Mr. and Mrs. Draffen are descendents of the very earliest 
pioneers of this section, and rank among the leading people of Cooper 
County. 

Berend Vieth, a Cooper County pioneer, who has been successfully 
engaged in farming and stock raising, is a native of Holstein, Germany. 
He was born Aug. 16, 1839, a son of Heinrich and Catherine (Behrens) 
Vieth. Berend Vieth was reared and educated in his native land, and 
came to America in 1865, locating in Cooper County. Here he worked 
as a farm laborer and in other lines of industry for a time, and later oper- 
ated rented land. He made the initial purchase of his present farm in 
1880, which consisted of 160 acres and also of 80 acres of timber land. 
He bought more land later until he was the owner of 540 acres, which 
constitute the present Vieth farm. In the early days, Mr. Vieth was an 
extensive feeder of cattle and hogs, which he shipped to the St. Louis 
markets. He has been successful in his undertaking, and is one of the 
well-to-do men of the community. Due to an injury Mr. Vieth received 
20 years ago, he has been practically an invalid for the past five years, 
and his son, H. C. Vieth, has carried on the farming operations. 

Berend Vieth was united in marriage March 12, 1872, to Miss Eliza- 
beth Selck, a daughter of Carl and Christine Selck, pioneers of Cooper 



756 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

County. Mrs. Vieth was born in Germany, Sept. 10, 1848, and was 
brought to America by her parents when she was 4 years old. The fam- 
ily first settled in Rochester, N. Y., and 15 years later came to Cooper 
County, settling on a farm near Crawfords Bridge. To Berend Vieth 
and wife have been born the following children: Ida, married Henry 
Schnuck, Overton, Mo.; Emma resides at home; Tillie, married Charles 
Barta, Kansas City, Mo. ; H. C, who is farming the home place, and 
Carries resides at home. The grand children are as follows: Lorine, 
Arthur and Lloyd Schnuck, and Raymond and Ralph Barta. 

The Vieth farm is one of the valuable places of Cooper County. It 
is well improved with a good nine-room farm residence, and other high 
class improvements. H. C.| Vieth, who conducts the home farm, is one 
of the progressive young men of Cooper County. He was born in Kelly 
Township, July 30, 1881, and received his education in the public schools 
and the parochial school at Clarks Fork, and later attended Hill's Busi- 
ness College at Sedalia. In addition to general farming, Mr. Vieth raises 
Shorthorn cattle and hogs extensively. 

The Vieth family are prominent in the community and members of 
the Evangelical Lutheran Church at Lone Elm. 

Thomas A. Harris, proprietor of "Sunnyside" farm in LaMine town- 
ship and progressive stockmen in Cooper County, former president of the 
American Berkshire Association, was born July 23, 1862, son of William J. 
and Sarah (McMahan) Harris, both members of pioneer families. 

William J. Harris was born on June 15, 1815, near Richmond, Va.. 
and was but eight years of age when in 1823 he came with his mother, 
Nancy (Ferris) Harris, and the Turley and Herndon families to this part 
of Missouri. With him and his mother was his sister, who when 16 years 
of age married I. Majors, of Cass County, Mo., and who lived to celebrate 
the seventieth anniversay of her marriage. She was the mother of 16 
children. In this region William J. Hai*ris grew to manhood and was 
an influential factor in its development. He helped Mr. Turley, Mr. Hern- 
don and Thomas Mellor hew the logs for the first school house in the dis- 
trict and also helped to pay the wages of the first teacher. In 1849 he 
joined the great rush of gold seekers to California, driving an ox-team 
through, but did not find his expectations realized there and presently 
came back, returning by way of Cape Horn and the East. In 1853 he 
bought the farm on which his son, Thomas A. Harris, is now living, erected 
a log house and reared his family, where he died Nov. 12, 1881. William 
J. Harris was twice married. By his first wife, Sarah McMahan, who 




THOMAS A IIAKIIIS 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 757 

died in 1862, at the age of 27 years, he was the father of five children, 
namely: Mantie, wife of Judge John B. Harris, Fulton, Mo.; William P., 
deceased; Sterling P., of Pettis County; Leona, died in infancy, and 
Thomas A., who was but eight days old when his mother died. In 1869 
William J. Harris married Lizzie Lake, who was born in Howard County, 
and to that union were born two children, Stella and Ada, both now de- 
ceased. 

Thomas A. Harris was reared on the farm on which he was born and 
which he has owned since 1899, when he bought the interests of the other 
heirs in the place, which he has named "Sunnyside" farm. For years he 
has been extensively engaged in the breeding of Berkshire hogs and the 
raising of Shorthorn cattle, of the latter feeding two loads a year. Mr. 
Harris has a fine farm of 417 acres, his last purchase being 127 acres in 
Feb., 1919, and his place is well improved, including a modern house lighted 
with gas, and two silos and is otherwise well equipped. He began the 
breeding of Berkshire hogs in 1889, his first pair having been bought from 
N. H. Gentry, of Pettis County, and he ever since has made a specialty 
of Berkshires, holding semi-annual sales at "Sunnyside", a veteran ex- 
hibitor at state fairs, and has long been recognized as the most extensive 
breeder of Berkshires in Cooper County. He has received as high as $350 
for a single hog and has bred hogs that have brought as much as $1,500. 
For years Mr. Harris has been one of the most active members Of the 
American Berkshire Association and served as president of that associa- 
tion for one year. His three sons are partners in the operations at "Sunny- 
side". Mr. Harris and his sons are democrats and the family are mem- 
bers of the Christian Church. 

Oct. 9, 1895, Thomas A. Harris was united in marriage with Margarel 
P. Wing, and to this union seven children have been born, namely : Mildred, 
deceased ; Wilbur M., who was graduated from the Boonville High School, 
and Robert P., Ella L., Sarah Lillian, Thomas A. and Margaret Leona. 
Robert P. is a graduate of Dunkle's Business School. Mrs. Harris also 
is a member of one of Missouri's pioneer families. She was born in 
Columbia, this state, Sept. 30, 1870, daughter of David W. and Ella 
(Parker) Wing, further mention of whom is made elsewhere in this 
volume. 

Thomas J. Lovell, a Civil War veteran and a member of one of the 
very early pioneer families of Cooper County, was born in Prairie Home 
township, about a mile from where he now resides, Aug. 4, 1842. He is a 
son of Thomas J., Sr., and Ollie (Burrus) Lovell, the former a native of 



758 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

North Carolina, and the latter of Tennessee. They were among the 
pioneer settlers of Prairie Home township. The following children were 
born to them : Lucy Ann, married Fayette Carlos, and they are both now 
deceased ; Armstead Franklin, deceased ; John, deceased ; Elizabeth, mar- 
ried William Burrus, and both are now deceased; Amanda, married John 
M. Burrus, and resides on the old home place; Sarah, deceased; Thomas 
J., the subject of this sketch ; and Olive Francis, married Squire Moore, 
and they are both deceased. The mother of these children died in 1847, 
and Thomas J. Lovell afterwards married Catherine Fry, and three chil- 
dren were born to this union: Martha Bell, deceased; Nevada, married 
Henry Summers, and both died in Denver, Col. ; and Andrew Jackson, who 
resides in Denison, Texas. Thomas J. Lovell's second wife died about 
1852, and he married Mrs. Telitha Timms, and to this union was born one 
daughter, Nannie, now the wife of Robert Kirkpatrick, Clinton, Mo. 
Thomas J. Lovell, Sr., died in 1855. 

Thomas J. Lovell, whose name introduces this sketch, was reared in 
Cooper County, and attended the early day schools. The first school 
which he attended was a log building in the Pisgah district, and the school 
was taught by a Mr. Teeters. When the Civil War broke out, Mr. Lovell 
enlisted at Versailles, Mo., in the Confederate army, in Captain Butler's 
company. He served from 1861 until the close of the war. He was 
wounded three times, the first time at the battle of Dry Wood, Sept. 1, 
1861, near Fort Scott, Kan. He was sent home from there, but returned 
to the army in 1862, and was again wounded at Jenkins Ferry, Ark. His 
company surrendered at the close of the war at Shreveport, La. He then 
returned to Cooper County, where he has since resided. He has been 
engaged in farming and stock raising, and has met with success. He 
owns 120 acres of well improved land in Prairie Home township, and is 
one of Cooper County's substantial and highly respected citizens. 

Mr. Lovell was married in 1870 to Miss Hattie B. Kirkpatrick. 
One child was born to this union, Edward Franklin, who resides at Salem, 
III. The wife and mother died in 1893, and her remains are buried in 
Pisgah Cemetery. May 12, 1897, Mr. Lovell was united in marriage with 
Martha Gilbreath, a native of Macon, born in 1851. She is a daughter of 
Hugh F. and Catherine (Carpenter) Gilbreath, the former a native of 
Tennessee, born in 1826, and died Jan. 26, 1888, and the latter a native 
of Cooper County, born in 1828, and died in May, 1915. They were the 
parents of the following children: Mary Francis, deceased; Mrs. Laura 
Clawson, Vinita, Okla. ; Martha, the wife of Thomas J. Lovell, the subject 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 759 

of this sketch ; J. N., Tulsa, Okla. ; Mrs. Flora Johnson, deceased ; Gilmer, 
deceased; Mrs. Victoria Floyd, deceased; Anna, deceased; Walter, Speed, 
Mo. ; and two sons died in infancy. Mrs. Lovell is a member of New 
Salem Church in Prairie Home township. Mr. Lovell is a democrat, and 
is a member of Camp Harper, Confederate Veterans, Bunceton, Mo. 

William J. Lacy, of Prairie Home township, belongs to a family of 
pioneers of this State of Revolutionary ancestors. William J. Lacy was 
born in Moniteau County, Nov. 29, 1847, a son of Dr. Archibald J. and 
Mary Letitia (Winston) Lacy, both natives of Stokes County, N. C. Dr. 
Archibald Lacy was born July 25, 1823, and died in Cooper County, Jan. 
6, 1892. He was the son of Dr. William A. Lacy and Agnes (Johnson) 
Lacy, the former of whom was born in Virginia in 1802, and died in 
Cooper County, May 26, 1887. His wife was a native of North Carolina, 
and died in Cooper County, Sept. 23, 1888. Dr. William A. Lacy came to 
Missouri in 1836 and settled in Moniteau County, which was then a part 
of Cole County, and he later moved to Salem County, and then returned 
to Cooper County. 

Mary Letitia (Winston) Lacy, mother of William J. Lacy, was born 
in Stokes County, N. C, March 10, 1827, and died Oct. 24, 1848. She 
was a daughter of Gen. Joseph W. Winston, who was a major general in 
the war of 1812, and his father was a colonel in the Revolutionary War 
under Washington. 

William J. Lacy was the only child born to his parents. After the 
death of William J. Lacy's mother, his father married Julia Gale, a 
daughter of Dr. R. W. Gale, of Cooper County, and three children were 
born to this union : Robert A., deceased George G., now living in Okla- 
homa and Agnes G., deceased. 

William J. Lacy was reared by his grandparents, who moved from 
Moniteau to Saline County in 1851. They later went to Vernor County, 
but in 1874 William J. returned to Cooper County, where he has since 
resided. He settled on his present place of 120 acres in 1912. 

Mr. Lacy was married Sept. 5, 1872, to Nancy Elem Johnston, a 
daughter of Washington A. and Martha (Hunt) Johnston, the former a 
native of Prairie Home township, born Jan. 1, 1825, and died Feb. 15, 
1908. His wife was born in 1829 and died Jan. 14, 1919. Robert B. 
Johnston, grandfather of Mrs. Lacy, and his wife were among the very 
early pioneers of Cooper County. Mrs. Lacy has a sister living, Jennie 
L., who is now the wife of E. B. Shannon, Clarks Fork township. 

William Hunt, Mrs. Lacy's maternal grandfather, was born in Bun- 



760 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

conbe County, N. C, March 8, 1789, and his wife, Nancy Hunt, was born 
June 21, 1795, and died Aug. 20, 1876. They moved to Howard County, 
Mo., in 1816, and in 1825 settled on Salt Creek, near Pisgah, Cooper 
County. They reared 10 children. William Hunt was a son of Jonathan 
and Ailcy (Berry) Hunt, natives of Buncom County, N. C. 

To William J. Lacy and wife have been born two sons, Archibald 
Johnston Lacy, born Jan. 4, 1876, and died Nov. 15, 1912, and Robert 
Winston Lacy, born June 21, 1880, married Elizabeth Jones, a daughter 
of David L. Jones, Jan. 16, 1907, and they have two children, Archibald 
Jones, born Nov. 8, 1909, and Robert Winston, born March 13, 1916. 
They live in Prairie Home township. 

The Lacy family are well known and highly respected and rank among 
the first pioneer families of Cooper County. 

George Washington Mellor, one of the substantial farmers and stock- 
men of LaMine township, was born on the farm on which he is now living, 
Jan. 10, 1856. He is the elder of the two sons born to Thomas and Mary 
Jane (Talbot) Mellor, the former of whom was of English birth and the 
latter a Virginian, whose last days were spent in Cooper County. 

Thomas Mellor was born at Ashland, in Derbyshire, England, March 
18, 1818, and was about 12 years of age when he came to this country 
with his parents, John and Martha (Barrett) Mellor, in 1830, the family 
locating in Oswego County, N. Y. John Mellor there engaged in farm- 
ing, but soon moved to Franklin, Delaware County, N. Y., where he bought 
a small dairy farm and where he and his wife spent the remainder of their 
lives. In 1838. he then being 20 years of age, Thomas Mellon decided to 
come West. He came by way of New Orleans, where he remained until 
1844 when he came by boat to this section of Missouri and settled on land 
which he bought near Rankin's Mill, in Boonville township, where he re- 
mained until the California gold excitement in 1849 caused him to join 
the band of prospectors headed for the new Eldorado and he drove an 
ox-team through to the gold fields. He did not remain long, however, 
returning by way of the isthmus and New York. While East he visited 
with old home folks in New York state for a while and then returned to 
Cooper County, where about 1853 he bought a tract of land in LaMine ' 
township and created a home in which he spent the rest of his life, becom- 
ing the owner of a fine farm of 640 acres. He also was the proprietor 
of a freight warehouse on the river front at the mouth of the LaMine 
River. He died on May 28, 1904. Thomas Mellor was twice married. 
His first wife, Sarah Gadsby, died at the time of the birth of her first 




MR, AND MRS. GEORGE W. MELLOF 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 761 

child, the child also dying, and he later married Mary Jane Talbot, who 
was born in Virginia and who died in 1894 at the age of 66 years. To 
that union two sons were born, the subject of this sketch having a younger 
brother, John Paul Mellor, also a resident of LaMine township. 

George W. Mellor was reared on the home farm in LaMine township 
and completed his schooling in the high school at Boonville. He early 
turned his attention to Cable Railway system and for two years he worked 
at Los Angeles and for two years at San Diego in that business. He 
was married in the former city in 1891 and the year following his mar- 
riage returned to the old home in this county, the operations of the farm 
requiring his attention, and has since made his home there, owner of a 
fine farm of 210 acres which he inherited at the death of his father. In 
1898 he erected on that place a fine, modern eight-room house and his 
farm is equipped in keeping with the same. Mr. Mellor is a stockholder 
in the National Bank of Boonville. He is a democrat and is affiliated 
with the Modem Woodmen of America at Blackwater. He and his family 
are members of the Christian Church. 

Aug. 19, 1891, at San Diego, Cal., George W. Mellor was united in 
marriage to Charlotte Stiles, who was born in Leavenworth, Kan., Dec. 6, 
1870, a daughter of Hiram and Mary Ann (Hovey) Stiles, natives, re- 
spectively, of New York and Ohio, who moved with their family to San 
Diego in 1886, spending the rest of their lives there. Mi - , and Mrs. Mellor 
have four children, namely: Bessie 0., wife of G. H. Neiderjohn, of Nel- 
son, Mo. ; Thomas E., now at home, having but recently returned from 
service in the United States army, receiving his discharge at Camp Funs- 
ton, Kan. ; Mabel S., wife of P. M. Floyd, of Boonville, and Bernice, wife 
of William G. Weekley, of LaMine Station. 

Judge George W. Morris, a prominent farmer and stockman of Mon- 
iteau township, former member of the Board of County Judges of Cooper 
County, is a native of this county, and belongs to one of the pioneer fam- 
ilies. Judge Morris was born in Kelly township, Oct. 22, 1863. He is a 
son of Hugh B. and Juda A. (Davis) Morris, early settlers of Cooper 
County. 

Judge Morris was reared in this county, and educated in the public 
schools at Pisgah. He received a very good common school education. 
having been fortunate in having some very good instructors, among 
whom was James Groves. Judge Morris was reared on a farm, and has 
made farming and stock raising his life's occupation. He has lived on 
his present place in North Moniteau township since 1885. The place con- 



762 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

sists of 700 acres, a part of which was formerly the old McCulloch place. 
It is located in North Moniteau and Clarks Fork townships, and is one of 
the valuable farms of Cooper County. There are three sets of improve- 
ments on the place. The farm is nicely located, and an extensive view 
can be had from the home residence. From here one can easily see the 
water tower and court house at California, Mo., when atmospheric condi- 
tions are favorable. 

George W. Morris was united in marriage Dec. 30, 1885, to Miss 
Matilda McCulloch, a native of Cooper County, born in Kelly township, 
Oct. 13, 1860. She is a daughter of Col. Robert A. and Mary (Mahan) 
McCulloch. Col. Robert A. McCulloch was born in Albemarle County, 
Va.,- in 1825, and came to Missouri with his parents, Thomas and Mary 
McCulloch, who first settled in Howard. County. They remained there 
but a short time, when they came to Cooper County. Robert A. McCul- 
loch served in the Confederate army during the Civil War and became 
a lieutenant colonel. He served in General Forest's brigade. He was 
known as "White Headed Bob" McCulloch, and a cousin of his, Col. Robert 
McCulloch, who was also a Confederate veteran, was known as "Black 
Headed Bob" McCulloch. They crossed the plains together and went to 
California with ox teams during the gold excitement of 1849. Col. Rob- 
ert A. McCulloch died in 1911, aged 86 years. His wife, Mary (Mahan) 
McCulloch, was a native of Cole County. She died several years prior to 
her husband's death, aged 45 years. They were the parents of three 
children as follows: Mary, married George A. Carpenter, and is now de- 
ceased; Matilda, wife of George W. Morris, the subject of this sketch; 
and Albert J., who resides at Winfield, Kan. 

Judge and Mrs. Morris reared an orphan child, Ola McDonald, who 
is now the wife of Warren Carpenter, of Prairie Home township. Judge 
Morris is one of Cooper County's most substantial citizens. He has an 
extensive acquaintaince, not only in Cooper County, but in this section 
of the State, and he and Mrs. Morris have many friends and are univer- 
sally respected. Judge Morris served as a member of the County Court 
from 1915 to Jan. 1, 1919, having been elected on the democratic ticket 
in November, 1914. 

William Edgar Wolfe, of Prairie Home township is a native of Cooper 
County whose ancestors were very early settlers in this section of the 
State. Mr. Wolfe was born near Overton, Nov. 14, 1868, and is a son of 
Wesley and Sallie (Street) Wolf. Wesley Wolfe was also a native of 
Cooper County, born near Wooldridge, where he was reared to manhood. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 763 

During the Civil War he entered the Confederate army and served for 
two years, until that great conflict closed. He returned to Cooper County, 
where he was engaged in farming until his death, Feb. 10, 1875. His 
wife was a native of Virginia ; she died Jan. 21, 1878. Their remains are 
buried in the Clayton Cemeteiy. Wesley Wolfe's father was a Pennsyl- 
vanian, and settled in Missouri about 100 years ago. Shortly after com- 
ing here he entered the island just east of Wooldridge and lived there for 
many years. To Wesley and Sallie (Street) Wolfe were born the follow- 
ing children: Lucy, deceased; James, deceased; Charles C. resides at 
Overton ; Mrs. Eliza Anderson, deceased ; Columbus, lives in Illinois ; Mrs. 
Lavina Isom, Carrollton, Mo.; Mrs. Julia Ward, lives in Carroll County; 
William Edgar, the subject of this sketch, and Pressley, Overton. 

William Edgar Wolfe was reared and educated near Overton, and in 
early life worked as a farm laborer for about 10 years, receiving from 
$15.00 to $16.00 per month. He worked for C. C. Eldridge, who is now 
living retired in Boonville, for six years. Mr. Wolfe bought his first land 
in 1901, which he later sold and bought his present place in Prairie Home 
township in 1911, which he purchased from H. F. Fricke. The place con- 
sists of 1091/2 acres, and is nicely located on the Jefferson Highway. 
Since he bought the place, Mr. Wolfe has built a good substantial eight- 
room residence and other farm buildings. 

June 26. 1892, William Edgar Wolf was united in marriage with Miss 
Annie Dishion, a daughter of James and Nancy Jane (Adair) Dishion, 
the former of whom died Sept. 16, 1911, and the mother now resides on 
the home place in Prairie Home township. James F. and Nancy Jane 
(Adair) Dishion were the parents of the following children : Mrs. Laura 
Deuel ; Anna, wife of William Edgar Wolfe ; Mrs. W. C. Kirschman ; Ada, 
died at the age of 12 years; Margaret, died at the age of seven years; 
Alvin, resides in Prairie Home; Silas, Prairie Home; Minnie May, Prairie 
Home ; Mrs. Myrtle Richie, died at the age of 27 years in Colorado ; Edna 
Ritchey, Prairie Home; and Speed, Prairie Home. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Wolfe have been born the following children: 
Blanch, married Fred L. Grostedt, Clarks Fork township ; Oral Wilson 
Wolfe, served in the World War in France and Germany, a member of 
Company L, 356th Infantry, 89th Division. He entered the army April 
24, 1918, was trained at Camp Funston, Kan., and sent to France June 3, 
1918, and arrived there June 24. He took part in the important engage- 
ments in which the 89th Division participated, including the battles of 
the Meuse, Argonne and St. Mihiel, as well as other continuous fighting. 



764 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

He was wounded at St. Mihiel, and was discharged from the service June 
24, 1919. Louis Edgar Wolfe entered the army Oct. 21, 1918, and was 
sent to Camp Bowie, near Ft. Worth, Texas, and was on detached service 
there when the armistice was signed. The other children born to Mr. 
and Mrs. Wolfe are : Elva, at home ; Serelda, deceased ; John J., died in 
infancy; Nancy J.; Leith Alexander; Willie Franklin; Ewing C. ; Champ 
Clark; Charles K., died in infancy; and Allen B. 

Mr. Wolfe is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and 
one of Cooper County's substantial citizens. 

John Paul Mellor, proprietor of "Cape Verde" stock farm along the 
Missouri River in LaMine township, was born on that farm and has lived 
there all his life, having developed an excellent piece of property. He 
inherited the old home place which was established by his father many 
years ago and has done much toward the improvement of the same since 
it came into his possession. Born July 23, 1857, Mr. Mellor retains dis- 
tinct recollections of the Civil War period and has some interesting 
souvenirs of that struggle picked up on his farm, including a grape-shot 
that was fired from Boonville. He also has some quite interesting relics 
of the days of Indian occupancy, the collection which he maintains at his 
home attracting much attention on the part of those interested in such 
matters. Mr. Mellor's father was a cripple during a part of his life and 
was thus incapacitated for service during the Civil War. He had a freight 
warehouse on the river front at the mouth of the LaMine River and this 
warehouse was once attacked by Federal gunboats which fired as many 
as 300 shots at the place. The Mellor place also was raided by Federal 
soldiers, who took the horses out of the stable, emptied the smokehouse 
of its stored meats and took the bedclothes and such other articles from 
the house. The elder Mellor, Thomas Mellor, was of English birth and 
was 12 years of age when he came to this country with his parents, the 
family locating in New York state. When 20 years of age he went to 
New Orleans and a few years later came to Missouri and settled near 
Rankin's Mill in Boonville township, this county. In 1849 he went to 
California and on his return made a visit back to his boyhood home in 
New York, after which he returned to Missouri and in this county spent 
the rest of his life. On the home place, "Cape Verde" farm, now owned 
by the subject of this sketch, the elder Mellor created a good piece of 
property and the same has been much improved since coming into the 
possession of the present owner. 

John P Mellor grew up familiar with the practical details of farm 




THOMAS MKll.nl: 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 765 

life and has always made his home on the place on which he was born, 
being now the owner of 371 acres of excellent and well cultivated land. 
He is a stockholder in the Central National Bank of Boonville and in the 
Citizens Trust Company of that city. He is a democrat and he and his 
family are members of the Christian Church. 

"Nov. 28, 1888, John P. Mellor was united in marriage to Nancy Clara 
Schuster, who was born at Chouteau Springs, Mo., Dec. 19, 1865, daughter 
of Moritz and Rachel (Hidlebridle) Schuster, the latter born in Maryland. 
Moritz Schuster was a native of Germany, but had been a resident of 
this country since the days of his boyhood. Mr. and Mrs. Mellor have six 
children, namely : George T. ; Agnes, wife of Henry Fritz, of Blackwater 
township ; Speed S., who is farming in LaMine township ; Grace G., wife 
of William G. Turley, of LaMine Station, and Ada Marie and Ernest, at 
home. 

George T. Mellor, the eldest son, who was born on Dec. 11, 1889, 
enlisted for service in the national army in June, 1917, not long after this 
country's declarations of war against Germany, and as a member of G 
Company, 140th Infantry, underwent training at Camp Nichols, Leaven- 
worth, Flat River and Ft. Sill, and was a first class private when he sailed 
for France with his detachment in the spring of 1918. On Sept. 28, 1918, 
he was severely wounded during the battle then raging in the Argonne 
Forest ; was discharged and now living at home. George T. Mellor mar- 
ried Mollie Cramer, also of LaMine township, and has one child, Roy T. 

William F. Carpenter, a progressive citizen of Prairie Home town- 
ship, who is one of Cooper County's substantal citizens, is a native of Mis- 
souri. He was born in Macon County, Dec. 6, 1874, and is a son of 
Hugh F. and Rebecca (Buck) Carpenter. Hugh F. Carpenter was also 
born in Macon County, and now resides at La Plata, Mo. His wife died 
in November, 1912. Hugh F. Carpenter is a son of Henry Carpenter, 
who was born in Clarks Fork township. He died at St. Louis. Hugh F. 
and Rebecca Carpenter were the parents of the following children: Mrs. 
Ellen Dale, deceased ; William F., the subject of this sketch ; Emma, mar- 
ried William Self, Macon County; James, lives in Montana; Minnie, mar- 
ried Arthur McKinzey, Macon County; Ada Mame and Frances reside in 
Adair County. 

William F. Carpenter was reared and educated in Macon County, and 
since early manhood has been engaged in farming and stock raising. He 
came to Cooper County from Macon about 1898. In 1919 he bought his 
present place, which is located one and one-half miles southeast of Prairie 



766 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Home, and consists of 155 acres of fertile and well improved land. He 
has a nice eight-room farm residence, and the other buildings and im- 
provements on the place are substantial and in good condition. 

Mr. Carpenter was married April 6, 1905, to Miss Dora F. Short, a 
daughter of Robert and Victoria (Rich) Short. Robert Short was a 
native of Missouri and died Nov. 26, 1899, aged 50 years, and his wife 
died in 1885. They were residents of Clarks Fork township, and their 
remains are buried in Carpenter Cemetery, near Pisgah. They we're the 
parents of the following children: Dora F., the wife of William F. Car- 
penter, the subject of this sketch; Maude L., married L. B. Amick, How- 
ard County; Jessie died in infancy. To Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter have 
been born children as follows; Myriam Ruth; Helen Louise; Clyde; Gene- 
vieve, and Marvin Earl. 

Mr. Carpenter follows general farming and stock raising, and has 
met with uniform success. Mrs. Carpenter is quite extensively engaged 
in the poultry business, specializing in Brown Leghorn chickens, an indus- 
try which has proven both interesting and profitable. 

Mr. Carpenter is public-spirited and enterprising, and takes a keen 
interest in public affairs. He is one of the directors of the Consolidated 
School District No. 3 at Prairie Home, and is now serving his second 
term. He is also a director of the Prairie Home Fair Board. He is a 
member of the Modern Woodmen of America. 

Frederick Schilb, a well known Cooper County pioneer and Union 
veteran of the Civil War, was born in Bavaria, March 3, 1845, a son of 
Jacob and Margaret Ann (Mueller) Schilb, both natives of Bavaria. The 
father was born March 3, 1799, and died June 30, 1856, and the mother 
died Dec. 31, 1876, aged 75 years. The Schilb family emigrated to Amer- 
ica and settled in Cooper County in 1847, when Frederick Schilb was two 

• 

years old. The father bought a farm near Liberty School. The place 
consisted of 80 acres, for which he paid $275.00, which not only included 
the farm, but the growing crops, a cow and a calf and the dog. To Jacob 
and Margaret Ann (Mueller) Schilb were born the following children: 
Jacob, deceased ; Adam, deceased ; David, deceased ; Margaret, married 
Henry Meyer and both are deceased; Frederick, the subject of this sketch. 
Frederick Schilb was reared on the farm and educated in the old Lib- 
erty School district. A part of the time during his school days, school 
was held in private residences. He spent his boyhood days not unlike 
the average boy of his time until the Civil War broke out. In January. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 767 

1862, he enlisted at Boonville in Company A, 1st Missouri regiment, and 
re-enlisted in 1863, becoming a member of Company F., 13th Missouri 
cavalry. He experienced an active military career during the war and 
remained in the service for some time afterward. He was at the battle 
of Mine Creek, Big Blue and a number of other engagements. When the 
war closed he was sent with his regiment across the Plains to Colorado 
against hostile Indians. He was discharged and mustered out of service 
at Ft. Leavenworth Kan., in 1866. During his service in the army, Mr. 
Schilb had many interesting experiences. On the campaign across the 
Plains, he had an opportunity to see the west as it was before civilization 
had made much progress in that section. In the summer of 1865, Mr. 
Schilb remembers of having seen 700 covered wagons, or "prairie schoon- 
ers," leave Ft. Kearney, Neb., in one train, on their way across the Plains. 
The Government required at that time that emigrants travel in trains of 
not less than 50 wagons, in order that they might be able to protect them- 
selves against the attacks of hostile Indians. 

After his discharge from the army, Mr. Schilb returned to Cooper 
County, and the following year he bought his first farm of 95 acres near 
Guyers Ford, upon which he lived until 1877, when he sold out, and in 
1878 he bought 110 acres of land in Prairie Home township, where he 
made his home until 1911, when he moved to his present place, and has 
since been living practically retired in the village of Prairie Home. Mr. 
Schilb was married March 15, 1868, to Miss Mary J. Meyer, a daughter 
of John and Edna D. (Robinson) Meyer, the former a native of Germany, 
and the latter of Lynchburg, Va. John Meyer died in 1853, when Mrs. 
Schilb was about two years old, leaving three children besides Mrs. Schilb. 
The others were Louis G., Slater, Mo. ; John H., Neosho, Mo. ; and Sarah 
Ann, who married Frederick Hertzburg, and is now deceased. After her 
husband's death the mother married again, and to this marriage was born 
one child, Louisa Ruth, who married Earnest Klatt, and they are both 
now deceased. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Schilb have been born the following children: Mar- 
garet, married Henry Kuhn, Prairie Home township; Frederick L.. the 
present postmaster of Prairie Home; Mary Edna, married William Dietzel, 
of Moniteau County; Laura Olive, married Ernest Kirschman, Prairie 
Home township; Clara M., married Oliver T. Haley, resides on the home 
farm ; Stella F., married George Morris, Prairie Home ; Nettie, married 
Frank Renfrew, Wooldridge, Mo. ; Lula A., married Oscar Blank, Prairie 



768 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Home township ; Ida L. died at the age of two years ; and Ernest T., died 
at the age of 10 years. 

Mr. and Mrs. Schilb celebrated their golden wedding anniversary 
March 15, 1918, an event long to be remembered by the members of this 
numerous and highly respected family of Cooper County. The Schilb 
family are members of the Methodist Church and stand high in the com- 
munity. Mr. Schilb is a member of John A. Hayne Post, Grand Army of 
the Republic, Boonville. 

Martin Luther Weekley, a well-known and substantial landowner and 
retired farmer living in LaMine township, this county, and a veteran of 
the Civil War, is a native of the old Buckeye state, but has been a resident 
of Missouri and of Cooper County since coming here in the latter '60s and 
has thus been a witness to and a participant in the development of this 
region for more than a half century. He was born in Belmont County, 
Ohio, March 23, 1842, son of Henry and Mary (Beckett) Weekley, whose 
last days were spent in that state. 

Henry Weekley was born in eastern Virginia on Sept. 3, 1800, and 
was but a boy when his parents, William and Susan Ann (Bigby) Weekley, 
who were the parents of 11 children, of whom he was the seventh in order 
of birth, moved from their native Virginia over into Ohio and established 
their home in the then wilderness He grew to manhood in the new state 
and after his marriage established his home on a farm and continued 
farming the rest of his life. He and his wife were the parents of 10 chil- 
dren, of whom four survive, the subject of this sketch having three sisters 
living, namely: Mrs. Susan Ann Willis, of Armstrong's Mill, Ohio; Cath- 
erine Penrose, of Dorsey, Ohio, and Sarah, widow of M. Woodburn, of 
Canton, Ohio. 

Martin L. Weekley grew up on the home farm in Belmont County, 
Ohio, and was living there when the Civil War broke out. On Dec. 24, 
1861, he then being but 19 years of age, he enlisted his services in behalf 
of the Union cause and went to the front as a member of D Company, 
43d Rgiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served as a private with that 
command until the close of the war, being mustered out with his regiment 
at Louisville, Ky., in July, 1865. During this time of service Mr. Weekley 
participated in a number of important battles and engagements and was 
with Sherman's army on the march to the sea. Upon the completion of 
his military service Mr. Weekley returned to his home in Ohio, but two 
years later, in 1867, came to Missouri and became engaged in wood- 
chopping and the making of railroad ties in Cooper County, where he ever 




MARTIN I.1THK1! WKKKLTCY 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 769 

since has made his home. Two years after coming here Mr. Weekley mar- 
ried one of Cooper County's daughters and in the spring of 1870, shortly 
after his marriage, began farming on a small tract of twenty-eight acres 
of land he had bought in section 28 of LaMine township. There he made 
his home and as his farming operations prospered he gradually added to 
his holdings until he became the owner of 506 acres, all but 150 acres of 
which he has now sold, dividing the proceeds among his children, and is 
now in a position to "take things easy" in the comfortable evening time 
of his life. Mr. Weekley is a republican and is a member of John Hain 
post of the Grand Army of the republic at Boonville, in the affairs of 
which organization he has for many years taken an active interest. He 
and his family are members of the Church of Christ and he has long been 
an elder in the same. 

On Dec. 26, 1869, Martin L. Weekley was united in marriage to 
Martha E. Lewis, who was born at Boonville, this county, Dec. 8, 1845, 
and who died on Dec. 7, 1905. Mrs. Weekley was a daughter of Jesse and 
Amelia (McMahan) Lewis, the former of whom was born in the neighbor- 
hood of Zanesville, Ohio, and the latter in Saline County, Mo., a member of 
one of the pioneer families in this part of the state and further refer- 
ence to which family is made elsewhere in this volume. To Martin L. 
and Martha E. (Lewis) Weekley six children were born, as follows: 
Charles H., deceased ; Alvaretta, deceased ; Luther F., of LaMine town- 
ship ; Laura E., wife of Palmer Taggart, living on the Weekley home place 
in LaMine township; Thomas Alexander, also of LaMine township, and 
William G., of that same township. Luther, the oldest child, has a daugh- 
ter, Martha Rose, and second child, Thomas A., two sons, DeWitt J. and 
Martin R. 

Andrew A. Ritchie, a well known and progressive farmer of Prairie 
Home township, residing at Prairie Home since Jan. 20, 1919, was born in 
Cooper County, Sept. 29, 1866, and is a descendent of pioneers of this 
county. Ho is a son of Abraham and Lizzie (Wood) Ritchie. The mother 
died in 1869. and her remains are buried in Andrew County, Mo. She 
was born in Cooper County, in 1846. Abraham Ritchie was born in 
Prairie Home township, in 1841, and now resides with his son here. To 
Abraham and Lizzie (Wood) Ritchie were born the following children: 
J. L., Cole County; A. A., the subject of this sketch; Mary Ellen, married 
Charles Hawkins and resides at Gorham, Wash. 

A. A. Ritchie was educated in the Salem School and recalls as his 
(43) 



770 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

first teacher, Jennie Adams. Mr. Ritchie has spent his life in Cooper 
County, except two years, when he was in Arkansas. He has always 
been engaged in farming and stock raising, and in 1915, purchased the 
old homestead of 90.5 acres from his father. 

Mr. Ritchie was married Jan. IS, 1888, to Miss Dora Sinclair, a 
daughter of George A. and Rhoda (Stephens) Sinclair. George A. Sin- 
clair had two half brothers. Joe and Peter Cole. The Cole family was 
one of the first to settle in Cooper County, and the Stephens family were 
also one of the very first to families to settle in this county. George A. 
Sinclair died in 1890 at the age of 55 years. His wife died in 1918, aged 
71 years. His remains are buried at Siloam Springs, Ark., and his wife 
is buried at Walnut Grove Christian Church Cemetery. They were the 
parents of the following children: Dora, the wife of A. A. Ritchie, the 
subject of this sketch, was born in Henry County, in 1870 ; William B., 
Tipton, Mo. ; Mollie, married Ed. McNair, Siloam Springs. Ark. ; John. 
Boonville ; Lizzie, married Hardin Hill. Speed : Anna. Parsons, Kan. ; Joe. 
Boonville; and Emmerett, Parsons. Kan. To Mr. and Mrs. Ritchie have 
been born three children as follows: Abraham Lee. born in 1889, married 
Edna Dishion in 1912, and resides on the home farm : George Emil, born 
1890, married Myrtle Dishion in 1912, and his wife is now deceased, and 
he resides on the home farm : Ray P., resides at home. Mr. and Mrs. 
Ritchie are members of the Christian Church at Walnut Grove. The 
Ritchie family is well known in Cooper County and are highly regarded. 

Thomas Henry Smith, a former well known merchant at Prairie 
Home, now deceased, was born on a ranch in Guadaloupe County, Texas. 
March 4, 1857, a son of George P. and Mary Louisa (Miller) Smith, 
natives of Kentucky, and parents of four other children, namely: George 
P. Smith, of Kingville. Texas; Mrs. R. S. Rurges. of Sequin. Texas; Mrs. 
R. S. Thomas, of Blue Springs, Mo.; and W. E. Smith, of San Antonio. 
Texas. By a prior marriage George P. Smith had a daughter. Mrs. J. P. 
Jefferson, of Sequin, Texas. 

Reared on a farm in Texas. Thomas Henry Smith early engaged in 
the raising of cattle, and so continued carrying on his operations on a 
ranch in western Texas until 1890. when he removed to Kansas City, and 
from there to Prairie Home, and engaged in the mercantile business, con- 
tinuing this for about 10 years; he bought a farm and engaged in cattle 
feeding until his retirement in March, 1919. and returned to Prairie Home. 
where he died on April 9. 1919. The Smith home is prettily situated on 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 771 

North Broadway, Prairie Home, and may be regarded as of historic in- 
terest from the fact that a part of the material entering into its construc- 
tion had many years before been used in the erection of the old Prairie 
Home College. And in that pleasant home, Mr. Smith's widow and her 
son and daughter are now living, and Mrs. Smith's mother, Mrs. Martha 
Gray Thomas, is making her home with them. 

Oct. 14, 1885, at Greenwood, Mo., Thomas Henry Smith was married to 
Anna Gray Thomas, who was born near Pisgah, Cooper County. She 
is a daughter of the late Dr. James Bennett Thomas and Martha Gray 
(Ellis) Thomas. Mrs. Thomas was born on Sept. 9, 1834, daughter of 
William and Mary (Dickinson) Ellis. Mrs. Thomas and her sister, Ann 
M. Ellis, were the original promoters of the movement to create a fund 
for the erection of the Prairie Home Baptist Church about 1894, and were 
among the most active solicitors. The late Dr. James Bennett Thomas 
was born in Kentucky and was a son of the Rev. Robert Stewart Thomas, 
A. M., first president of William Jewell College, and one of the first pro- 
fessors of Missouri State University. The Rev. Robert Stewart Thomas 
was bom in Scott County, Ky., June 25, 1805, and was married on July 16, 
1824, to Elvira Johnston, of Bourbon County, Ky. His father, John P. 
Thomas, came to Missouri in 1827 and settled in Boone County, where he 
spent the remainder of his life, one of the honored pioneers of that sec- 
tion of the State. The Thomases are of Virginia Colonial stock, and are 
related to the Madisons, the Pendletons and the Barbours. The Rev. 
Robert Stewart Thomas was taken into the Baptist Church at Paris, Ky., 
when 16 years of age, and his life thereafter was devoted to the church. 
At 18 years of age he was licensed to preach, and it was not long until 
he became recognized as one of the most forceful pulpit orators of his 
day. He accompanied his father into Missouri in 1827, and his talents 
soon won for him a foremost position among the educators and ministers 
of his generation in this State. He received his Master of Arts degree 
from Yale, and his devotion to the cause of education was second only 
to his devotion to the cause of the church. He died at Fulton on June 12, 
1859, and the Baptists of Missouri have preserved something of the rec- 
ord of his life's work in a memorial volume. 

To Thomas Henry and Anna Gray (Thomas) Smith were born three 
children, Lula Gray Smith, who completed her schooling at Lexington 
College and is at home with her mother; Ellis Thomas Smith, deceased; 
and William Robert Smith, at home. Mr. and Mrs. Smith also reared 



772 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Lalla Kookh Fowler, taking her into their home when she was an infant. 
On Dec. 25, 1915, Miss Fowler married W. R. Wilson, and is now living 
at St. Louis, where Mr. Wilson is engaged as advertising manager for an 
extensive dry goods establishment. 

August R. Schuster, a well-known and substantial farmer and stock- 
man of LaMine township, was born on that farm and has been a resident 
of LaMine township all his life. He was born on Sept. 23, 1883, a son of 
Moritz and Rachel (Hildebrant) Schuster, both of whom spent their last 
days on the farm here mentioned. 

Moritz Schuster was born in Germany in 1844 and was but five years 
of age when his parents came with their family to this country in 1849 
and came to Missouri, Boonville being their objective point. Not long 
after coming to this county the father of Moritz Schuster bought the 
farm in LaMine township now owned and occupied by his grandson, 
August, and in time had a very well developed place. Moritz Schuster 
grew to manhood there and was living there when the Civil War broke 
out. He enlisted and went to the front as a member of same company 
and regiment, that Charles Bell was with. He served until mustered out 
at the close of the war. He returned to the home farm and after his mar- 
riage established his home there and he and his wife spent the remainder 
of their days on that place. He died in March, 1915, less than one month 
after the death of his wife which occurred on Feb. 28. She was born 
in Virginia, March 18, 1845, and was a daughter of one of the pioneers of 
Cooper County. Moritz Schuster and wife were the parents of nine chil- 
dren, of whom the subject of this sketch was the eighth in order of birth 
and of wjiom seven are still living. 

August R. Schuster received his schooling in the district schools and 
has devoted himself to agricultural pursuits. He bought his first farm in 
1904, and after setting out trees and otherwise improving it, in 1910, sold 
it to his brother, Benjamin Schuster. He then bought the old home 
place and since taking possession of the same has made many improve- 
ments, crowning the same by the erection in the summer of 1919 of a 
handsome 10-room dwelling house of 'the modern bungalow type. Mr. 
Schuster has 318 acres of excellent land and in addition to his general 
farming giving considerable attention to the raising of live stock. He is 
a stockholder in the Boonville National Bank and Trust Company of Boon- 
ville. He is a republican and he and his family are members of the 
Christian Church. 

Dec. 23, 1903, August R. Schuster was married to Minne O'Neil, who 



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AUGUST R. SCHUSTER AND KAMII.Y 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 773 

also was born in LaMine township, a daughter of Ballard and Lillie 
(Rhoden) O'Neil, natives of Missouri, both of whom are now deceased, and 
to this union five children have been born, namely: Mabel, deceased; 
Agnes R, Virginia, Elnora and a son who died in infancy. 

Clarence Levi Eager, one of Cooper County's progressive young 
farmers and proprietor of a fine farm of 175 acres near Gooch's Mill in 
Saline township, is a member of one of the county's pioneer families, a 
great-grandson of the founder of Gooch's Mill. He was born at Gooch's 
Mill, Aug. 4, 1890, son of Charles L. and Rebecca (Shepherd) Eager, resi- 
dents of "Elmwood" farm in Saline township. Charles L. Eager is a son 
of Lewis and Cynthia A. (Gooch) Eager, the latter of whom was a 
daughter of William D. Gooch, a Virginia who founded Gooch's Mill and 
was succeded by his son-in-law, Lewis Eeager, also a Virginian. Rebecca 
Shepherd Eager is a daughter of Levi and Joanna (Campbell) Shepherd, 
former residents of Saline townships. 

Clarence L. Eager received his schooling in the old Liberty School in 
Saline township, in the Boonville High School and Kemper School, and 
upon completing his schooling began farming on his own account. In 
1914, not long after his marriage, he established his home on his present 
farm, the old Judge Hall place, in Saline township, and has since resided 
there. When Mr. Eager took possession of that place it was but slightly 
improved, and he has worked wonders in bringing it "out of the kinks;" 
included in the improvements he has made being the erection of a hand- 
some modern bungalow of seven rooms, a stock barn, 48x56, with metal 
roof and sides, and other essential outbuildings, and has secured an un- 
failing water supply from a well 230 feet deep. 

Clarence L. Eager was united in marriage in 1913 to Emma Louise 
Catherine Effinger, of this county, and to this union one child has been 
born, Hazel Louise. Mrs. Eager is a daughter of Henry and Louise Cath- 
erine (Brockman) Effinger, of Boonville township, and is a graduate of 
Cottey College at Nevada. Mr. and Mrs. Eager have a very pleasant 
home. Mr. Eager is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons 
at Prairie Home. 

O. M. & C. E. Hale, proprietors of the Prairie Home Garage, are two 
of the live young business men of this thriving town. 0. M. Hale con- 
ducted this business alone until Feb. 7, 1919, when he sold a half interest 
to his brother, C. E. This garage was established in 1911, having been 
built by Brooks & Fischer. It is a well equipped garage, 40x60 feet. 
The Hale Brothers do all kind of automobile repair work, and their repair 



774 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

department is equipped with special machinery for automobile work. They 
have the agency for the Mitchell cars and a sub-agency for the Maxwell, 
and are doing a very satisfactory business in their sales department. 

The Hale family is one of the pioneer families of this section of Mis- 
souri. 0. M. Hale, the senior member of the firm, was born Aug. 28, 1890, 
a son of T. F. and Sallie B. {Carey) Hale. T. F. Hale was born in Cooper 
County in 1851, a son of Meade Hale, a Missouri pioneer, who settled near 
Big Lick, Saline township, at a very early date. Sallie B. (Carey) Hale 
is a daughter of George Carey, a pioneer of Prairie Home township, who 
is now 80 years old. T. F. Hale and wife now reside at California, Mo. 
Their children are as follows George, deceased ; John, a farmer in Moni- 
teau County; 0. M., senior member of the Hale Brothers; Frank, resides 
on the home place in Prairie Home township; Charles E., junior member 
of the firm of Hale Brothers ; Isaac C, California, Mo. ; Allie, married R. 
L. Simmons, California, Mo.; Bertha, married Arthur Bottoms, Prairie 
Home; Edna, married Alvin Carpenter, Prairie Home township. 

O. M. Hale was married to Miss Lillie Klockner, of California, Mo. 
She is a daughter of Louis and Rosa (Moss) Klockner. The Klockner 
family were very early settlers in Cooper County. Louis Klockner"s 
father was reared in Boonville, Mo. Mrs. Hale was one of four children 
born to her parents, the others being as follows Dora, married Joseph 
Graff, Prairie Home; Clara, resides in Kansas City, Mo., and Louis 0. is 
a druggist in St. Louis, Mo. To Mr. and Mrs. 0. M. Hale have been 
born two children: Courtney and Kinneth. 

The Hale family is well known in Cooper and Moniteau Counties, and 
0. M. and C. E. Hale are two of the substantial business men of Prairie 
Home. 

Gilman W. Jewett, proprietor of "Sugar Tree Farm," in Saline town- 
ship, one of the substantial farmers of that neighborhood, was born at 
Jewett's Mill, in Clarks Fork township, Jan. 20, 1865, son of Samuel L. 
and Martha M. (Dorsey) Jewett, both of whom spent their last days in 
this county and are buried in Walnut Grove Cemetery. 

Samuel L. Jewett, who for many years was engaged in the milling 
business in this county, and whose old mill in the Clarks Fork neighbor- 
hood is still standing, was born near Waterloo, 111., in 1834. His father 
and mother both died when he was about five years of age, and he was 
cared for by William Cropper, with whom he came to Missouri in 1840, 
the family settling near the present town of Overton. There, Samuel L. 
Jewett grew up and received his early schooling. At the age of 17 he 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 775 

began working in Conner's mill, and was thus engaged for two years, 
when he entered college at Alton, 111., and after a course there left for 
Calfornia, going by way of the isthmus. That was about 1854 and he 
was absent for five or six years, mining and milling in California. He 
returned by way of Cape Horn and New York to Cooper County and 
bought Davis & Barker's mill in the vicinity of Clarks Fork and resumed 
the milling business. For five years he operated this mill and then sold it 
and in 1865 returned to Illinois and became engaged in farming in Madi- 
son County, that State, but shortly afterwards returned here, buying 
back his old mill, which by that time had come into the ownership of 
James Armstrong, and here spent the remainder of his life. He died in 
February, 1917, he then being 83 years of age. His wife died in May, 
1893. To Samuel L. Jewett and wife were born six children, as follows: 
Judge Benjamin D. Jewett, living on the home place at Clarks Fork, an 
ex-judge of the eastern district of Cooper County; Mrs. Walter B. Wind- 
sor, living near Clarks Fork ; Gilman W. ; Edward M., died at Boonville, 
Dec, 1918; Halbert A., Clarks Fork; and Theodore B., on the home place 
with Judge Jewett. 

Reared in Clarks Fork, Gilman Jewett received his early schooling in 
the local schools and the Pilot Grove School. In 1898, he bought a farm 
southeast of Bunceton with his brothers and a few months later estab- 
lished his home there. A few years later, however, he sold that place, 
and in March, 1903, bought from John Malone the farm on which he is 
now living, the old Hammond place in Saline township, and has since 
made that his home, developing there a fine piece of property, "Sugar 
Tree Farm." Since taking possession of "Sugar Tree Farm," Mr. Jewett 
has made numerous improvements, including the remodeling the fine old 
brick farm house which was erected there by Samuel Hammond in 1850 
with brick burned on the place, the building of two fine barns and a tile 
silo, two tenant houses and other buildings. Of the 443 acres in "Sugar 
Tree Farm" about half is bottom land, the remainder being what is known 
as "second bottom," and all is productive. The place is well watered, and 
200 acres of meadow land afford admirable faclities for extensive live- 
stock operations. There also is an excellent orchard on the place. 

March 22, 1899, G. W. Jewett was married to Myrtle A. Mills, of 
Clarks Fork township, and to this union two children have been bom, 
Samuel L., a student at Missouri State University, and who, during the 
World War was a member of the S. A. T. C. there, receiving his discharge 
in December, 1918, and Martha W., who was graduated from the Boon- 



776 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

ville High School with the class of 1919. Mrs. Jewett was born in Den- 
ver, Colo., Nov. 11, 1872, only child of J. T. and Leona (Maxwell) Mills, 
the latter of whom died at the age of 23 years, when her daughter was 
an infant. J. T. Mills was a native of this county, born in Clarks Fork 
township in 1845, and nearly all his life was spent on a farm there. He 
retired and moved to Kansas City, where he died at the age of 67. After 
the death of his first wife, J. T. Mills married Bettie L. Tucker, and to 
that union were born seven chlidem: J. Turril Mills, Boonville; Anna, 
wife of C. E. Conner, Boonville; William H. Mills, Kansas City; Pauline, 
wife of Lawrence Meyer, Boonville; Thomas W. Mills, who served in the 
United States Army in the World War as a member of the Hospital Corps 
at Camp Eustice, Va. ; Miss Gladys Mills, Kansas City; and Mrs. Helen 
Hale, Kansas City. Mr. Jewett is a member of the local lodge of the 
Woodmen of the World at Gooch's Mill. 

Benjamin E. Schuster, one of LaMine township's best known and 
most progressive young farmers and hog breeders and the proprietor of 
a well-improved farm in that township, was born in LaMine township 
and has lived there all his life. He was born Sept. 23, 1888, a son of 
Moritz and Rachel (Hildebrant) Schuster, further mention of whom is 
made in this volume. 

Benjamin E. Schuster received his schooling in the public schools of 
that neighborhood and high school at Marshall, Mo., where he was gradu- 
ated in the class of 1908. As a young man began to turn his attention 
to farming on his own account and soon became a landowner. In 1907 
he purchased the place that was owned by his father and after his mar- 
riage in the fall of 1908 established his home on the place known as "Silver- 
crest" farm and has since been residing there. Since taking possession 
of that farm Mr. Schuster has made extensive improvements on the place 
and now has one of the best farms in the neighborhood. He is the owner 
of 100 acres of excellent land and is doing well in general farming and 
hog raising. Mr. Schuster makes a specialty of breeding pure bred 
Poland China hogs and during the year disposes of 200 head or more for 
breeding purposes at prices considerably above the market price. He 
ranks among the successful breeders of pure blood Poland China hogs in 
the country and the product of his pens are shipped all over the United 
States. He holds two sales annually. His pens are well arranged and 
the place shows every evidence of modern methods. 

Nov. 18, 1908, Benjamin E. Schuster was united in marriage.to Ethel 
Davis, who also was born in LaMine township, daughter of Jasper A. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY • 777 

Davis and wife. Mr. Schuster is a member of the Christian Church and 
his wife is a Baptist. Mr. Schuster is a republican and is a stockholder 
in the Boonville National Bank and in the Citizens Trust Company of 
Boonville, as well as in the Bank of Blackwater at Blackwater. 

William Karm. station agent at Overton, for more than 23 years an 
employe of the Missouri Pacific, is a native of Indiana. He was born in 
Lawrenceburg, Ind., July 28, 1865, son of James C. and Teresa (Rudolph) 
Karm, who came to Cooper County more than 40 years ago, and whose 
last days were spent- near Chateau Springs. 

James C. Karm and his wife were natives of Germany, and after 
their marriage came to America, locating at Lawrenceburg, Ind., where 
Mr. Karm followed his profession as a school teacher. In 1877 they 
moved to Missouri and settled in the vicinity of Chateau Springs, where 
he opened a private school and became one of the influential factors in the 
educational and social development of that section. He and his wife died 
in 1882, the former in January of that year and the latter in July, and 
are buried in the Martinsville Cemetery. James C. Karm and wife were 
the parents of seven children: Mrs. Katie Ehlen, St. Louis; Mrs. Mary 
Martin, La Mine ; Mrs. Teresa Ludwig, Helena, Mont. ; Mrs. Annie Rogers, 
Helena; Josephine, Helena; William; and James C, who died at the age 
of 50 years at Redlands, Calif. 

In 1882, William Karm went to Helena, Mont., and was employed 
there until 1887. Upon his return he followed farming near Chateau 
Springs. March 1, 1896, he was appointed agent for the Missouri Pacific 
Railway Company at the station at La Mine and continued thus engaged 
there for nine years, when he was transferred to Overton, where he since 
has been located. During the more than 23 years he has been employed 
by the company he has lost but one week of time, which is a record of 
which any railroad man might be proud. Mr. Karm owns a comfortable 
home at Overton. He is a member of the Woodmen of the World at 
Gooch's Mill and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. 

July 28, 1892, William Karm was united in marriage at the Martins- 
ville Church near Chateau Springs, to Mary Ann Ryan, who was born in 
Missouri, and to this union four children have been born: Margaret, wife 
of Carl Fisher, Prairie Home ; John R., with the bridge department of the 
Missouri Pacific Railway Company; and William, Jr., and Henry R., at 
home. Mrs. Karm was born at Billingsville, Mo., daughter of Thomas 
and Mary Ryan, and was but two days old when her mother died. Her 
father, who was a soldier of the Union during the Civil War, was killed 



778 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

in service in 1865, and she was reared in the household of John McVay and 
wife at Chateau Springs. 

Arthur F. White, of the well known blacksmithing firm of White & 
Sells, is one of the progressive citizens of Prairie Home, Mo. He is a 
native son of Cooper County and was born in Clarks Fork township, July 
16, 1888. He is a son of Millard F. and Sarah (Darberry) White, who 
now reside in Prairie Home. The former is a native of Missouri and the 
latter of Arkansas. 

Arthur F. White is one of five children born to his parents, the others 
being as follows: Pearl, married Andy Shirley, Boonville; Maggie, mar- 
ried Elmer Shirley ; Ethel, married Dean Deuel, Sedalia ; and Walter, who 
served with the 89th Division during the World War. He was a member 
of Company L, 356th Infantry. He enlisted Sept. 5, 1917, and was trained 
at Camp Funston, and on June 16, 1918, was sent to France. He partici- 
pated in much of the severe fighting. He was at the front and through 
the battle of Argonne and other engagements, and with his division as 
a' part of the army of occupation in Germany. Arthur White was reared 
and educated in Cooper County, and learned the blacksmith trade with 
Frank Rodell. He has been engaged in blacksmithing at his present loca- 
tion in Prairie Home for five years. On Feb. 11, 1919, he formed a part- 
nership with Joseph Sells, and they are doing an extensive business. 
They have a well equipped shop for doing a general line of blacksmithing 
and woodwork. The place is furnished with power from a gas engine, 
by which their saws, disc sharpeners, emery wheels and other mechanical 
devices are operated. 

Mr. White was married Feb. 14, 1912, to Miss Esther Byler, a 
daughter of Robert and Nora Byler. To Mr. and Mrs. White have been 
born one son, Arthur Lewis, born Dec. 26, 1918. 

During the World War, Mr. White was in the U. S. Army about 60 
days. He went to Camp Funston, Sept. 19, 1918, and was discharged 
Nov. 20, 1918. He is a member of the Woodmen of the W 7 orld and the 
Royal Neighbors. He is an enterprising young man, and a Cooper County 
citizen worth while. 

Robert Kaempfer, now living retired at Prairie Home, is one of the 
best known men in the eastern part of the county. He was born on the 
old Kaempfer place, part of which he still owns, two miles east of Prairie 
Home, June 2, 1846, son of John Godfrey and Mary (Schiele) Kaempfer. 

John Godfrey Kaempfer was bora in Germany about the year 1813, 
and came to Cooper County about 1835. He was a blacksmith in the old 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 779 

country. Upon coming here, he settled in what then was known as Mid- 
way, bought a "40" from William Snodgrass established his home and set 
up on his place a blacksmith shop, the first in this part of the country. 
At that time, long before Prairie Home had found a place on the map, 
Midway was regarded as the half-way place between Jefferson City and 
Boonville, and was a stage stop and postoffice site, the postoffice being 
"kept" by Albert Tompkins at his home on the present site of the W. F. 
Carpenter residence a short distance southeast of Prairie Home. Albert 
Tompkins "entered" that place from the Government in 1833, and he and 
his wife and sister are buried there. John G. Kaempfer's home and 
blacksmith shop were about two miles from the Midway station, and this 
necessitated quite a walk for him when called on to shoe the stage horses 
at Midway, which he often was called on to do. He was the first smith 
in this part of the country to make a steel mold-board plow, and his ser- 
vices were in wide demand. Later, however, he gave more attention to 
farming, becoming a considerable land owner. His wife died in 1852, 
and he died October 7, 1887, and both are buried on the home farm. Of 
the children born to them two survive, Mr. Kaempfer having a sister, Mrs. 
Mary Schnuck, who makes her home with him at Prairie Home. Mrs. 
Schnuck is the widow of Henry Schnuck, Sr., one of the pioneers of Saline 
township, who came here with his parents when about 12 years of age, 
and died June 2, 1909. 

Robert Kaempfer received his schooling in the Hornbeck School, and 
among his teachers he recalls particularly Robert Carlos, who was a half- 
brother of Frank and Carter Carlos. 

Mr. Kaempfer has always lollowed farming, becoming a part owner 
of the home place, and there resided until his recent retirement and re- 
moval to Prairie Home, where he and his. wife now reside. March 1, 
1919, Mr. Kaempfer moved to town, buying there the William Byler prop- 
erty. Mr. Kaempfer still owns 156 acres of the old home place. Not 
long ago he sold to B. L. Morris a tract of something more than 52 acres. 
He is in a position to "take things easy" in the pleasant "evening time" 
of his life. Mr. Kaempfer is a member of the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows at Gooch's Mill. 

Sept. 10, 1873, Robert Kaempfer was united in marriage to Catherine 
Alice Graff, who was born in Indiana, a daughter of Joseph and Margaret 
Graff, old settlers of Saline township. Mr. and Mrs. Kaempfer have nine 
children, one son and eight daughters, and these daughters at the Prairie 
Home Fair in 1918 brought to their mother quite a unique distinction, 



780 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Mrs. Kaempfer having been awarded the premium for the largest family 
of girls reared in Cooper County. The only son, John Kaempfer, the 
fourth child in order of birth, married Anna Hertsick, and lives in Cedar 
County. He and his wife have two children, Homer and Mary Bernice. 
The daughters are as follows : Margaret, wife of William H. Kuhn, Prairie 
Home ; Mary, wife of Millard Pipkin, Russellville ; Emma, wife of William 
Oerly, Wooldridge; Elizabeth, wife of Jesse Byler, Moniteau County; 
Anna, wife of Walter Byler, same county ; Nora, wife of B. L. Morris, who 
owns a part of the old Kaempfer farm in Prairie Home township ; Louisa, 
wife of Otto Wallenmeier, Moniteau County, and Meta, wife of Clarence 
Hornbeck, Prairie Home township. Besides the two grandchildren, 
Homer and Mary Bernice Kaempfer, mentioned above, Mr. and Mrs. 
Kaempfer have 22 other grandchildren, namely: Lawrence, Herbert, 
Floyd, Elmer, Blanche and Alice Kuhn; Newell Pipkin; Lester, Curtis, 
Raymond, Oliver and Alvin Oerly ; Garland, Roger, Joseph, Charles, Ar- 
thur and Ruth Byler; Kenneth Hornbeck, and Gerine, Ruby and Fern 
Morris. 

Henry Louis Muntzel, one of LaMine township's best known and most 
progresive farmers and the owner of a well improved farm of 275 acres 
in that township is a native of Cooper County. He was born on a farm 
south of Boonville on Dec. 17, 1866, son of Christian and Lavinia (Meyer) 
Muntzel, the latter of whom, also a native of Cooper County, is living with 
the subject of this review. 

Both the Muntzels and the Meyers are of Hanoverian stock and among 
the pioneers of Missouri, settling first in St. Louis County and then com- 
ing to Cooper County. Peter Muntzel, the founder of the family in this 
state, was born in Hanover in 1799 and came to America in 1843, locat- 
ing on a farm in St. Louis County, where he remained until 1856, when he 
came to Cooper County. When the Civil War broke out he enlisted in 
the remainder of his life. He and his wife were the parents of four sons, 
Henry, Albert, Daniel and Christian. 

Christian Muntzel was born in 1840 and was but a child when his 
parents came to this country. He was 16 years of age when the family 
came to Cooper County. When the Civil War broke out he enlisted in 
the Union army and went to the front as a member of Company A 29th 
Missouri Volunteer Infantry, with which command he marched with Sher- 
man to the sea and was mustered out at the close of the war as one of 
the nine survivors of his company. He then returned to his home in 
Cooper County and Sept. 10, 1865, was united in marriage to Lavinia 
Meyer, who was born in this county on April 1, 1846. 




CHRISTIAN MUNTZEL AND WIPE, I.AVIMA 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 781 

Mrs. Lavinia Muntzel is a daughter of Henry and Anna (Baldwin) 
Meyer, Hanoverians, who came to this country shortly after their mar- 
riage and settled in Cooper County about 1840, where Henry Meyer bought 
320 acres of Congress land, he and his wife spending the remainder of 
their lives here. He and his wife were the parents of 10 children: Mary, 
Elizabeth, Katherine, Lavinia, Sophia, Louise, Annie, George, Henry and 
William. Following his marriage to Lavinia Meyer, Christian Muntzel 
settled on a farm south of Boonville and there spent the rest of his life. 
He died in 1886. His widow still owns the home place of 340 acres. 

To Christian and Lavinia (Meyer) Muntzel were born four children: 
Henry L., Matilda, Ida and George, all of whom are still living. Matilda 
Muntzel was born in 1869 and completed her schooling in the Pilot Grove 
High School. In 1893, she was married to C. H. Phillips, and now resides 
in Kansas City, where Mr Phillips is cashier in the city water department. 
Mr. and Mrs. Phillips have two children, Charles, who is now (spring of 
1919) still in France, a member of Base Hospital Unit No. 28, which was 
called on for much active service during the pi*ogress of Amercia's partici- 
pation in the World War, and Frances, a senior in the Central High School. 
Ida Muntzel was born in 1873 and completed her schooling in Missouri 
Valley School at Marshall. In 1899, she married Dr. W. H. Gentry, phy- 
sician, of Carthage, Mo., who in 1918 was called to the colors in the World 
War, was commissioned captain and stationed at Camp Taylor, Louis- 
ville, Ky., and now lives at Carthage, Mo. George Muntzel was born in 
1876 and completed his schooling at the Haynes School in Boonville and 
in the Gem City Business College, Quincy, 111. In 1901, he married Fannie 
McNulty, and made his home on a farm south of Boonville. They have 
three children. Frances, Wilbur and Charles, who are now attendim; 
high school at Boonville. 

Henry L. Muntzel was reared on the home farm south of Boonville. 
Upon completing the course in the Pilot Grove High School, he took a 
supplemental course in the International Business College at St. Louis, 
from which he was graduated in 1886. He then farmed on his own ac- 
count on the home place until in 1895, when he bought his present farm 
east of Blackwater, and has since resided here. Mr. Muntzel carries on 
general farming and gives considerable attention to raising hogs. His 
farm of 275 acres is well improved. 

Dec. 23, 1893, Henry L. Muntzel was married to Margaret Rudolph, 
who was born in this county. Dec. 20, 1868, and who died on Aug. 27, 
1904. Mrs. Margaret Muntzel was a daughter of George and Anna (Bow- 
man) Rudolph, Virginians, who settled in Cooper County before the Civil 



782 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

War, and the former of whom is residing seven miles south of Boonville. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Muntzel were born three children: George, born in 1894, 
attended Central College at Fayette, and who died in 1916; Robert, born 
in 1896, also attended Central College, and died in 1915, and James, who 
was born in 1900, is now attending Boonville High School. Mr. Muntzel 
is a member of the Baptist Church, and is a republican, and for a number 
of years served as committeeman from his precinct. 

Henry W. Oerly, postmaster and general merchant at Overton, and 
one of the influential citizens of that section of Cooper County, postmaster 
at Overton for nearly 15 years, was born in this county, April 7, 1882, son 
of Samuel and Mary A. (Schunck) Oerly. He received his schooling in 
the Highland Schools in Saline township, and continued making his home 
on the home farm until his appointment to the office of postmaster at 
Overton in August, 1905,and has since held that office. When he took 
charge of the postoffice Mr. Oerly started in connection with the same a 
local jewelry shop and watchmaking establishment and maintained that 
business until in June, 1916, when he opened a grocery store and moved 
the postoffice into the building he erected at that time, and has since been 
engaged in the grocery business in addition to looking after the affairs 
of the postoffice. Starting his grocery with a $450 stock, Mr. Oerly has 
increased his business until he now has a well stocked and well equipped 
store, carrying a full line of goods required in the general trade of the 
community. In October, 1915, he bought the T. L. Tucker residence at 
Overton and he and his family have since resided there. Besides this 
property and his store building Mr. Oerly is the owner of six half-acre 
lots at Overton and one smaller lot. 

June 16, 1908, the twenty-seventh anniversary of the marriage of 
his parents, H. W. Oerly was married to Sara Martha Grannemann, who 
was born at Morrison, Mo., and to this union one child has been born, 
Laura Marie. Mrs. Oerly was born on July 9, 1887, a daughter of Louis 
and Minnie (Noltensmeyer) Grannemann, both natives of Missouri, now 
deceased. They are buried at Wainwright. Mr. and Mrs. Oerly are 
members of the Evangelical Church at Boonville. Mr. Oerly is one of the 
leading factors in the business life of his home town. 

W. H. H. Rowles, a prominent farmer of Kelly township, is a descend- 
ant of early pioneers of Cooper County, both on his father's and mother's 
sides. He was born May 29, 1841, and is a son of Reuben and Margaret 
(Stephens) Rowles. Reuben Rowles was born near Baltimore, Md., in 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 783 

1814, and came to Cooper County, Mo., in 1835. Margaret Stephens was 
born in Cooper County and was a daughter of Joseph Stephens, one of 
the very first settlers of Cooper County. Reuben and Margaret 
(Stephens) Rowles were married in Cooper County in 1840, and spent 
their lives in this county. He died at Bunceton in 1900 and his wife de- 
parted this life at Bunceton in 1905. They were the parents of the fol- 
lowing children: W. H. H., the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Catherine 
Stephens, Tipton, Mo. ; Alpha Marge, deceased ; Mrs. Sallie Barber, de- 
ceased; Joseph died in Oklahoma; Reuben on the home place, Kelly town- 
ship; John on the home place, Kelly township; Charles Ochiltree, Texas, 
and Mrs. Maggie Carpenter. 

William H. H. Rowles was reared in Cooper County and attended such 
schools as were in the neighborhood when he was a boy. His first school 
was held in a log building in the Davis school district and was taught by 
his uncle, John D. Stephens. Later he attended school at the Dublin dis- 
trict, north of Bunceton, and recalls among early teachers, Mary Chilton, 
Thomas Bridges, Mr. Hogue, Benjamin Hickman and Mrs. Smoot. He 
also attended school at the Hopewell Church school, which was taught by 
Jack Stephens and B. R. Cully. Mr. Rowles has always lived in Cooper 
County, except three years spent in California and 18 months in Texas. 
He bought his present home in 1873. This farm was entered from the 
Government in 1819 by Joseph Stephens, grandfather of Mr. Rowles. 
The home place consists of 147 ] /i acres and Mr. Rowles owns two other 
farms, one of 80 acres and one 240. The home place is well improved, 
with a neat six room residence and good substantial barns and other 
buildings. Mr. Rowles carries on general farming and stock raising. 

Dec. 26. 1871, W. H. H. Rowles was united in marriage with Miss 
Perlina J. Arnold, a daughter of James S. and Malvina (Lahue) Arnold, 
both natives of Indiana. They went from thoir native state to Iowa in 
early life, and in 1864 came to Missouri. The father was born in 1823 
and died in Benton County, Texas, in 1887. His wife was born in 1824 
and died in Oklahoma in 1896. They went to Texas in 1872. They were 
the parents of the following children: Perlina J., the wife of W. H. H. 
Rowles ; Mrs. Mary Miller, Denton, Texas ; Willard, Dallas, Texas ; George 
resides in Colorado; Mrs. Dorcas Stephens, deceased; Mrs. Lola Morgan, 
deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Rowles have been born two children: A. D. 
married Alta Yarnell and lives three miles west of Vermont Station, and 
James R. lives near Hopewell Church. He married Pauline Walge. There 



784 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

are 12 grandchildren in the Rowles family, each of the sons having six 
children. 

Mr. and Mrs. Rowles are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian 
Church and the Rowles family are prominent in the community. 

Samuel Y. Thornton, president of the Farmers Stock Bank of Black- 
water, and one of the best known stockmen in Cooper County, proprietor 
of the great "Rose Hill" Stock Farm in LaMine township, and recognized 
throughout the country as the most extensive breeder of Duroc Jersey 
hogs west of the Mississippi, is a native of Ohio, but has been a resident 
6f this State since the days of his boyhood, and therefore regards him- 
self as a Missourian "to the core." He was born in Clermont County, 
Ohio, Dec. 23, 1851, son of Dr. Samuel Y. and Frances (Clarke) Thorn- 
ton, the latter of whom also was born in that county and both of whom 
spent their last days in Missouri. 

Dr. Samuel Y. Thornton was born in Maryland in 1807, and early 
turned his attention to the study of medicine. He began the practice of 
his profession at Batavia, Clermont County, Ohio, about 1832, and later 
practiced at Bethel, Ohio, where he remained until 1857, in which year he 
came to Missouri with his family and located near Jefferson City, where 
he began farming on 1,000 acres 12 miles south of that city on the Osage 
River, where he died in 1877. On this big farm there was a tract of 300 
acres of "bottom" timber land, which he cleared and brought under cul- 
tivation. Doctor Thornton's wife died in 1868. She was born in 1809. 
They were the parents ,of eight children, of whom but two survive, the 
subject of this sketch — the last in order of birth — having a sister, Mrs. 
Lida McMillan, residing at Jefferson City. One of the sons of Amos B. 
Thornton, who died in 1880, is well remembered in Cooper County as a 
newspaper editor at Boonville, and further reference to him is made in 
the chapter relating to the press of Cooper County elsewhere in this work. 

The younger Samuel Y. Thornton was but five years of age when he 
came to Missouri with his parents, and he grew to manhood on his father's 
big farm on the Osage, where he became thoroughly familiar with the 
details of farming operations, and early began to pay particular attention 
to stock raising. He supplemented the schooling received in the local 
schools by a course in Westminster College at Fulton and at Missouri 
State University at Columbia, and after leaving college returned to the 
farm and became engaged as a partner of his father in the operations of 
the home place. In 1887. about five years after his marriage, Mr. Thorn- 
ton bought "Rose Hill." his present fine stock farm of 540 acres in 
LaMine township, and has since made his home there. For years on that 





^tM^T^ 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 785 

place he gave much attention to apple growing, having a fine orchard of 
80 acres, maintained his own cooperage, and in 1906 raised 10,000 barrels 
of apples. Of late years, however, Mr. Thornton has devoted his place 
particularly to the breeding of Duroc Jersey swine and the raising of cat- 
tle and grade sheep. It was in the latter '80s that he began to give his 
particular attention to the breeding of Durocs, and it was not long until 
his success in that line gave his name a high standing among swine 
breeders throughout the country, the demand for stock swine of the 
"Rose Hill" herd coming from widely separated districts in the United 
States. He has for years taken an active part in the deliberations of the 
Swine Breeders Association, and has been an extensive writer for stock 
journals, his advice on matters relating to proper breeding of swine being 
widely sought. The operations on "Rose Hill" farm are carried on in 
accordance with modern principles of agriculture, and there has been 
created one of the best farm plants in this section of the State, including 
three tenant houses, two silos and three feed barns. Of late Mr. Thorn- 
ton has been relieved of much of the detail of farm management by his 
younger son, John P. Thornton, whom he made his partner some time 
ago, and who now is in practical management of the place, thus giving 
his father more time for the details of other forms of business in which 
he is engaged. In 1897, Mr. Thornton became a stockholder in the Farm- 
ers Stock Bank of Blackwater, and in 1909 was elected president of the 
bank, a position which he since 1 has maintained. In 1910, Mr. Thornton 
was appointed by Governor Hadley to serve as a member of the Sixth Mis- 
souri District Board of Horticulture, and he retained that position as long 
as the board continued, his activities in that connection giving him a wide 
acquaintance throughout the State. Mr. Thornton is a democrat and has 
long given his earnest attention to local civic affairs, but has not been a 
seeker after public office. He is a member of the Church of Christ. 

May 4, 1882, Samuel Y. Thornton was united in marriage with Fan- 
nie Collins, who died Oct. 24, 1916. Mrs. Thornton was born in Mont- 
gomery County, Ky., March 1, 1855, daughter of Samuel R. and Sarah 
(Tipton) Collins, both natives of Kentucky, who came to Missouri in 1860, 
and in 1861 settled on the farm in LaMine township, now owned by Mr. 
Thorton, where they spent the rest of their lives. It was thus that Mrs. 
Thornton (Fannie Collins) grew to womanhood on beautiful "Rose Hill" 
farm. She completed her schooling in Farringer Seminary at Boonville. 
where she was awarded the prize offered her class for excellence in pen- 
manship. To Mr. and Mrs. Thornton six children were born, namely : 



786 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Mattie C, who is at home, hostess at "Rose Hill" ; Sadie B., deceased ; 
Samuel C, a substantial young farmer of LaMine township; William B., 
who died at the age of three years and six months ; Lida Frances, who is 
at home, and John P., who, is also at home and is now his father's partner 
in the operations of the stock farm. 

Charles Henry Bodamer, a leading citizen of Prairie Home township, 
was born in Moniteau County, Feb. 2, 1870. He was reared by Charles 
and William Bodamer from the time he was five years of age. He is a 
son of Bernard and Catherine (Hens) Keucherer, who both died when 
Charles H. was an infant. 

Charles Bodamer was born in Germany and brought to this country 
by his parents, who settled in Philadelphia, Pa., when Charles was three 
years of age. His brother, William B., and sister, Mary, were born in that 
city. The family lived in Philadelphia for a time when they removed to 
Indiana. After remaining there seven years they came to Missouri and 
settled in Moniteau County in 1857. Here the two brothers and a sister 
lived together during the remainder of their days. Charles died in 1912 ; 
William in 1919, and Mary in 1905. 

Charles Henry Bodamer was educated in the public schools at James- 
town, Mo., and has made farming and stock raising his life occupation. He 
first bought 120 acres of land, which is his present home place, in 1893. 
Since that time he has acquired 250 acres more, which was given him by 
Charles and William Bodamer. Mr. Bodamer's place is known as "High 
View Farm," and is located two miles south of Prairie Home. The place is 
well improved, with a modern farm residence of 10 rooms, built in 1910. 
The house is equipped with actylene lights, furnace heat and a hot water 
system. The barns and other farm buildings are in keeping with the resi- 
dence. For a number of years Mr. Bodamer specialized in raising Aberdeen 
Angus cattle, but a few years ago sold his herd to his son, Arthur. 

Mr. Bodamer was married April 3, 1895, to Miss Elizabeth Kuhn. a 
daughter of Henry and Amelia (Scholle) Kuhn, early settlers at James- 
town, Mo. The father was a native of Ohio, born in 1835. He served in the 
Union Army during the Civil War. During his active career he was en- 
gaged in the milling business, and operated a mill at Jamestown for 25 
years. He is now 83 years of age. His wife was born in Germany in 
1845, and came to America with her parents when she was eight years of 
age. Mr. and Mrs. Kuhn were the parents of the following children: Alvina, 
married H. R. Burroughs, and resides at Kingman, Kan.; Henry, cashier 
of Farmers and Traders Bank, California, Mo.; Emma, married John 
Reuszer, and resides in Moniteau County; Elizabeth, the wife of Charles 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 787 

H. Bodamer, the subject of this sketch ; Sophia, married Fred Knorp ; and 
William died at the age of 23 years. To Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Bodamer 
have been born five children, as follows: Arthur, born April 6, 1896, a 
farmer and stockman of Prairie Home township ; Carl, born June 26, 1897, 
resides at home ; William, born May 12, 1899, a graduate of the California 
High School, resides at home; Marie E., born April 28, 1914, and Elsia 
Gertrude, born Feb. 18, 1911. William was at the Washington University 
Training School at St. Louis, Mo., when the war closed. 

Charles H. Bodamer is a progressive and public spirited citizen. He , 
and Mrs. Bodamer are members of the Methodist Church at Jamestown. 
Frank Irving Hale, a progressive and enterprising young farmer and 
stockman, of Prairie Home township, was born near Gooch Mill in Saline 
township, March 10, 1896. He is the son of Thomas F. and Sallie Bell 
(Carey) Hale, both also natives of Saline township. They now reside at 
California, Mo. Thomas F. Hale was born in 1857, his father being a 
pioneer of Cooper County. His wife was a daughter of George Carey, who 
now resides about a mile north of Prairie Home at the advanced age of 80 
years. To Thomas F. and Sallie Bell (Carey) Hale were born the follow- 
ing children: Allie, married Richard Summers, California, Mo.; Bertha, 
married Arthur Bottom ; John, resides in California, Mo. ; Oliver M., Prairie 
Home ; Edna, married Alvin Carpenter ; Frank I., the subject of this sketch ; 
Charles, Prairie Home; William, California, Mo.; and George, died at the 
age of six years. 

Frank Irving Hale was reared in Cooper County and educated in the 
public schools. He was reared on a farm and has made farming and 
stock raising his life occupation. He purchased his present place, which 
bears the very appropriate name of "Pretty Prairie Farm," from his father 
in 1919. The farm consists of 160 acres with a good farm residence and 
other improvements to correspond. Mr. Hale carries on general farming 
and stock raising, and is meeting with well merited success. Mrs. Hale 
has developed a department of her own. She is successfully engaged in 
raising Rhode Island Red chickens. 

Sept. 29, 1917, Frank Irving Hale was married to Miss Estella Brandes, 
a daughter of Theodore and Marie (Knorp) Brandes, of Clarks Fork town- 
ship, where Mrs. Hale was born, reared and educated. Mrs. Hale was one 
of the following children born to her parents: George, resides in Boon- 
ville; Herman, Boonville; Amelia, married John Banon, of North Moniteau 
township; Nora, married John Bonhauser, who is now deceased, and she 
resides at home with her parents; Estella, the wife of Frank I. Hale, of 
this sketch. 



788 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

July 26, 1918, Frank Irving Hale enlisted in the U. S. Army and was 
sent to Camp Funston, Kan., for training, where he became a member of 
the 69th Infantry, 10th Division. He was mustered out of service Feb. 26, 
1919, when he returned to his home in Cooper County and engaged in 
farming again. 

Amos Gorrell, a retired farmer of LaMine township, for many years 
justice of the peace, and a veteran of the Civil War, has made his home 
in this county for more than 50 years. He is a native of Pennsylvania, 
born in Beaver County, Feb. 12, 1837, son of Amos and Leah (Wollarn) 
Gorrell, who were the parents of six children, four of whom are living. 
When he was but six years of age, in 1843, his parents moved with their 
family to Ohio and settled in Ross County, where they spent the re- 
mainder of their lives. 

Amos Gorrell was reared on a farm in Ross County, Ohio, and his 
schooling was received in the district schools. When the Civil War broke 
out, he enlisted at Frankfort, Ohio, in July, 1861, in the Union Army and 
went to the front as a private in Company A, Eighteenth Ohio Volunteer 
Infantry. With that command, Mr. Gorrell participated in some of the 
most important engagements of the war, including Athens, Perryville, 
Stone River, Davis Cross Roads and Chickamaugua. During this latter 
battle, Sept. 19, 1863, he was shot in the right arm and for some time 
was on the invalid list, but early in 1864 was able to return to his regi- 
ment and continued in active service until mustered out in the fall of that 
year. Mr. Gorrell then returned to his home in Ohio, where early in 1866 
he married. After his marriage he continued to make his home in Ohio 
for a few months, when he and his wife came to Missouri in the summer 
of 1866 and located in Morgan County. A year later they came to Cooper 
County, and here Mr. Gorrell has ever since resided. His first employ- 
ment here was in the timber, chopping cord-wood, and he continued work- 
ing as a timberman until 1869, when he bought 40 acres of timber land 
and proceeded to clear a small farm for himself. He cleared the land and 
farmed it for several years, when he sold the place to advantage and 
bought another farm. In 1881, he bought the farm of 80 acres he now 
owns in LaMine township, and there continued to make his home until 
his retirement in 1912, when he removed to Blackwater, where he since 
has made his home. Mr. Gorrell is a democrat, and for 16 years during 
the time of his residence on the farm served as justice of the peace for 
his home township. He is a member of the Methodist Church. 

Feb. 6, 1866, in Ross County, Ohio, Amos Gorrell was united in mar- 
riage to Catherine E. Sayer, who was bora in that county, Feb. 18, 1835, 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 789 

and who died at her home in Blackwater on Sept. 22, 1918. To that union 
were born six children, namely : Leula, wife of William E. McMahan ; 
Sarah L., wife of P. Netherton, living on the Gorrell home place in LaMine 
township; Joseph N., of Carthage; Ada, wife of John Whitlow, of LaMine 
township; one who died in infancy, and Arthur, also deceased. 

M: K. Gentry, a prominent citizen of Cooper County, who has served 
as county treasurer for two terms, is a native of Kentucky. He was 
bom in Clark County, Ky., Sept. 27, 1855, and is a son of Nelson B. and 
Francis (Elkin) Gentry. Nelson B. Gentry was born in Madison County, 
Ky., Dec. 23, 1823, and died in Kelly township, Cooper County, in 1912. 
He came to Cooper County in the fall of 1865 with his family, and the 
following spring bought 380 acres of land in Kelly township for which he 
paid $7,500.00, 95 acres of which is now owned by M. K. Gentry, pur- 
chased of the other Gentry heirs in 1919. Francis (Elkin) Gentry was 
born in Jessamine County, Ky., Sept. 12, 1833, and died in Cooper County, 
in 1897. She and her husband are buried in the Masonic cemetery at 
Bunceton. They were the parents of the following children, all of whom 
were born in Kentucky : M. K., the subject of this sketch ; Pauline B., 
deceased ; Lucy Francis, married J. H. Goodwin, Kansas City, Mo. ; W. D., 
deceased, and Orpha P., Kansas City. 

M. K. Gentry was educated in the public schools of Kentucky, and 
D. S. Cully's private academy, which was three miles northwest of the 
present town of Bunceton. After Bunceton was laid out this school was 
moved there and occupied the site of the present Bunceton High School. 
Mr. Gentry was reared to manhood on the home farm in Kelly township, 
and in 1880 removed to Boonville, and for a time was engaged in the grain 
business. In 1884 he was elected county treasurer on the Republican 
ticket by a majority of 48 votes. He was the first republican ever elected 
to a county office in Cooper County. He was again elected county treas- 
urer in 1894. He resided in Boonville from 1880 to 1898, and during 
that time he served as bookkeeper in the Central National Bank for six 
years, and for eight years he was engaged in the clothing business. Dur- 
ing the balance of the time, while in Boonville, he served as county treas- 
urer. Mr. Gentry is now engaged in farming and stock raising, and has 
a well improved and valuable farm in Kelly township. 

Mr. Gentry was married in 1886 to Miss Emily F. Haynes, a daughter 
of Anthonv and Mary (Montgomery) Haynes, both of whom are now 
deceased. The father was a prominent educator, and for many years 
was a professor in the Young Ladies Seminary at Boonville. Mr. and 
Mrs. Gentry have an adopted daughter, Catherine Sneed Gentry, who is 



790 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

now the wife of Charles A. Clark, of Chicago, 111. She has one son, 
Charles T. 

Mr. Gentry is a member of the Masonic Lodge and the Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows. He and Mrs. Gentry are members of the Presby- 
terian Church, and rank among Cooper County's leading citizens. 

Frederick Charles Betteridge, the capable cashier of the Cooper 
County Bank, Bunceton, Mo., is a native of Canada. He was born at 
Guelph, Ont., Oct. 10, 1870, a son of George and Ann Maria (Jones) Bet- 
teridge. The parents were both natives of England, where they were 
married, and about 1860 went to Canada, settling at Guelph. In 1874 
the family removed to Connecticut and settled near Woodstock. In 1877 
they went to Illinois and lived at Greenville about 10 years, and in 1888 
came to Missouri and settled in Cooper County near Bunceton. The 
father now resides at Bunceton at the age of 85 years, the mother having 
died in 1899. They were the parents of the following children: William 
A., a well known breeder of Shorthorn cattle at Pleasant Green, Mo.; 
G. A., a farmer and stockman in Kelly township; Mrs. A. L. Palmer, 
Lebanon township, and Frederick Charles. 

Frederick C. Betteridge was educated in the public schools and Ken- 
tucky University at Lexington, Ky., where he was graduated from the 
business department of that institution. He taught school for 11 years 
in Cooper County, and was very successful as an educator. In 1903, Mr. 
Betteridge accepted the position of assistant cashier of the Cooper County 
Bank, and after 11 years of service with that institution he became cash- 
ier, a position which he has since held. Mr. Betteridge has been identified 
with the Cooper County Bank for over 16 years, and during that time 
this institution has developed rapidly and kept pace with the commercial 
and financial requirements of the progressive town and surrounding coun- 
try. The deposits of this bank in 1903 were about $80,000.00, and today 
they are about $300,000.00. The original surplus was $2,000.00, and it 
is now $42,000.00. The capital stock is $20,000.00. 

Frederick Charles Betteridge was united in marriage Aug. 14, 1900, 
to Miss Lillian May Baughman, a daughter of Samuel P. and Laura Baugh- 
man, natives of Kentucky. The father died in 1919, aged 81, and the 
mother now resides with Mrs. Betteridge in Bunceton. 

Mr. Betteridge owns a fine farm of 145 acres in Kelly township, 
which he bought in 1899. He directs the operation of this farm per- 
sonally, and has made a success of farming and stock raising, as well as 
banking. He is a careful student of the complicated problem of banking 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 791 

and financing, which, together with years of experience in this field, well 
qualify him for the responsible position which he holds. He is a member 
of the Knights of Pythias, and has an extensive acquaintance over Cooper 
County and an intimate knowledge of it's business affairs. 

Benjamin Harned, a prosperous farmer and stockman of Kelly town- 
ship, is a descendant of a pioneer family. He was born at Price's Land- 
ing, Scott County, Mo., March 25, 1859, and is a son of George and Marcia 
(Pash) Harned, both natives of Nelson County, Ky. They settled in 
Scott County about 1855, and 10 years later came to Cooper County and 
settled on the farm which is now owned by W. P. Harned, and here spent 
the remainder of their lives. George Harned was one of the earliest 
Shorthorn breeders of Cooper County and prior to his death he sold a part 
of his herd to his son. W. P. Harned, who still continues the business. Lee 
Harned, a brother of George Harned, was a Confederate soldier in the 
Civil War, and was killed at the battle of Shiloh. Another brother, Atkin 
Lee Harned, lost an arm in the battle of Baton Rouge, La., while in the 
Confederate service. George and Marcia (Pash) Harned, were the par- 
ents of the following children: W. P. lives near Vermont Station; Ben- 
jamin, the subject of this sketch; Edwin Price, Bunceton ; Hulda, mar- 
ried Walter Williams, and died at Columbia, Mo., and Atkins, died in 
infancy. 

Benjamin Harned was educated in the public schools at Franklin and 
in Professor Cully's school at Bunceton. He has followed farming and 
stock raising all his life, and has met with very satisfactory success. He 
moved to his present farm in April, 1902. His home farm consists of 247 
acres and is known as "Walnut Rows Farm". This very appropriate name 
is given the place on account of two rows of walnut trees which stood 
along the road side at the place. Mr. Harned owns in all 563 acres and Is 
one of the prosperous farmers and stock raisers of Cooper County. His 
other farm of 320 acres is called "Tanglewild". 

Jan. 10, 1888, Benjamin Harned was married to Miss Bettie Brad- 
ley, a daughter of R. L. and Marian (Clark* Bradley. The tormer a 
native of Page County, Va., and the latter of Frankfort. Ky. R. L. Brad- 
ley came to Cooper County in 1847 and settled on a farm 4 miles west of 
Bunceton. He spent the remainder of his life in this county and died in 
1892, age 67 years. His wife died in 1908, age 78 years. They were the 
parents of the following children: Frank Slaughter, born Nov. 17, 1856, 
and died Sept. 13, 1881; John Williams died in infancy; Margaret Lee, 
died in infancy; Tompkins, born Jan. 13, 1859, lives in Camden County, 



792 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Mo.; Mary McPherson, born Feb. 24, 1865, and died June 30, 1895; Sue 
Clark, born Feb. 24, 1869, and resides at Boonville, Mo.; Bettie, the wife 
of Benjamin Harned, the subject of this sketch, born June 23, 1867. All 
of the above named children were born in Kelly township, Cooper County. 
Mrs. Harned was educated in the public schools of Kelly township and the 
Baptist Female College at Columbia, Mo. 

To Benjamin Harned and wife have been born the following children: 
George, at home with his parents ; Bettie married R. L. Harriman, Bunce- 
ton; Clara Virginia, married Clyde T. Nelson; Benjamin, Jr., married 
Eunice Jones; Josephine, Hulda, Atkin Lee, Porter Allen, Myrtle Jewett, 
and Marian and Marcia, twins, all residing at home with their parents. 
There is one grandchild in the family, Bettie Lee Harned, daughter of 
Benjamin Harned, Jr. 

The Harned family is well known and highly respected in Cooper 
County and Benjamin Harned is a public spirited and enterprising citizen. 

Adam Schuster, one of LaMine township's most substantial farmers 
and land-owners, and a member of the board of directors of the Farmers 
Stock Bank of Blackwater, was born in this county in 1855. He is next 
to the youngest of the six children born to Frank and Terrica (Cleatta) 
Schuster, pioneers of Cooper County. 

Frank Schuster was a weaver by trade in his native Germany, and 
early became imbued with a desire, like thousands of his fellow countrymen, 
to come to America to find a home amid the free conditions of the unsettled 
West. Weaving by night and farming by day, he saved enough money 
to bring himself and wife and their small children here. Upon his arrival 
in this country, he settled in St. Louis, and after a couple of years there 
joined the German colony in Cooper County and bought a farm of tim- 
bered land in LaMine township, and there built a home. Among the 
children born to him and his wife after their arrival in this country was 
Adam, the subject of this sketch. The other children of this pioneer 
couple were as follows: Moritz, deceased, further mention of whom is 
made in this volume; Mrs. Sophia Sandrock, deceased; Joseph, a shoe- 
maker at Boonville; William, deceased; and Anna, who married Joseph 
Esser, and is now deceased. The mother of these children died at her 
home in LaMine township about 1861, and five or six years later Frank 
Schuster returned to Germany and there married a second time, return- 
ing to his home in Cooper County with his second wife. Some years 
later he made a second trip back to Germany on a visit to kinsfolk. Not 
long after his return home, about 1870, a wagon in which he was riding 




ME AND MRS ADAM SCHUSTBH 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 793 

was caught at a railway crossing by a train and he received injuries from 
which he died not long afterward, he then being about 65 years of age. 

Adam Schuster was about 15 years of age when his father died, and 
he thus early was thrown pretty largely upon his own resources. He 
began working as a farm hand at $14 dollars a month, but continued his 
schooling, however, during the winter months. When 17 years of age he 
began working for Adam Eckert at the butcher trade, and was thus em- 
ployed for three years, when he went to St. Louis to work, and while there 
witnessed the completion of the first bridge constructed across the Mis- 
sissippi River. He worked as a butcher in St. Louis for two years, and 
then went to Virginia City, Nev., where he worked at butchering for two 
years, when he returned to his old home in this county and resumed his 
work as a farm hand. In 1880, he rented the farm on which he now lives, 
and in 1882 bought the same. Mr. Schuster has 464 acres in his home 
farm, and owns beside a farm of 86 acres near Pilot Grove. He is a mem- 
ber of the board of directors of the Farmers Stock Bank at Blackwater, 
which he helped to organize, and of which he has been a director since 
its organization ; he also is a stockholder in the Arrow Rock Bank. When 
he bought his present farm it was raw prairie, and all the improvements 
on the place have thus been made by himself. He recalls well that in his 
father's day the farming was done by oxen, and the wheat was reaped 
with scythes. Many a day, he recalls, has he plowed corn with oxen. One 
year his father had 17 acres in wheat which made 1,700 bushels. This 
wheat was hauled in barrels to the mouth of the LaMine River, whence 
it was taken by steamboats to St. Louis, where it sold on the market at 
$2.25 a bushel. In those days, wild hogs, turkeys and other wild game 
were plentiful in the LaMine regions,, and the settlers had no trouble in 
keeping their tables supplied with meat. Hogs roamed the timber at will 
and without apparent ownership, and the man who found one could law- 
fully call it his own. 

Sept. 9. 1883, Adam Schuster was married to Lowell Cramar, who 
was born on a farm a mile east of where she now lives, April 17, 1865, 
daughter of Gabriel Allen and Nancy (Hemdon) Cramar, the former of 
whom was born in this county, a member of one of the pioneer families, 
and the latter in Madison Countv. Kv. No children have been born to this 
union, but Mr. and Mrs. Schuster have reared several nieces and nephew^. 
Mr. Schuster is a republican, though, as he says, "not much on politics." 
and he and his wife are members of the Christian Church. 



794 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Joseph Sells, one of the enterprising business men of Prairie Home, 
and a member of the blacksmithing firm of White & Sells, is a native of 
Missouri. He was born in Moniteau County, Dec. 20, 1887, a son of 
William H. Sells. William H. Sells was a Union veteran of the Civil 
War, and a native of Iowa. He enlisted in his native State and served 
18 months. After the war he went to Kansas, and from there to Moni- 
teau County, Mo., and later removed to Texas County, Mo., where he died 
in 1913. His widow now resides in that county. They were the parents 
of the following children: Alice, married Joseph Chandler and lives in 
Oklahoma ; Dasie, married William Wood, California, Mo. ; Ed., resides 
at Lupus, Mo. ; Guinn, deceased ; Sarah, married Philip Wittenberger, 
Jamestown, Mo. ; George, Texas County ; Pink, Texas County ; Joseph, the 
subject of this sketch ; Willie, married Ed. Mayberry, Texas County ; and 
Vernon resides in Texas County. 

Joseph Sells was united in marriage in 1913 to Ida Martin, a daughter 
of Menro and Eliza (Murl) Martin. The father died in 1908 and his 
remains are buried in Bethel Cemetery in Moniteau County, and the 
mother now resides at Lupus. They were the parents of the following 
children: Clara, married Ambrose Coots, Jamestown; Douglas, resides at 
Lupus ; Mary ; Nathan, Lupus ; Job, now serving in U. S. Army in France, 
having enlisted in California ; Ida, the wife of Joseph Sells ; Cora, mar- 
ried Harry Childers, Lupus. To Mr. and Mrs. Sells have been born two 
children: Mildred and Francis. Mr. Sells became a member of the firm 
of White & Sells in 1919. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of 
America at Jamestown, and he also belongs to the Yeomen at that place. 
He is a young man of industry and integrity and is making good in his 
chosen line of industry. 

David R. Cully, who during his active professional career, was one 
of the prominent educators of this state, is a native of Ohio. He was 
born in Wayne County, Ohio, Jan. 17, 1836, a son of Joseph and Margaret 
Cully. Joseph Cully was born in Baltimore, Md., about 1798 and settled 
in Ohio when a young man. He lived to the advanced age of 99 years 
and 10 months. His wife was born in Washington County, Md., about 
1802, and died at the age of 85 years. They were the parents of eight 
children, two of whom are living, David R., the subject of this sketch, and 
James, who lives at Cleveland, Ohio, and holds the position of president 
of the welfare board in that city. The deceased children are William, 
died at Massilon, Ohio ; Mrs. Elizabeth McMillan, died at St. Paul, Minn. ; 
Joseph died at the age of 21 years in Wayne County, Ohio; Mrs. Margaret 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 795 

McDowell died at Dalton, Ohio; Mrs. Marrah McCall, died at Crawfords- 
ville, Iowa, and Thomas died in Florida in Feb., 1918. 

David R. Cully was educated in Vermillion Institute, Hayesville, Ohio, 
and was the youngest student in that institution. He then entered Jeffer- 
son College, now Washington and Jefferson College, Washington, Pa. and 
was graduated in the class of 1858. Mr. Cully then came to Boonville, 
Mo., at the invitation of John W. Sutherland, who was at the head of the 
Missouri Female College at that place. At that time there was a Baptist 
College at Hopewell Church, Kelly township, and Mr. Cully taught there 
for ten months. The following year Hopewell Academy was built and 
Mr. Cully taught at that institution for six years which included the Civil 
War period. He then taught two years at the Missouri Female College at 
Boonville. About this time a building was erected at Concord Church, 3 
miles northeast of Bunceton, and was offered to Mr. Cully, provided he 
would conduct a school there for five years. He accepted the proposition 
and shortly after this the town of Bunceton was laid out and a railroad 
built, and this school was moved to Bunceton, where Mr. Cully conducted 
it for six years. In 1877 he was elected superintendent of the schools of 
Mexico, Mo., and held that position one year. He was reelected, but on 
the same day was elected superintendent of the Sedalia schools. He ac- 
cepted the Sedalia position and served as superintendent of the schools 
of that city for 10 years. In 1898 he returned to Kelly township and took 
charge of "Seclusion Stock Farm", where he has since resided. 

"Seclusion Stock Farm" is one of the valuable farms of Cooper 
County. It contains 320 acres and is one of the historic old places of the 
county. The farm residence, which is over 100 years old, was the second 
house built in Kelly township. 

David R. Cully was united in marriage in 1864 to Miss Susan Chilton, 
a daughter of Charles and Mary E. (Chilton) Chilton native of Fauquier 
County, Va. The Chilton family came from Virginia to Missouri about 
1840, and first settled at Old Franklin, Howard County, and soon after- 
wards removed to Boonville. Charles Chilton died at Boonville in 1849 
at the age of 29 years. His widow died in 1912 at the age of 86 years. 
A sister of Mrs. Cully, Eloise Chilton, makes her home with the Cully 
family and is a half owner of the farm. 

The Chilton family are of old American stock and trace their ancestry 
in this country back to Colonial times, and were early settlers in Cooper 
County. Mrs. Cully's grandfather, Mark Anthony Chilton, at one time 
owned 1,100 acres of land in Kelly township. He was a native of Vir- 



796 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

ginia. Gen. John Blackwell, of Revolutionary fame, was Mrs. Cully's 
great grandfather. He received a grant of land from the government 
in the Sciota Valley in Ohio, and Mark Anthony Chilton inherited an inter- 
est in that land, which he traded for the Kelly township land. Samuel 
Chilton, an uncle of Mrs. Cully, was a prominent attorney at Warrenton, 
Va., and was one of the attorneys who defended John Brown, of Harper's 
Ferry fame. He was not in sympathy with John Brown's cause, how- 
ever, he made an able defense for him. This was about the last case that 
he ever tried. He died in Washington, D. C. shortly afterwards. 

Amos O'Neal, a veteran of the Civil War, and a retired farmer and 
land-owner of LaMine township, is a native of Virginia. He was born in 
Raleigh County, Va., Feb. 16, 1841, son of Jesse and Mary (Shumate) 
O'Neal, the latter of whom also was born in Virginia, who came to Mis- 
souri in the '50s with their family, and here spent their last days. 

Jesse O'Neal was born in North Carolina in 1808, and was a farmer 
all his life. He married in Virginia, and there resided until the '50s, when 
with his family he came to this State. He first tried Moniteau County, 
but not being wholly satisfied with conditions there, came to Cooper 
County in 1856, and the next year bought a tract of land in LaMine town- 
ship, paying $12.50 an acre for the same, and there spent the remainder 
of his life. He died in 1869. His widow died in 1885. She was born in 
1812, a daughter of Daniel Shumate. Jesse O'Neal and his wife were the 
parents of 12 children, of whom Amos was the sixth in order of birth, 
and three of whom are still living. 

Amos O'Neal was 15 years of age when he came to this county with 
his parents in 1856, and here he grew to manhood, attending the district 
school in LaMine township. He was 20 years of age when the Civil War 
broke out, and in 1861 he enlisted in the Confederate Army as a member 
of the Second Missouri Cavalry, with which he served most of the time 
under Gen. N. B. Forrest, though a part of the time the command was in 
the brigade of Gen. Sterling Price, west of the Mississippi. Mr. O'Neal 
was taken prisoner at Bahalia, Miss., and was a prisoner of war for nine 
months, when he was paroled on account of illness. During his long mili- 
tary service he one time came very near death, when his horse was shot 
from under him by a cannon ball. Another time a minnie ball struck a 
stiiTup and knocked it off. Upon receiving his discharge at the close of 
the war, Mr. O'Neal returned home, arriving by boat at Arrow Rock, 
July 4, 1865. The next year he returned South, where he remained for 
three years, when he returned to Cooper County, married in the fall of 
1869, "settled down" on the farm and has ever since been quite content 





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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 797 

here to reside. Mr.. O'Neal has a well improved farm of 205 acres. For 
some yeai-s past he has been living practically retired, the operations of 
the farm being carried on by his eldest son, S. A. O'Neal, who is married 
and lives on the place. Mr. O'Neal is one of the veteran farmers of the 
county, whose memory extends back to the days when oxen were used in 
farming, and he has many interesting stories to tell of the days now long 
gone. He is a stanch democrat, and is a Baptist. 

Oct. 2, 1869, Amos O'Neal was married to Lucinda Cramer, who was 
born in LaMine township, Oct. 19, 1851, daughter of Gabriel and Mary 
(Jeffress) Cramer, and who died on Oct. 22, 1914. To this union nine 
children were born, namely: Sanford Alonzo, who is farming the home 
place ; Edward Lee, a merchant, farmer and stockman living at Black- 
water; Silas, also of Blackwater; Gabriel, deceased; Riley, deceased; 
Aubrey, of Kansas City Mo. ; Nora, deceased ; Grace, wife of D. L. Edson, 
of West Boonville, and Freeman, who is now (spring of 1919)- with the 
American Army in Europe. Freeman O'Neal enlisted in the Medical 
Corps of the National Army for service in the World War in 1917, and 
sailed for overseas in July, 1918. Sanford A. Freeman, who is looking 
after the affairs of the home farm, married Agnes Reynolds, who also was 
bom in this county, and has two children, Alma, wife of H C. Minard, 
and Amos, who during America's participation in the World War served 
as a member of the S. A. T. C. at Missouri State University, Columbia. 

Howard B. Collins, proprietor of the Bank Hotel, Bunceton, Mo., is a 
mining man of vast experience. Mr. Collins was born in Denver, Colo., 
Sept. 27, 1875. He is a son of Samuel G. and Emilie (Browning) Collins, 
the former a native of Mississippi, born in 1849, and the latter of New 
York, bom in 1852. They went to Colorado in 1868, where the father 
was employed in the banking house of Koontz Bros., at Denver, until 1879. 
He then went to Leadville, Colo., where he has since been interested in 
mining and milling properties. They now reside at Denver, Colo. To 
Samuel G. and Emilie (Browning) Collins were born the following chil- 
dren: Howard B., the subject of this sketch; Edna W., who is now secre- 
tary of the Rocky Mountain Division of the Civilian Red Cross, with head- 
quarters at Denver, and Walter G. manager for J. D. Lacy & Co., Port- 
land, Ore. He was drafted by the war department as a timber expert, 
during the World War, and served in that capacity until the war closed. 
He is a Yale graduate. 

Howard B. Collins was educated in the public schools at Denver, the 
Shattuck Military School at Faribault, Minn., and the Massachusetts 
Institute of Technology at Boston, Mass., where he was graduated in the 



798 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

class of 1898. He then went to Cripple Creek, Colo., and later to Lead- 
ville where he was engaged as mine operator and manager of mining and 
milling properties until Jan., 1918, when he came to central Missouri to 
take charge of a zinc and baryte mining property, where he remained 
until June, 1918. He then came to Bunceton in partnership with George 
H. Hubbard of Versailles, in the operation of the Hubbard Cannel Coal 
Mine. Mr. Collins sold his interest in this mine to his partner, and on 
May 4, 1919 purchased the Bank Hotel at Bunceton. Mr. Collins is giving 
Bunceton a good hotel, which is much appreciated by the public. 

Howard B. Collins was married Sept. 2, 1902 to Miss Georgia Curf- 
man, a daughter of Dr. George W. Curfman, of Denver, Colo. Mrs. Col- 
lins' parents are both deceased, the father died in 1918, and the mother 
in 1915, and their remains are buried at Crown Hill Cemetery, Denver, 
Colo. Mrs. Collins has one brother, Floyd G., a mechanical engineer of 
New York City. He is a graduate of the State Agricultural College of 
Ft. Collins, Colo. Mrs. Collins was educated in the North Denver High 
School and the Iowa Wesleyan University at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. She has 
specialized in music and for a number of years taught music in Denver. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Collins have been born one daughter, Miriam Browning, 
who was born at Denver, Colo., and is now a student in the Bunceton 
high school. Mr. Collins is a member of the Masonic lodge and the Signa 
Alpha Epsilon College fraternity. 

Charles E. Steele, cashier of the Farmers Stock Bank at Blackwater 
and many years one of Cooper County's best known educators ; is a native 
son of Cooper County. He was born on a farm six miles south of Boon-' 
ville Jan. 27, 1872, son of John A. and Eliza J. (Batten) Steele, the latter 
of whom, born in Howard County, is still living, now a resident of Boon- 
ville. 

John A. Steele, who died at his home on the old Steele farm south of 
Boonville Jan. 26, 1917, just 50 years to the day from the time he had 
settled on that place, was a Tennesseean, born on Aug. 10, 1835, and was 
nine years of age when he came to Missouri with his parents in 1841, the 
family settling on a farm in the vicinity of Clarksburg. William H. Steele, 
the father, was a native of Ireland and his wife, who was a Blackburn, 
was born in Kentucky or Tennessee. They spent the remainder of their 
lives on the farm near Clarksburg. John A. Steele grew to manhood on 
that pioneer farm and in time became a substantial farmer on his own 
account. He was a member of the Masonic fratemitv and was a demo- 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 799 

crat. He and his wife were the parents of eight children, of whom the 
subject of this biographical review was the sixth in order of birth, the 
others being the following: John T., Webb City; Maggie, widow of M. 
C. Toler, living near Boonville ; Georgia, wife of J. E. Rennison, Boonville ; 
Frances, wife of U. T. Toler, Columbia; William H., near Otterville; Lavine, 
wife of John C. Muntzel, Boonville, and Claud W., deceased. 

Charles E. Steele was reared on the farm. He completed his school- 
ing in the Pilot Grove Academy and in Sept., 1890, entered upon a career 
of school teaching which was to continue for 16 years, during which 
period he also for four years occupied the position of school commissioner, 
serving two terms, beginning in 1897. In 1904 Mr. Steele was appointed 
principal of the public schools at Blackwater, a position he occupied for 
six years. Not long after going to Blackwater Mr. Steele became em- 
ployed as a bookkeeper in the Farmers Stock Bank, keeping books after 
school hours, and in 1907 was made cashier of the bank, the position he 
has since occupied. Mr. Steele is a democrat, a Baptist and a member 
of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. 

May 3, 1905, Charles E. Steele was united in marriage to Mattie 
Shouse, who also was born in Cooper County, and who died April 30, 
1907, at the age of 24 years. A child born to that union died in infancy. 
Mrs. Mattie Steele was a daughter of the Rev. Charles O. and Marian 
(Ford) Shouse, the latter of whom is still living, residing on a farm in 
Blackwater township. The late Rev. Charles O. Shouse, a pioneer min- 
ister of the Christian Church in Cooper County, was a native of Kentucky, 
as is his widow, and was for many years a strong factor for good in this 
community. 

Walter H. Shouse, cashier of the Bank of Blackwater was born on a 
farm three miles west of Blackwater, Aug. 5, 1884, son of Ernest and 
Mary (Harvey) Shouse, who were members of pioneer families and both 
of whom are now deceased. Ernest Shouse was a son of the Rev. Charles 
Q. Shouse, a minister of the Christian Church, who came to Missouri 
from Kentucky in pioneer days and who was for many years one of the 
strong factors in bringing about orderly conditions in this community. 
Ernest Shouse, who became a farmer, died in 1887, at the age of about 
32 years, and his widow died in 1895, aged 40 years. They had two sons, 
Walter H. and Albert E. Shouse, born on Jan. 25, 1887, who is now (1919) 
in Belgium, a member of the Canadian Expeditionary Forces, serving in 
the Signal Corps. Albert E. Shouse early became a telegraph operator 



800 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

and in Nov., 1917, while thus engaged at Kansas City, Mo., enlisted for 
service in the Canadian army, was attached to the Signal Corps of that 
army and on Jan. 25, 1918, sailed for overseas duty. 

Bereft of his father when he was but a small child, Walter H. Shouse 
was reared in the home of his maternal grandparents, James A. and Sarah 
(Bagby) Harvey, whose home was in Saline County. vHe received his 
schooling in the public schools at Nelson and early began to "look out for 
himself." Until he was 18 years of age Mr. Shouse continued working 
on a farm and then he began his commercial career as a clerk in a village 
general store. For eight years he continued thus engaged and in 1909, 
became a bookkeeper in the Farmers Stock Bank at Blackwater, a position 
he occupied until in Aug., 1918, when he was made cashier of the Bank 
of Blackwater, a position of responsible trust he since has occupied. Mr. 
Shouse is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, a member of the 
local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is a democrat. 

Walter H. Shouse was married Feb. 22, 1919, at Holton. Kan., to 
Peachie Griffith, a native of Saline County, daughter of Henry C. and 
Anna (McCutchion) Griffith, natives of Fairfield County, Ohio and Saline 
County, Mo., respectively. They live seven miles west of Blackwater on 
a farm. They are the parents of two children, Mrs. W. H. Shouse and 
Mrs. Reba Williams, living in Saline County. 

Fleming Miles Marshall, banker, stockman, lumberman, merchant 
and land-owner, who died at Hot Springs, Ark., in 1910, had created for 
himself a distinctive piace along the several lines of activity in which his 
energies found their outlet, and there are few names held in higher 
remembrance than his. Mr. Marshall was born in this county, on the 
ild Marshall place in Blackwater township, the place where his father 
tvas born, which had been entered from the Government by his grand- 
father, and had lived here all his life, doing well those things whicl his 
hands had found to do, so that in his passing there was sincere moui -ling 
throughout the community. 

The Marshalls are one of the old families of Cooper County, the irst 
of the name in this county having been Fleming Marshall, who came here 
ivith his family from Virginia in the early days of settlement, and enured 
a tract of Government land in section 18 of Blackwater township. Flem- 
ing Marshall and his wife (Frances Fray) were of the true pioneer type. 
Their son, James A. Marshall, father of the late F. M. Marshall, wa i born 
on that pioneer farm, Oct. 11, 1841, and there grew to manhood, becoming 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 801 

an extensive land-owner, proprietor of fine farms in this county .is well 
as in Saline and Johnson Counties. The original Marshall place in Black- 
ivater township is still held in the family. 

James A. Marshall, who died on April 21, 1902, in the 61st yea 1 of his 
age, was united in marriage on Feb. 1, 1871, to Hannah Scott MiTns, who 
was bom in Hardy County, Va., Aug. 28, 1849, and whose fathe?', James 
S Miles, died in his native State, Virginia. His widow, with her ■ hildren, 
came to Arrow Rock, Mo., in 1860, where her last days were sper K Mrs. 
Hannah Marshall died Feb. 15, 1917. By her union with James V. Mar- 
shall she was the mother of two sons, Fleming Miles having a surviving 
brother, Thomas F., who is now engaged in the real estate business at 
Kansas City, Mo. 

Fleming Miles Marshall was born on Aug. 2, 1874, on the place on 
which his father was born in Blackwater township. His earlv schooling 
in the Kemper Military School was supplemented by a course in the Mili- 
tary Academy at Mexico, Mo., where he was graduated in 1892. The 
year following, Mr. Marshall married and established a home of his own. 
He, meanwhile, had become engaged on a somewhat extensive scale in 
the breeding of Shorthorn cattle, and it was not long until he became 
recognized as one of the leading stockmen in this section, his exhibits of 
Shorthorns at State fairs and other cattle shows winning numerous prizes. 

At one time he was the largest individual stockholder in the Farmers 
Stock Bank of Blackwater, and for a number of years served as its vice- 
president. He also was interested in the lumber business at Blackwater 
and Nelson, was a partner of Lee O'Neal in the hardware, implement and 
grain business of Blackwater, At the time of his death he was the owner 
of 2,500 acres of land one of the best improved farms in Cooper County. 
A democrat, he had ever taken a good citizen's interest in local political 
affairs, and was a firm promoter of the cause of good government. As a 
member of the Methodist Church, Mr. Marshall was more than a merely 
nominal member, and did much to advance the cause of his church, for 
years serving as superintendent of the Sunday School. He was affiliated 
with the Blackwater lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. 
Marshall died Feb. 15, 1910. 

Sept. 12, 1893, Fleming Miles Marshall was united in marriage to 
Anna Shouse, who, since the death of her husband, has been successfully 
carrying on the affairs of the estate. To her union with Mr. Marshall, 
(44) 



802 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

three children were born: Mary F., married J. B. Harris, Rocheport, Mo., 
and has one child, Helen Virginia; James A., deceased, and Fleming Wil- 
lard, who is at home with his mother. Mrs. Marshall was born in Cooper 
County, a member of one of the pioneer families. She was born on a 
farm south of Nelson, Sept. 15, 1873, a daughter of Rev. Charles Q. and 
Marian (Ford) Shouse, and was one of the eight children born to them. 
Rev. Charles Q. Shouse, a well-remembered minister of the Christian 
Church in this county a generation ago, was born in Woodford County, 
Ky., on Jan. 2, 1836, and came to Cooper County in 1861. He died on 
his farm in Blackwater township in 1914, and his widow, who also was 
born in Kentucky, is living on the old home place. Mrs. Marshall is a 
member of the Methodist Church. 

L. R Ervine, proprietor of a large department store at Blackwater 
and one of the leading merchants of this section of Missouri, is a native 
Missourian. He was born at Slater, Saline County, Nov. 8, 1877, son of 
Richard and Mary E. (Elder) Ervine, and was the third in order of birth 
of the five children born to them. 

Richard Ervine was born near New York City, June, 1844, and was 
early trained to the details of the building business. Upon reaching man- 
hood he came to Missouri and located at Slater, where he engaged in the 
contracting business, and there spent the remainder of his life. He died 
in 1916. Not long after coming to Missouri, Richard Ervine married 
Mary E. Elder, who was born in Kentucky and died in 1905, aged 50 years. 

L. R. Ervine received his schooling in the schools of Slater, and 
early became engaged in the mercantile business, a line he has followed, 
with the exception of a few years spent in the newspaper business, ever 
since. The foundation of Mr. Ervine's successful business career was 
laid at Slater, where he became well grounded in the details of the mer- 
cantile business. He later was for some time also thus engaged at Kan- 
sas City and during the time of this latter connection traveled all over 
the country, putting on special sales of merchandise and thus became par- 
ticularly well known to the trade in that line. During this period Mr. 
Ervine became attracted to the possibilities of Blackwater as a trade 
center and Feb. 4, 1910, located in that city and opened a general store, 
which has gradually been developed into one of the best-stocked depart- 
ment stores in the State. He has made a specialty of the study of adver- 
tising as an applied science and was for some years engaged in the adver- 
tising field with a Chicago publishing house, with other newspapers in 
Missouri, and was for three years in charge of the advertising of a Kan- 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 803 

sas City mail-order house. During this latter connection he won five 
prizes in a field offering the sternest competition for the business-getting 
qualities and general effectiveness of his advertising matter. Mr. Ervine 
has been able to turn that specialty to advantage in the promotion of his 
business interests since locating at Blackwater and he has thus made his 
name and the fame of his department store familiar household words 
throughout this section of Missouri. 

In the year 1900, at Slater, L. R. Ervine was united in marriage to 
Lulu Ross Walton, who was born in that city, and to this union two chil- 
dren have been born: Esther, born in 1902, and Russell L., born in 1904. 
Mr. Ervine is a democrat and a member of the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows. 

Charles P. Hudson, of Blackwater, who for many years has been 
recognized as one of the leading auctioneers and criers of live stock sales 
in this section of Missouri, who also formerly was well known throughout 
this region as a dealer in mules, and who is a member of the directorate 
of the Bank of Blackwater, is a native Missourian, bora at Marshall, in 
Saline County. He was born on May 22, 1856, first born of the three sons 
of Laud and Amanda (Person) Hudson, the other sons being Austin W. 
Hudson, superintendent of the Saline County Poor Farm, and Laud O. 
Hudson, of Spokane, Wash. 

The senior Laud Hudson was bora in Virginia about 1818 and was 18 
years of age when he came to Missouri with his widowed mother, the 
family locating in Boone County. Not long afterward, he went to Arrow 
Rock, in Saline County, where he learned harness making. While living 
in Arrow Rock, he married Amanda Person, who was born near that 
place, daughter of O. B. Person and wife, the latter of whom was a Dan- 
iels, natives of North Carolina and early settlers in the Arrow Rock 
neighborhood. After a residence of some years at Arrow Rock, Laud 
Hudson moved to Marshall, and engaged in business as a saddler and 
harness maker until his death in 1860. His widow died in 1910, being 
75 years of age. 

Charles P. Hudson early felt the necessity of relieving his widowed 
mother of a portion of the care thus thrown upon her shoulders, and 
when 13 years of age, began working as a farm hand at $100 a year. He 
did not neglect his schooling, however, and he was able to complete the 
course in the common schools of Arrow Rock. Finally Mr. Hudson rented 
a farm and became engaged in farming on his own account. In 1892, he 
was able to buy a farm of 45 acres, five miles northeast of Blackwater. 



804 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

He improved the place and in 1902 sold it and bought a farm of 80 acres 
near Blackwater, which he also improved ; resided there until 1916, when 
he sold the place and moved to Blackwater. In the meantime, as much 
as 40 years ago, Mr. Hudson began crying sales and it was not long until 
his reputation as a successful auctioneer became known throughout 
Cooper, Saline and Pettis Counties. This line he ever since has continued, 
making a specialty of live stock sales, and is widely known among stock- 
men throughout this region. For some years also Mr. Hudson was en- 
gaged in buying and selling mules. He is a stockholder and a member of 
the board of directors of the Bank of Blackwater, and in other ways has 
given his active attention to the business interests of his home town and 
county. Mr. Hudson is a democrat and he and his wife are members of 
the Christian Church. 

Dec. 21, 1875, Charles P. Hudson was united in marriage to Theo- 
dosia H. Turley, who was born in Cooper County, a daughter of Jesse and 
Julia (Riddle) Turley, natives of Kentucky and early residents of this 
county, both now deceased. Jesse Turley was a landowner in LaMine 
township, and in the earlier days was engaged in freighting between 
Boonville and Santa Fe. He died in Santa Fe, N. M. Mr. and Mrs. Hud- 
son have no children of their own, but have reared five children, all of 
whom have grown up and married and in whose hearts there exists for 
their foster parents the same loving devotion as would be felt in behalf 
of real parents. 

V. S. Irvin, a registered pharmacist, dealer in drugs and druggists' 
sundries at Blackwater, one of the most progressive young merchants in 
Cooper County, was born at Red Cloud, Neb., Feb. 7, 1887, son of John B. 
and Luella (Loney) Irvin, former well known residents of Blackwater, 
now residing at Kansas City. John B. Irvin is a native of Pittsburg, 
Pa., born in 1855. In his young manhood he came West and in Nebraska 
engaged in the building trades, in time becoming a successful building 
contractor. In 1891, he engaged in business at Kansas City and five 
years later located at Blackwater. After a residence of some years there, 
he returned to Kansas City, where he is now engaged in contracting. His 
wife was born in Bloomfield, Iowa, in 1865. They are the parents of eight 
children, of whom the subject of this biographical sketch is the eldest. 

Having been but a child when his parents moved to Blackwater, V. S. 
Irvin received his schooling in the schools of that city and early turned 
his attention to the study of pharmacy, upon leaving school becoming 
engaged as a clerk in a drug store. That was in 1904. Ten years later, 
in 1914, he bought the store in which he had been engaged as a clerk and 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 805 

has since been conducting the same successfully, carrying on his business 
along strictly up-to-date lines. In addition to being a registered phar- 
macist, Mr. Irvin is a licensed embalmer, having taken a course in the 
latter art parallel with his course in pharmacy, and is a chemist of ex- 
cellent qualifications. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows and is a democrat. 

June 16, 1909, V. S. Irvin was married to Beulah F. Mustain, and to 
this union one child has been born, V. S., Jr. Mrs. Irvin was born in 
Howard County, daughter of T. B. Mustain and wife, who have for some 
years been living in Blackwater, Mr. Mustain being a retired farmer. 

Charles Q. Shouse, lumberman at Blackwater, where he is engaged 
in business in partnership with his sister, Mrs. Anna Marshall, is a mem- 
ber of one of Cooper County's old families. For years he was engaged in 
teaching and his impress upon the general social life of the community 
has thus been equally well marked in that direction. Mr. Shouse was 
born on a farm three miles west of Blackwater, April 13, 1877, son of 
the Rev. Charles Q. and Marian (Ford) Shouse, the latter of whom is still 
living on the old home place west of town. 

The Reverend Mr. Shouse, who was a faithful minister of the gospel, 
connected with the Christian Church, was a Kentuckian, as is his widow. 
He came to Missouri in 1861 and settled in Cooper County, where his 
service thereafter was rendered until his death a few years ago. He and 
his wife were the parents of eight children: John H., deceased; Thomas 
F., on the old home place; Dr. William S., a physician at Kingston, Mo.; 
Ernest L., deceased ; Elizabeth, wife of Noland Taylor, Nelson ; Anna, 
widow of Fleming M. Marshall ; Charles Q. ; and Mattie, deceased wife of 
C. E. Steele. 

The junior Charles Q. Shouse was reared on the home farm and re- 
ceived his early schooling in the public schools. He later attended the 
Warrensburg Normal School and Normal School at Chillicothe, and for 
12 years was engaged in teaching in Cooper and Saline Counties during 
the winters, in the meantime following farming during the summers. In 
1906, Mr. Shouse was made manager of the Marshall lumber interests at 
Blackwater and four years later bought into the business as a partner of 
his widowed sister, Mrs. Anna Marshall, and has since continued as gen- 
eral director and manager of the extensive interests of the firm at that 
place. 

Sept. 3, 1903, Charles Q. Shouse was united in marriage with Eliza- 
beth Duncan, who was born in the vicinity of Gillian, Saline County, a 
daughter of James P. and Naomi (Wilhite) Duncan, Kentuckians, and 



806 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

old settlers in Saline County, and to this union three children have been 
born, Ruth, Aaron and Mary E. Mr. Shouse is a member of the Chris- 
tian Church, and his wife, the Baptist Church. Mr. Shouse is a democrat. 

Riley S. Holman, former mayor of Blackwater and a landowner of 
Cooper County, now engaged in the livery business at Blackwater, was 
born on a farm near New Franklin, Mo., Jan. 9, 1857, son of Dr. John B. 
and Mildred (Sebree) Holman, both deceased. Dr. John B. Holman was 
one of the best known physicians hereabout ; was bora in Cooper County 
Nov. 9, 1828, his parents having been early settlers here. In 1849 he 
made a trip to California with an overland band of gold seekers, but after 
some time spent in prospecting, returned to Missouri and settled down to 
the practice of his profession at Boonville for the rest of his active life. 
He was the owner of a farm of 400 acres, four miles east of Blackwater, 
and upon his retirement from practice, moved to that farm, where his 
last days were spent. He died April 27, 1897. Dec. 20, 1855, Dr. John B. 
Holman was united in marriage with Mildred Sebree, who was born in 
Howard County, in 1832, and died in Cooper County in 1900. To that 
union were born four children : Riley S. ; Dr. Richard S. Holman, a phy- 
sician, St. Louis ; Susan P., wife of Austin Blodgett, and Mary E., wife of 
Charles Harris, of St. Louis. 

Riley S. Holman's early youth was spent in Boonville. When 14 
years of age, he went to Colorado and spent a year or two on the cattle 
ranch of his uncle, Captain Sebree, when he engaged in cattle raising for 
himself until 1882, when he returned to this county and went onto his 
father's farm, east of Blackwater, and was there engaged in fanning 
eight years. He then moved to Blackwater and engaged in the drug busi- 
ness. Some time later he took up the livery business, which he since has 
been conducting successfully. He also continues to look after his farm- 
ing interests. Mr. Holman is a democrat and has long been recognized as 
one of the leaders of the party in his home county. For about 12 years 
he served as mayor of Blackwater and in other ways he has given his 
close attention to local civic affairs. He is a member of the Modern 
Woodmen of America and the Brotherhood of America. 

Feb. 28, 1884, Riley S. Holman was married to Ruth Staples, who 
was born on March 18, 1864, in Saline County, and to this union one child 
has been born, Mildred, who married Harry T. Redd, cashier of the Boon- 
ville National Bank, and has one child, Rylie. 

Mrs. Ruth Staples Holman also is a member of one of the old families 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 807 

of this section of Missouri, her parents, James G. and Victoria (Sparks) 
Staples, both having been of pioneer parentage. James G. Staples, who 
during the time of the Civil War served as a soldier of the Confederacy, 
was born at Glasgow, Mo., in 1839, a son of James K. Staples and wife, 
natives of Virginia, who drove here from Hardy County, Va., and settled 
on the line between Cooper and Saline Counties, where James K. Staples 
became the owner of 1000 acres of land, entered from the Government at 
a fee of $1.25 an acre. Here this pioneer spent the remainder of his life, 
one of the influential members of the community. He died in 1881, at 
85 years of age. His wife, Virginia Nicholas, died in 1903, aged 85 years. 
James G. Staples, who became one of Cooper County's substantial farm- 
ers, died Oct. 14, 1909. His widow died Feb. 3, 1917, while on a visit 
to her son, Harry Staples, at Fresno, Calif. She was born in Bourbon 
County, Ky., Dec. 31, 1842, a daughter of James Sparks, a well-to-do 
stockman, horseman and slaveowner of Kentucky. James G. Staples and 
wife were the parents of three children, the survivors being Mrs. Holman 
and her brother, Harry Staples, the latter a resident of Fresno, Calif. 
Mrs. Holman is an active member of the United Daughters of the Con- 
federacy and was for two years president of the Cooper County Chapter. 
She completed her schooling in private schools at Arrow Rock and at 
Cilnton and was for 12 years engaged in teaching in this county, a portion 
of that time a teacher in the Blackwater schools. For over 15 years she 
has been a correspondent of the "Bunceton Eagle-News," and takes an 
earnest interest in general public affairs. She was for more than 20 
years an ardent worker in Sunday school work in the Christian Church. 
In later years she was converted to Christian Science. 

John N. Sims, a well-known dealer in live stock at Blackwater and 
a substantial landowner, was boin in Howard County, Nov. 4, 1864, a 
son of John J. and Mary F. (Overstreet) Sims, the latter of whom is still 
living on the old home farm in LaMine township. John J. Sims, who died 
at his home in LaMine township in 1909, at 72 years of age, had been a 
resident of Cooper County since coming here from his native Howard 
County 40 years ago. He was a blacksmith and followed that calling 
until he bought the farm on which his last days were spent. His widow, 
who is also a member of an old Missouri family, was born in Howard 
County in Oct., 1840. To them were born eight children: William, farm- 
ing the old home place in LaMine township; John N., the subject of this 
sketch; Joseph E., farming with his brother William; E. S., St. Louis; 



808 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Bettie, wife of Willard Worts, LaMine township; Clay Jackson, who is 
now living on the home farm; Susan, who also is on the farm with her 
mother and brothers, and Thomas, Blackwater. 

John N. Sims has been engaged in agricultural pursuits all his life. 
He bought his first farm when a young man and has since enlarged his 
holdings until now he is the owner of 845 acres of excellent land in 
Cooper and Vernon Counties. In 1904, Mr. Sims located at Blackwater, 
where he has since successfully carried on his operations in the buying 
and selling of live stock, at the same time directing his extensive farming 
interests. Mr. Sims is a democrat, but has not been a seeker after public 
office. 

In 1904, John N. Sims was united in marriage to Lydia Rucker, who 
was born in this county, daughter of Charles T. Rucker and wife, the 
latter of whom was a Poindexter, both of whom were also born in this 
county and who are now making their home in Blackwater. Mr. and 
Mrs. Sims have one son, John R. Sims. 

William Schuster, who died at his home in Pilot Grove township in 
the fall of 1915, and whose widow is living on the home farm, which 
is being operated by her eldest son, William Schuster, was of European 
birth, but had been a resident of Cooper County since the days of his 
childhood, and was thus a devoted Missourian. He was born in Saxony, 
July 4, 1850, and was but four years of age when his parents with their 
children came to America. For a time the Schusters were located in St. 
Louis, and then they came to Cooper County and settled on a farm in 
LaMine township, where the family home was established, and where the 
parents reared their family and spent the remainder of their lives, earnest 
pioneers of that neighborhood. 

Reared on the farm on which his parents had settled when he was 
about four years of age, William Schuster received his schooling in the 
district schools, followed farming all his life, and in which he was suc- 
cessful, and was the owner at the time of his death of an excellent farm 
of 243 acres in Pilot Grove township, the same now owned by his widow 
and operated by his son, William. In addition to his general farming the 
late William Schuster was an extensive breeder of Poland China hogs. 
For years he was a member of the board of directors of the Pilot Grove 
Bank at Pilot Grove. He was a member of the Catholic Church, as is his 
widow, and the children were reared in that faith. He died Oct. 22, 1915, 
highly respected in the community where he had lived since the days of 
his childhood. 




\\ M.I.I Ul SCHUSTER 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 809 

William Schuster was twice married, and was the father of 22 chil- 
dren, all of whom are living, save one. His first wife, Christina Felten, 
who was born in this county, and who died in 1894, was the mother of 10 
children, of whom nine are living, namely: Fred, farmer, a mile east of 
Pilot Grove; Margaret, wife of P. Hoffman, St. Louis; Mrs. Anna Miller, 
St. Louis; Frank, Pilot Grove township; Mary, wife of Henry G. Lam- 
mers, proprietor of "Hickory Grove" Farm, Pilot Grove township ; Sophia, 
wife of Frank Lammers, also of Pilot Grove township; John, of Pilot 
Grove township; Leona, wife of Henry Meyer, of the Pleasant Green 
neighborhood, and Christina, wife of L. Wittman, of the Pilot Grove 
neighborhood. Feb. 12, 1896, William Schuster married Anna Vollrath, 
who was born in this county, Oct. 27, 1876, and to that union 12 children 
were born, namely: William, born March 3, 1897, who is managing the 
home place for his mother; Grace; Hubert and Henry, twins, the latter 
deceased ; Nellie ; Florence ; Catherine ; Irene ; Alma and Alice, twins ; 
Martha; and Henry, died in infancy. 

William E. McMahan, one of the best known farmers of LaMine 
township, is a descendant of one of the earliest pioneers of Cooper 
County, his great-grandfather, Samuel McMahan, who was slain by In- 
dians in the vicinity of Boonville, having been one of the first settlers in 
this section of Missouri. The McMahans drove from Kentucky at the 
very beginning of organized settlement hereabout and settled in what is 
now LaMine township. It was while returning from Boonville one day, 
after having driven some cattle to that settlement, that Samuel McMahan 
was killed by hostile Indians. One of the sons of this pioneer was Samuel 
Woodson McMahan, who became one of the largest landholders of 
Cooper County, owner of a tract of 1000 acres and many slaves. He was 
born in Kentucky and his wife, Harriet Riddle, was born in Maryland, her 
parents also having been early settlers here. One of their sons, William 
H. McMahan, was bom in LaMine township in 1834 and became a sub- 
stantial farmer, spending all his life here, and died Oct., 1895. He mar- 
ried Lucy Hornbeck, who was born in Kentucky, and died in 1870. To 
them were born five children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the 
first born, the others being: R. S. McMahan, Kansas City, Mo.; Susan, 
wife of John H. Duncan, Helena, Mont.; Anna, wife of William H. Dun- 
can, Spokane, Wash., and Josephine, wife of Frank Duncan, Helena, Mont. 

William E. McMahan grew up on the farm and continued farming, 
in time becoming the owner of the farm of 100 acres on which he is now 
living in LaMine township and which he has greatly improved. Ten 



810 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

years or more ago Mr. McMahan began to give special attention to breed- 
ing Duroc Jersey hogs and has made a success in that line. He was born 
Sept. 10, 1860, 

March 27, 1894, William E. McMahan was united in marriage with 
Louella Gorrell, who also was born in LaMine township, a daughter of 
Amos Gorrell and wife, the latter of whom was a Schotts, natives of Ohio, 
who came to Cooper County in 1865 and settled on a farm in LaMine 
township. Mr. Gorrell is now living retired in Blackwater. Mr. and Mrs. 
McMahan are members of the Baptist Church, and Mr. McMahan is a 
democrat. 

William E. McMahan's farm has been in the McMahan family 
since 1832. 

Charles E. Woodroof, who died at his home in Blackwater, July 24, 
1902, was a Virginian. He was born Oct. 30, 1822, a son of Wyett P. and 
Mary J. (Taliafero) Woodroof, Virginians, the mother of the former of 
whom was a Gatewood. 

Wyett P. Woodroof came to Missouri with his family about 1825, 
locating near St. Louis, and later moved to St. Charles, and thence to 
Montgomery County, where he died about 1832, leaving his widow and 
her five small children in straightened circumstances. The widow, how- 
ever, was typical of the true pioneer type of womanhood, and she kept 
her little family together, all working to the common good of the family, 
the four sons and one daughter in time all becoming quite successful in 
life. The sons were John, Charles Edward, Robert and David Barton, 
and the daughter was Sophia, who married Mason Freeland. All these 
are now deceased. 

Charles Edward Woodroof was but 10 years of age when his father 
died and he was thus early thrown pretty much on his own resources for 
a livelihood, helping his widowed mother and the younger children. For 
some time he worked in the pineries of southern Missouri and in saw 
mills on the Piney River in Texas County and also helped to freight the 
lumber by raft to St. Louis. In 1848 he enlisted for service in the Mex- 
ican War and was honorably discharged at the close of the war, his health 
considerably impaired. He then went to California, the overland trip, 
but it was not long until he returned to Missouri, locating in Montgomery 
County, where in 1853 he was married. In 1888 he moved to Saline 
County and there he remained until 1896, when he came to Cooper 
County and located at Blackwater, where he died July 24, 1902. At the 
time of his death, he owned several hundred acres of choice land and 
was regarded as one of the substantial farmers of Cooper County. His 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 811 

father was an old line Whig and he became a Republican upon the organ- 
ization of that party. He was a Mason. 

Charles E. Woodroof was twice married. Feb. 6, 1853, in Mont- 
gomery County, he was married to Catherine Jones, who was born in that 
county on July 4, 1829, daughter of Lewis Jones and wife, the latter of 
whom was a Hayes, of Callaway County, Mo., a relative of Daniel Boone. 
Of the children born to this union, all died in childhood save Anna Myrie, 
who married H. Ritter; Robert Mathew, who married Ida Moore, and 
Orpha K., who married Joseph H. Blades, of Montgomery County. Rob- 
ert M. Woodruff died near Blackwater Aug. 16, 1914. He is survived by 
his motherless daughter, Kathryne. Catherine Jones Woodruff died on 
December 13, 1871, and Aug. 26, 1875, Mr. Woodroof married Susan 
Moseley, who survives and who since the death of her husband has been 
making her home at "Glenwood," the place in LaMine township which 
she purchased after her husband's death. 

Mrs. Susan Moseley Woodroof was born in Montgomery County, 
Sept. 8, 1839, daughter of John and Sophia (McMahan) Moseley, Ken- 
tuckians. John Moseley was a son of Thomas Moseley, son of Robert 
Moseley, of Montgomery County, Ky. John Moseley was born in Mont- 
gomery County, Ky., in 1806, and came to Missouri in 1828, being en- 
gaged as a school teacher in Callaway County until 1833, when he mar- 
ried and settled on a farm in Montgomery County, where he and his 
wife lived the rest of their lives. Sept. 24, 1833, John Moseley was mar- 
ried to Sophia McMahan. She died on April 25, 1875, and he died in 1881. 
They were members of the Church of Christ, and their children were 
reared in that faith. Of these children two survive, Mrs. Woodroof's 
only sister making her home with her at "Glenwood" farm. For many 
years Mrs. Woodroof was a school teacher and she has always retained 
her active interest in cultural affairs. She has written a good deal and 
from her girlhood has found pleasure in expressing herself in poetic 
form. The poems she had thus written she collected after the death of 
her husband and published in a volume, to which she gave the title 
"Sea Shells," dedicating the same to the memory of her husband. She 
is a member of the Church of Christ. Though not granted children of 
her own, Mrs. Woodroof has reared to manhood and womanhood several 
children. She retains an interest in other forms of business activity and 
is a stockholder in the Farmers Stock Bank of Blackwater. 

Henry Moss Wing, second vice-president of the Bank of Blackwater 
and one of the substantial farmers and stockmen of LaMine township, 
was born Aug. 21, 1876, son of David W. and Ella (Parker) Wing, the 



812 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

latter of whom, born in Boone County, daughter of Robnett Parker and 
wife, died in 1882. David W. Wing was born in Jan., 1849, on the farm 
now owned by his son Henry, and is a son of Freeman Wing and wife, the 
latter of whom was a Daniels, who came here from Virginia in an early 
day and located on the place in LaMine township now owned by Henry 
M. Wing. Freeman Wing and his wife lived in a log cabin which is still 
standing on the place, carefully and reverently preserved as a priceless 
relic of pioneer days, and on that place they spent the remainder of their 
days, and here their 13 children were born. The last born of these chil- 
dren was David W. Wing, father of the subject of this sketch, who re- 
mained on the home place, of which in time he became the owner, and 
there continued actively and successfully engaged in farming and stock 
raising until 1904, when he retired from the farm and moved to Mar- 
shall, where he is now living. Fifty years ago he erected on the place 
the substantial farm house which is still standing and to which numerous 
improvements have been made. 

Henry M. Wing was reared on the home farm and received his early 
schooling in the local schools, supplementing this by a course at Kemper 
Military School at Boonville and at the Missouri University at Columbia. 
When 18 years of age he undertook farming on his own account, renting 
from his father. After his marriage in 1905, he established his home on 
the place, his father meanwhile having moved to Marshall, and in 1916 
bought the farm, an excellent tract of 365 acres, where he is carrying on 
general farming and raising of live stock. He is a democrat and he and 
his wife are members of the Christian Church. 

Dec. 18, 1905, Henry M. Wing was united in marriage to Martha 
Fray, who also was born in this county, and to this union one child has 
been born, Warner Fray Wing, born on Feb. 1, 1914. Mrs. Martha Wing 
was born Sept. 26, 1888, a daughter of H. G. and Dora (Pierce) Fray. 

Willard A. Worts, proprietor of "Grand View" stock farm in LaMine 
township, and recognized as one of the most extensive breeders of Duroc 
Jersey hogs in this section is a native son of Cooper County. He was 
born on March 2, 1879, son of I. R. and Laura E. (Phillips) Worts, both 
of whom were born in Virginia and are now living i*etired at Boonville. 

I. R. Worts came to Missouri from Indiana, having for some time 
made his home in the latter state after leaving Virginia. In the fall of 
1878 he came to Cooper County and made his home, becoming the owner 
of 213 acres of land in Palestine township, where he made his home until 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 813 

his removal to Boonville. To him and his wife were born four children: 
Ida, deceased, was the wife of F. H. Muntzel ; Willard A. ; Leslie E., Pales- 
tine township, and Vernon, also of Palestine township. 

Willard A. Worts was reared on the farm and received his schooling 
in the district schools and the Boonville High School. He has followed 
farming on his own account since he reached manhood ; for some years 
he has given special attention to the breeding of Duroc Jersey hogs and is 
said to have the largest herd of Durocs in Cooper County and has calls 
for his breeding stock from Oklahoma, Texas, Illinois, Arizona, Kansas, 
Tennessee, Arkansas and from all parts of Missouri, selling as many as 
150 breeders a year. In 1902, Mr. Worts bought "Grand View" farm, 
his present well-improved place of 85 acres in LaMine township, and in 
1913 he began to pay particular attention to the breeding of Durocs. He 
now (1919) has a fine herd of 225 registered hogs and his pens are said 
to be the best in the county. Mr. Worts is a member of the National 
Duroc Jersey Record Association, of Peoria, 111. He is a democrat. 

On Sept. 14, 1902, Willard A. Worts was united in marriage to Anna 
Elizabeth Sims, who was born in Howard County. Mrs. Worts is a daugh- 
ter of John J. and Mary (Overstreet) Sims, both members of old families 
in Howard County and the latter of whom is now living in LaMine town- 
ship. 

Armstead Lee Kincaid, one of LaMine township's well known and 
progressive farmers and the proprietor of a well kept place of 320 acres 
in that township, is a native of Kentucky, but has been a resident of 
Missouri and of Cooper County since 1860. He was born in Montgomery 
County, Ky., April 14, 1849, son of George W. and Frances M. (Collins) 
Kincaid, both of whom spent their last days in Cooper County. 

George W. Kincaid was born in Kentucky, Sept., 1813, and there mar- 
ried Frances M. Collins, who was bom in that state in 1818. They made 
their home in Kentucky until 1860. when they came to Missouri and 
located on the farm now owned and occupied by Armstead L. Kincaid, 
where they spent the remainder of their lives, Mr. Kincaid dying in 1893 
and his widow in 1905. They were the parents of seven children, of 
whom but two grew to maturity, the subject of this sketch and his 
brother, the late Richard Franklin Kincaid. 

Armstead L. Kincaid was 11 years of age when he came into Cooper 
County with his parents and he was reared on the home farm in LaMine 
township, completing his schooling in the district schools. Upon attain- 



814 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

ing manhood he remained on the farm and in time came into possession 
of the same by inheritance. He has made excellent improvements on the 
place and has done well in his farming operations. Mr. Kincaid is a demo- 
crat and is a member of the Church of Christ. 

Dec. 23, 1891, Armstead L. Kincaid was united in marriage with 
Mattie Sanders Lawless, whose first husband was Doctor Hutchinson, of 
Boonville. Mrs. Kincaid was born in this county in 1860 and died in 
1905. By her union with Mr. Kincaid three children were born: Frances, 
wife of Elmer Schuster, LaMine township ; Nellie L., wife of Speed Mellor, 
LaMine township and Georgia May, who is at home with her father. 

William P. Harris, who died at his home in LaMine township in the 
late fall of 1901 and whose widow is still making her home on the place 
was born in that township and there spent all his life, becoming a well- 
to-do farmer and the owner of a fine farm of 173 acres, which his widow 
is continuing to manage with success. William P. Harris was born Sept. 
2, 1857, son of William J. and Sallie (McMahan) Harris, and was the 
second in order of birth of the five children, the others being Samantha, 
wife of John B. Harris, of Fulton; Sterling P., Sedalia; Thomas A., of 
LaMine township, and Leona, who died in infancy. William J. Harris was 
twice married and by his second wife, Lizzie Lake, was the father of two 
daughters, Stella and Ada, both deceased. 

William P. Harris grew up in LaMine township and received his 
schooling in the district schools. As a young man he began fai-ming on 
his own account. In 1895 he bought the farm of 173 acres on which he 
spent his last days and had made extensive improvements. He died Nov. 
25, 1901, at 44 years of age. Mr. Hams was a democrat and had always 
taken an active interest in the general civic affairs of his home county. 
He was a member of the Woodmen of the World and of the Modern 
Brotherhood of America. Since her husband's death Mrs. Harris has been 
in management of the home farm and has made numerous improvements 
on the place, including the remodeling of the house and the erection of a 
silo, she and her children now having an excellent farm. 

Mrs. Harris was born in Saline County, Feb. 13, 1862, fourth in order 
of birth of the nine children, four sons and five daughters, born to Thomas 
L. and Bettie (Gregory) Kincheloe. Thomas L. Kincheloe was born" in 
Howard County, April 16, 1822, and came to Cooper County with his par- 
ents when a boy. He became a successful farmer and died April 19, 1910. 
His wife died Dec. 23, 1884, the day on which their daughter Anna was 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 815 

united in marriage to William P. Harris. She was born in Saline county 
April 1, 1831, the Kincheloes and the Gregorys were early pioneers of this 
section. 

To William P. and Anna (Kincheloe) Harris were born five children: 
Edna, wife of William J. Harris, of LaCrosse, Wis. ; Amy, who is at home 
assisting her mother; Elmer and Elwood, twins, the former of whom is 
farming in LaMine township and the latter remaining on the home farm 
superintending the management of the same, and Nellie, wife of H. 
Brockway, of LaMine township. 

Thomas B. Gibson, a retired merchant of Blackwater, veteran of the 
Mexican War and of the Civil War, and the oldest living settler of LaMine 
township, is a native of Virginia, but has been a resident of this region 
since his boyhood. He was born at the headquarters of the James River 
in Louisa County, Va., Jan. 21, 1830, son of William B. and Susan J. 
(Turner) Gibson, who came to Howard County with their family in the 
year of 1839. 

William B. Gibson was born in Virginia, as was his wife. He was a 
son of William B. Gibson, a soldier of the Revolutionary War, and grew up 
in his native state, becoming a brick mason and plasterer by trade. About 
1839 he settled in what is now Howard County, where he spent the rest 
of his life. He died in Howard County and his widow later died in Cali- 
fornia. They were the parents of seven children, of whom Thomas B. 
is the only survivor. 

Thomas B. Gibson was about nine or 10 years old when his parents 
came to Missouri and he grew up familiar with pioneer conditions. He 
was 18 years old when the Mexican War broke out and he enlisted and 
was attached to a supply train, as a herdsman for the government. While 
in that service he participated in an Indian fight on the Kansas plains. 
Attached to his supply train, made up of live yoke of oxen, hauling 
provisions for the soldiers, were 25 men. One morning about sunrise the 
night's camp was disturbed by a maurading band of Indians and a brisk 
fight ensued, the redskins presently being driven off without casualties to 
the freighters. Upon his discharge from the service at the close of the 
war young Gibson returned home. He married in 1859 and continued 
farming, being thus engaged when the Civil War broke out. Toward the 
close of the war he enlisted on the side of the Confederacy, being first 
attached to the cavalry and later to the infantry, and was with the army 
in Louisiana when the surrender came. Upon his return he bought his 



816 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

present farm in LaMine township. The next year he and his brother- 
in-law, John T. Redd, opened a store on the Santa Fe trail at a point above 
the LaMine River — the place now owned by Sims Brothers — and there he 
and Mr. Redd were engaged in business for 17 years, when they moved 
their stock to Blackwater, where for ten years they were engaged in sell- 
ing goods. Mr. Gibson then sold his interest and retired from business. 
He always lived on his farm in LaMine township, where he has since 
been making his home. 

Mr. Gibson has a well improved place of 320 acres. As one of the 
oldest surviving pioneers of this region he has many interesting stories 
to tell of the old days of the plains and of the Santa Fe Trail and is a 
veritable storehouse of reminiscence. In 1849 he crossed the plains, driv- 
ing a six mule team from Arrow Rock, Mo., to California and returned to 
Missouri via Panama, in 1853. 

In Dec, 1859, Thomas B. Gibson was married to Lucy A. Redd, who 
was bom in this county, and died in Feb., 1903, at the age of 65 years. 
To that union were born two children : William B. and Mollie T., the latter 
of whom married W. R. Scott and is now deceased. Mrs. Scott left one 
child, a son, Gibson Scott, of Marshall. 

William B. Gibson, who was named for his grandfather and for his 
Revolutionary great-grandfather, was born on the farm on which he is 
now living in LaMine township, Dec. 18, 1860, and has lived there all his 
life, since the days of his young manhood managing the place for his 
father. He married Mary C. McPherson, who was born at Boonville, and 
has five sons. William McPherson, Robert, LeRoy, Henry Thomas, Arthur 
Chandler and John Elliot. 

William H. Haun, a veteran of the Civil War, who died at his home 
in Pilot Grove township in the spring of 1890, and whose widow is still 
living on the home place, which is now managed by her elder son, Albert 
L. Haun, former clerk of Circuit Court of Cooper County, was an influen- 
tial and useful citizens of this county. He was bom on a farm in Holmes 
County, Ohio, Aug. 15, 1841, son of John Haun and wife, the latter of 
whom was a Shank, who were the parents of 12 children, of whom six 
grew to maturity. John Haun was bom in Pennsylvania, and was early 
left an orphan. About 1830 he went to Ohio, was married and engaged in 
farming in Holmes County, and there he and his wife spent their last 
days. 

Reared on the farm on which he was born, William H. Haun was 
given the advantage of excellent schooling, and all his life took an earnest 



X 

- 




HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 817 

interest in the cause of education, his labors in that behalf, after becoming 
a resident of Cooper County, having contributed largely to the elevation 
of the standards of the schools of Pilot Grove township in an earlier day. 
He was not 20 years of age when the Civil War broke out, and shortly 
after passing his 20th birthday he enlisted Sept. 7, 1861, and went to the 
front as a private in Company F, 19th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with 
which command he served until mustered out at Columbus, Ohio, Jan. 27, 
1865. During this long military service Mr. Haun's regiment participated 
in many of the most important engagements of the Civil War, including 
Shiloh, Tenn., April 6-7, 1862; the occupation of Corinth, Miss., May 30, 
1862; Stone River, Dec. 31, 1862; Liberty Gap, June 25, 1863; Chicka- 
mauga, Sept. 19-20, 1863; Mission Ridge, Rocky Face, Cassville, Pickett's 
Mill, Kenesaw Mountain, Hood's first sortie toward Atlanta, Lovejoy Sta- 
tion, Franklin. On Dec. 26, 1864, he was permitted to return home on 
a furlough, and was mustered out a month later. During the battle of 
Chickamauga, Sept. 20, 1863, Mr. Haun was captured by the enemy and 
for 15 months was confined in Libby Prison and later at Andersonville. 
Upon the completion of his military service, William H. Haun re- 
turned to his home in Holmes County, Ohio, and resumed his place on the 
farm. During the following winter he taught a term of school in his 
home neighborhood, and in the spring of 1866 came to Missouri and 
bought a tract of timber land in section 24 of Pilot Grove township, with 
a view to clearing off a farm there and establishing his home. He built 
a log cabin on the place, and with his plans for a home thus well started 
returned to Ohio, married the girl of his choice, and with his bride returned 
to his timber tract in Pilot Grove township, and there he and his wife 
started their home-making in true pioneer fashion. It was no small job 
to clear the place of its heavy growth of timber, but Mr. Haun was dilli- 
gent, and it was not long until he had a tillable farm. He presently 
erected a better and more commodious house, as the needs of his growing 
family demanded, and later erected a third and modern house on the 
place, the other improvements of which also were in keeping with his 
progressive notions of farming. During the earlier years of his resi- 
dence in this county, Mr. Haun devoted much of his leisure to an extension 
of the cultural development of the community in which he had settled, 
and as a pioneer teacher of music did much toward the bringing about of 
wholesome social conditions. He was an ardent Methodist, as is his 
widow, and was ever an active and earnest participant in church work, 



818 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

doing what he could to advance all good causes in the community. He 
was a republican and ever took a good citizen's part in local civic affairs. 
On the farm which he carved out of the woods there in Pilot Grove town- 
ship, this good man spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring 
there on March 30, 1890, and at his passing there was sincere mourning 
in the community. 

Aug. 30, 1866, William H. Haun was united in marriage, in Holmes 
County, Ohio, with Salome M. Shutt, who was born in that county. To 
that union were bom seven children, two of whom died in infancy, the 
other being as follows: Albert L., is now managing the home place; 
Adella F., married W. E. Geary, St. Louis ; Hattie Belle, and Eula Martha, 
at home with their mother; and William H., Grand Junction, Colo. Mrs. 
Haun, who is now in the 76th year of her age, and who has witnessed the 
development of this region since the days of her coming here, shortly 
after the close of the Civil War, was born Oct. 1, 1843, a daughter of John 
and Susan (Bell) Shutt, natives of Maryland, who located in Holmes 
County, Ohio, after their marriage, and there spent the remainder of 
their lives. 

Albert L. Haun, elder son of William H. and Salome M. (Shutt) 
Haun, was born on the home farm in Pilot Grove township, this county, 
Dec. 5, 1867, and there grew to manhood. His early schooling was re- 
ceived in the Prairie View District School, and was supplemented by a 
course in the Pilot Grove Academy, followed by a course in the Gem City 
Business College, Quincy, 111. Following the death of his father, he 
assumed the responsibility of carrying on the operations of the home 
farm, and was also engaged for four or five winters as a teacher of district 
schools in his home neighborhood. Mr. Haun is an active worker in the 
ranks of the republican party in Cooper County, and in February, 1903, 
was appointed deputy clerk of the Circuit Court, a position he occupied 
for eight years, or until his election in 1910 as clerk of the Circuit Court 
and recorder of deeds. By successive re-elections Mr. Haun continued to 
serve in this important public capacity until Jan. 5, 1919, when his last 
term of office expired, and he returned to the home farm, to the man- 
agement of which he is now giving his attention. Mr. Haun is a member 
of the local lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the 
Modern Woodmen of America at Boonville. 

Fountain Durrett Smith, a substantial farmer and stockman of La- 
Mine township, was born in that township and has lived there all his life. 
He was born on July 1, 1867, son of Nicholas and Lucy (Higgerson) 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 819 

Smith, who were the parents of six children as follows : Travis, deceased ; 
DeWitt, of Kansas City, Mo.; Edward D., of LaMine township; Laura, 
wife of L. T. Sites, LaMine township; Fountan D.; and Ada, wife of P. 
Davidson, of Kansas City, Mo. 

Reared on the home farm in LaMine township, Fountain D. Smith 
received his schooling in the Oakwood district school and as a young man 
began farming on his own account, renting land until he bought his pres- 
ent farm. He now has a well-improved place of 260 acres and in addi- 
tion to his general farming has given considerable attention to the breed- 
ing of Poland China hogs, his operations along both lines having been car- 
ried on successfully. Mr. Smith is a democrat and has ever given a good 
citizen's attention to local civic affairs. He is a member of the Woodmen 
o fthe World. 

Oct. 26, 1892, Fountain D. Smith was united in marriage to Margaret 
Kincheloe, who was born in this county, daughter of Thomas and Bettie 
(Gregory) Kincheloe and twin sister of Jesse Kincheloe, of LaMine town- 
ship, further reference to which family is made elsewhere in this work. 
To this union have been born two children, daughters, Marie and Rowena, 
both of whom are at home. 

Edward D. Smith, a substantial farmer and landowner of LaMine 
township and constable for that township, and for many years a railroad 
surveyor, was born in LaMine township and has always regarded that as 
his home, though during the time of his connection with railroad work 
he was required to be away a great deal of his time. He was born on 
March 4, 1862, a son of Nicholas Smith, for many years one of LaMine 
township's best known citizens. 

Reared on the home farm in LaMine township, Edward D. Smith 
received his schooling in the local schools and early became interested in 
civil engineering, becoming a competent surveyor. In addition to local 
work performed by him along that line, about twenty years ago Mr. 
Smith became employed as a railroad surveyor and for four or five years 
was thus engaged. During this time he helped to locate and build the 
railroad from Boonville to Lexington, as well as the road from Boonville 
to Jefferson City, and also helped to lay the bridge across the Arkansas 
River at Ft. Smith. Upon the completion of this service Mr. Smith re- 
turned to the home farm and has since devoted his attention to agricul- 
tural pursuits, in which he has been quite successful, being now the owner 
of a fine farm of 120 acres. For 14 years Mr. Smith had charge of the 
highways of district 14 in LaMine township. He is a democrat and in 



820 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

1912 was elected constable, a position which he still holds, having been 
re-elected at successive elections. He is affiliated with the Boonville 
lodge, Woodmen of the World. 

Mr. Smith's wife died in 1910. She also was born in LaMine town- 
ship, this county, Ida Higgsorn, daughter of C. C. and Mary (Herndon) 
Higgsorn, Virginians, who became residents of this county many years 
ago. To Mr. and Mrs. Smth four children were born : Jessie, deceased ; 
Mary, who is at home presiding over the affairs of her father's household, 
and Ray and Edward Lee, also at home. 

Jesse Lee Kincheloe, a well-known farmer and stockman of LaMine 
township, was born in that township Aug. 18, 1869, son of Thomas L. and 
Bettie (Gregory) Kincheloe, 

Thomas L. Kincheloe was a veteran of the Civil War, in the service 
of the Confederacy, a private in E Company of Wood's Regiment of Mis- 
souri Cavalry, in the Trans-Mississippi Army, and served until his com- 
mand was surrendered at Shreveport, La., June 9, 1865. Mr. Kincheloe 
then came up the river to St. Louis and thence returned to his home in 
LaMine township, where he spent the rest of his life, successfully engaged 
in farming. He died April 19, 1910. He and his wife were the parents 
of nine children, namely: William J., deceased; Victoria, who married 
Capt. L. J. Sites and is now deceased; Tasso, deceased; Anna, widow of 
the late William P. Harris, of LaMine township; Thomas Ludwell, Jr., 
deceased; Mrs. Catherine Lucas, of Colorado; Jesse L., the subject of this 
sketch, and his twin sister, Mrs. Margaret Smith, and Mrs. Bettie Diggs, 
of LaMine township. 

Jesse L. Kincheloe received his schooling in the district schools and 
as a young man became engaged as a farm hand for the first three years, 
working for W. B. Collins and losing but 18 days during that period. Fol- 
lowing his marriage in 1894, Mr. Kincheloe rented a farm and began 
farming on his own account and in 1901 bought a farm. Since then he 
has bought and improved five or six different farms, in each instance 
selling to advantage, and now has a well-improved farm of 80 acres on 
which in addition to his general farming he gives considerable attention 
to the raising of pure-bred Aberdeen-Angus cattle and Duroc Jersey hogs. 
Mr. Kincheloe is a democrat. He and his family are members of the 
Baptist Church and belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and 
the Modern Woodmen of America. 

Jan. 18, 1894, Jesse L. Kincheloe was married to Lottie Lee Eades, 
who was born in this county, Dec. 24, 1873, and to this union four children 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 821 

have been bom : Thomas Collins, deceased ; Margaret May, Eugene Fields 
and Jessie Lee. Mrs. Kincheloe is a daughter of Horace and Eugenia 
(Brisco) Eades, who came to this county from Kentucky years ago and 
who are now living retired at Blackwater. 

Henry Green Fray, a well-known and substantial farmer and stock- 
man of LaMine township, was born within a stone's throw of the house 
in which he is now living, July 3, 1861, son of John A. and Martha (Hern- 
don) Fray, both members of Missouri pioneer families. John A. Fray 
was born at Huntsville, Mo., in 1835 and in 1850 came to Cooper County, 
where he spent the remainder of his life. When a young man he bought 
160 acres of "Congress" land, the place now owned by Mrs. Susan M. 
Woodruff, in LaMine township. Later he bought other land adjoining 
and became well-to-do. He died on that place in 1905. His widow died 
in 1907, aged 68 years. She was a member of one of the first families 
of Cooper County, the Herndons having been among the very first of the 
Virginia contingent to settle in LaMine township. John A. Fray and his 
wife were the parents of nine children: Susan F., wife of F. W. Vawter, 
Parkville; Katherine, wife of John P. Cully, Kansas City, Mo.; Benjamin 
A., Marshall; John W., Fayette; DeWitt C, Kansas City; and Harry G. 

Henry G. Fray was reared in LaMine township and educated in the 
district schools. He remained on the home place until 1885, when he 
bought 240 acres of the home place from his father. In 1890, he sold 
that farm and bought another portion of the home place, just across the 
road south, and in 1911 bought the quarter section on which he is now liv- 
ing. In addition to his general farming, Mr. Fray has for years been 
dealing in live stock and has been successful. He is a stockholder in the 
Bank of Blackwater and takes a keen interest in the general business 
affairs of the community. He is a democrat. 

Feb. 9, 1885, Henry G. Fray was united in marriage with Dora Pierce, 
who was born near Fayette, in June, 1859, and to this union one child 
was born, Martha, wife of Henry M. Wing. 

Gustav F. Boiler, treasurer of the Hirsch Wholesale Grocery Com- 
pany, Inc., of Boonville, is one of the progressive young business men of 
Cooper County. He was born on a farm in Boonville township Nov. 4, 
1887, son of Fred J. and Dora (Wehling) Roller. Fred J. Boiler is of 
European birth, born in Nassau on April 10, 1844, but has been a resi- 
dent of this country since he was four years of age, his parents, Henry J. 
and Johnetta Boiler, having left their native land and come to America 
with their family in 1849, after the unsuccessful revolution of 1848, and 



822 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

sought conditions more to their liking in this land of free men. Upon 
their arrival in this country the Boilers located in Cooper County. Fred 
J. Boiler grew up in this county and developed his interests here. He 
was a farmer for 50 years, in Boonville township, until his retirement anc 
removal to Boonville, where he and his wife are now living. March 18, 
1872, Fred J. Boiler married Dora Wehling, who was bora in St. Louis, 
Aug. 23, 1855, daughter of Christian and Christine Wehling, both natives 
of Germany, and to this union were born eight children: August, de- 
ceased; Sophia, widow of the late F. S. Brommer, resides in Boonville; 
Fred, deceased ; William, deceased ; Laura L., wife of Lewis Moehle, Boon- 
ville; Nettie, wife of Frank Hirlinger, Boonville; Gustav F. ; and Matilda, 
living with her parents. 

Gustav F. Boiler received his schooling in the district schools of 
Boonville, graduating from the high school in 1905. In the meantime, 
he had been giving his attention to commercial pursuits and upon leaving 
school became engaged as a clerk in the Hirlinger bakery at Boonville, 
also working as a bookkeeper at the Boonville elevator. In 1907, he be- 
came employed as shipping clerk for the Hirsch Wholesale Grocer Com- 
pany and was advanced to the position of bookkeeper and general office 
assistant. In 1914, Mr. Boiler became a stockholder in the Hirsch Com- 
pany and was elected treasurer, a position he since has occupied, in addi- 
tion to which duty he also, for the past two or three years, has acted as 
general city salesman for the big wholesale house and traveling repre- 
sentative for the same. Mr. Boiler is a republican. He and his wife are 
members of the Evangelical Church, and he is one of the trustees of that 
church. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias and the Ancient Order of 
United Workmen. 

Nov. 4, 1908, Gustav F. Boiler was united in marriage to Clara M. 
Goodman, of Boonville, and to this union one child was born, Goodman F. 
Boiler, born on Oct. 5, 1910. Mrs. Boiler was born in Boonville and was 
graduated from the high school there. Her parents, Thomas W. and 
Amelia (Thoma) Goodman, are living in Boonville; both were born in 
Cooper County. 

Frank Schuster, one of LaMine township's most progressive farmers 
and proprietors of "Good Hope" farm was born in LaMine township. His 
father, Moritz Schuster, to whom reference is made in this volume, died 
in the spring of 1915, was a veteran of the Civil War and a son of one 
of the pioneers of the LaMine township, he having been but five years of 
age when his parents came to this country in 1849 and located in this 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 823 

county and spent the remainder of their lives. Moritz Schuster and his 
wife, Rachel Hildebrant, a native of Virginia, were the parents of nine 
children, seven of whom are still living. 

Frank Schuster received his schooling in the Hickerson district 
school and from boyhood gave his attention to farm life. He married in 
the spring of 1898 and the following year bought from his father the 
tract of land of 178 acres he now owns, 231 acres, a part of which was 
formerly known as the Washington Harris place, but which Mr. Schuster 
has named "Good Hope" farm. On the place is a tract of twenty acres 
of natural woodland and Mr. Schuster has made improvements which 
gives him a farm equal to any in the neighborhood. He raises a good 
grade of live stock. Mr. Schuster is a republican, as was his father, and 
he and his family are members of the Church of Christ. 

March 2, 1898, Frank Schuster was married to Mary Sophia Ruf, and 
to this union have been born five children, as follows: Clarence R., born 
Aug. 29, 1899, died Sept. 28, 1899 ; Aubrey Lee, born Aug. 16, 1900 ; Wilbur 
E., Nov. 10. 1902; Mary L., Feb. 9, 1905, and Nettie L., Sept. 29, 1906. 
Mrs. Schuster was born at Council Grove, Kan., Nov. 22, 1872, daughter 
of Joseph and Johanna (Schuster) Ruf, natives of Germany, who were 
married at Jioonville, Aug. 8, 1858. Joseph Ruf was a tailor. He learned 
his trade in his native land and came to this country, locating in Missouri, 
but during the course of his life lived in several states in the West. He 
died at the age of 49 years on Jan. 16, 1877, and his widow died Aug. 16, 
1897, 67 years of age. Joseph Ruf and his wife were the parents of nine 
children, of whom Mrs. Schuster was the youngest and four of whom are 
still living. 

William O. Burge, one of the progressive farmers and stockmen of 
LaMine township was born on a farm southeast of Boonville Jan. 29, 1861, 
son of Oscar F. and Elizabeth (Miller) Burge, the latter of whom also 
was born in this county and both of whom spent their last days here. 
Oscar F. Burge was born in Kentucky in 1820. In 1850 he went to Cali- 
fornia in the great gold rush of that year, but returned to Kentucky in 
1853. In 1856 he came to Missouri and located in Bates County, where 
he remained until 1861, when he moved to Cooper County and began farm- 
ing in Clarks Fork township,, where his wife owned a farm. He died 
there on Nov. 5, 1900. Oscar F. Burge was twice married. By his first 
wife, Elizabeth Miller, he was the father of six children, of whom four 
are still living, those besides the subject of this sketch being John Burge, 
living east of Boonville; Robert Burge, who is engaged in the mercantile 



824 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

business at Boonville, and Dora, who is living in Kentucky. The mother 
of these children died in 1872 and Oscar F. Burge married a widow, Mrs. 
Williams. To this latter union were born two children, but one of whom, 
Eldridge Burge, of Boonville, survives. 

Reared on the home farm southeast of Boonville in Clarks Fork town- 
ship, William 0. Burge received his schooling in the schools of that town- 
ship and early began working at farm labor, his wages being 50 cents a 
day. Later he operated a threshing rig and in 1894 bought his first farm 
of 90 acres in Clarks Fork township. He improved that place and three 
years later sold it and bought 160 acres in Clinton County. In 1899 he 
married and established his home on his Clinton County place, remaining 
there until 1905 when he bought his present farm in Cooper County and 
has since made his home on this place. In addition to his farm of 338 
acres in LaMine township, Mr. Burge owns a half interest in the old Burge 
home place in Clarks Fork township. On his home farm he has erected a 
handsome six-room modern residence and his extensive cattle barns and 
other improvements are in keeping with the same. Mr. Burge raises 
cattle for the market. He also is a stockholder in the Boonville National 
Bank. He is a democrat and he and his family are members of the Bap- 
tist Church. 

Nov. 8, 1899, William O. Burge was married to Jennie Tillett and to 
this union three children have been born : Oscar L., a student in Kemper 
Military School; one who died in infancy, and Paul C, at home. Mrs. 
Burge was bom in Tennessee, but has been a resident of Missouri since 
her girlhood, her parents having come to this state many years ago, locat- 
ing in Clinton County, where they spent the remainder of their lives. 

Edward H. Harris, banker, retired farmer, and merchant of Pilot 
Grove, and for many years recognized as one of the most potent factors 
in the commercial life of this community, is a native of Kentucky. He 
was born in Bourbon County, Ky., Dec. 20, 1830, son of Richard and 
Frances (Wilson) Harris, the latter of whom spent her last days in 
Cooper County. 

Richard Harris was born in Kentucky, a son of Nathaniel Harris, a 
Virginia of Irish stock, and all his life was spent there, his death occur- 
ring in 1831. He and his wife were the parents of five children, two of 
whom are living, the subject of this sketch having a sister, Mrs. Sarah 
Grayson, a widow, who makes her home with him at Pilot Grove. Some 
time after the death of Richard Harris, his widow married W. T. Red- 
mond, a Kentuckian, and to that union a daughter was born. The Red- 




EDWARD II HARRIS 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 825 

monds came to Missouri from Kentucky in 1840, and settled on a farm 
near Boonville, W. T. Redmond and his wife spending the rest of their 
lives there. 

Edward H. Harris was but 10 months of age when his father died. 
When he was a lad of eight, he was brought to Missouri by his much elder 
brother, Dr. M. W. Harris, who became a successful physician in this 
county, as well as an extensive land-owner, and here grew to manhood. 
It was in 1838 when he came to Cooper County, and he remained on his 
brother's farm south of Boonville until he was 17 years of age, in 1847, 
when he entered the Kemper School at Boonville. There he continued 
his schooling, taking Greek and Latin in addition to the extensive curri- 
culum provided in English for four years. While carrying on his studies 
at Kemper, Mr. Harris did not neglect his interest in agricultural affairs, 
and upon leaving school, in 1851, he bought, for $6.25 an acre, a tract of 
land two miles west of where Pilot Grove village later sprang up, and 
which tract is now regai'ded as one of the best farms in Cooper County. 
Not long after buying this tract, Mr. Harris married and established his 
home in a log cabin he erected on his farm. He remained there about 10 
years, developing the place, and then sold it and bought what was known 
as the old Doctor Phillips farm, a mile south of the grove. On this latter 
place he had a better home, and there he and his wife reared their fam- 
ily. Twenty years or more after taking up his residence on the Phillips 
place, Mr. Harris bought 13 acres, now within the city limits of Pilot 
Grove, the land being owned by J. W. Roe, who laid out a townsite, erected 
the first store building of Pilot Grove, and engaged in the general mer- 
cantile business. For 18 years he continued in the mercantile business. 
Mr. Harris then sold his store and engaged in the banking business, organ- 
izing the Pilot Grove Bank, of which he was elected president, a position 
which he held for 25 years during which time he built up one of the most 
substantial financial instiutions in this section. At the time Mr. Harris 
organized his bank at Pilot Grove, there were but two other banks in 
Cooper County and both of these were situated at Boonville. From the 
very beginning of his banking operations Mr. Harris was successful, and 
as his affairs prospered he extended his banking interests, at the same 
time being much gratified to see two of his sons engage successfully in the 
same line, until now he is a stockholder in the Pilot Grove Bank, the 
Southwest National Bank, the Bank of Commerce of Kansas City, the 
Merchants Bank of Eldorado Springs, and the Bank of Harwood at Har- 
wood, Mo., and is widely known in commercial circles over the State as 



826 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

one of Missouri's veteran bankers and successful capitalists. Mr. Harris 
is a democrat on national issues, but for years past has held pronounced 
independent leanings in the campaigns in which local issues were domi- 
nant. For 20 years or more he has been a member of the Ancient Free 
and Accepted Masons at Pilot Grove. 

About 1852, Edward H. Harris was married to Mary Ellis, who died 
about 20 years ago, and whose memory is enshrined in the heart of her 
husband. Mrs. Harris was born in Orange County, Virginia, about the 
year 1832, and, like her husband, was but a child when she came to Mis- 
souri, her parents becoming prominent among the Virginia colonists who 
became pioneers of this region. To Edward H. and Mary (Ellis) Harris 
seven children were born, namely: Richard, now engaged in business at 
Detroit, Mich. ; William E., who is engaged in business in New York City ; 
Sarah, widow of the late R. M. Fink, who makes her home with her 
father at Pilot Grove; Margaret, wife of W. F. Johnson, editor of this 
History of Cooper County ; Mary, at home ; Edward H., Jr., cashier Third 
National Bank of Sedalia, this State, and Frederick Kemper Harris, pres- 
ident of the bank at Eldorado Springs. Mrs. Fink, who is now making 
her home with her father, has two children, a son, Frederick, who is now 
(1919 serving the United States Navy, and daughter, Madge, living at 
Kansas City, Mo. 

Mr. Harris was the means of the depot being built at Pilot Grove ; he 
gave the largest part of the $1,650.00 to the railroad company for estab- 
lishing a depot here. 

John R. Higginbotham, former marshal of Blackwater, was bom on 
a farm in Montgomery County, Aug. 6, 1881, son of William H. H. and 
Johanna (Davis) Higginbotham, the former of whom spent his last days 
in Saline County. William Henry Harrison Higginbotham was born near 
Parma, Mo., Dec. 8, 1838, son of Moses and Susan Ewing (Sproul) Hig- 
ginbotham, the latter born in Crab Orchard, Ky., of a family connected 
with the William Henry Harrison's of Virginia stock. Moses Higgin- 
botham was born in Tazewell County, Va., member of an old Colonial 
family, and came to Missouri by way of Kentucky, he and his wife rear- 
ing their family in this State. William H. H. Higginbotham grew to man- 
hood in this State. June 17, 1861, at Paris, Mo., he enlisted in the Con- 
federate Army as a member of Company A, with which command he saw 
much active service under Generals Price and Joe Shelby, participated in 
several important battles and received more than one wound. On March 
9, 1863, he married Johanna Davis, of Quincy, 111., and settled in Mont- 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 827 

gomery County, Mo. He later moved to Saline County, where he died in 
Aug., 1914. He and his wife were the parents of 12 children, of whom 
two died in infancy, the others being: William F., an agricultural expert, 
assistant farmer at the Missouri Training School, Boonville; Susan, de- 
ceased; Sidney J., of Oklahoma City; Samuel T., of Kansas City, Mo.; 
Wade H., of Slater, Mo. ; Thomas B., of Hannibal ; Frances, of Boonville ; 
Grover C, of Bluffton, 111. ; John R. ; and Julia, wife of George Mackler, 
Boonville township. The mother of these children was born in Quincy, 
111., Oct., 1844, and is now living at Boonville. 

John R. Higginbotham received his schooling in the public schools. 
In 1906, he came to Cooper County and located at Blackwater." It was not 
long until he became recognized as one of the personal factors of that 
town and he presently was elected town marshal, a position he held by 
successive re-elections for six years, or until in 1912, when he bought a 
farm of 170 acres in LaMine township and entered upon the task of im- 
proving the same. He erected a new house and barn, fenced the place 
and made other substantial improvements. When he bought the place 
there were but 50 acres of it under cultivation. Now there are 130 acres 
under cultivation. In addition to his general farming, Mr. Higginbotham 
gave considerable attention to the raising of live stock. In Feb., 1919, 
he sold the farm to advantage and bought a farm of 245 acres near Black- 
water, LaMine township. Mr. Higginbotham is a democrat. He is a 
member of Cooper Lodge No. 36, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at 
Boonville. 

William H. Deck, druggist at Pilot Grove and a leading commercial 
factor of that town, was bom at Kansas City, Mo., Aug. 1, 1887, son of 
Jacob and Anna (Fessler) Deck, who have for years been residents of 
Boonville. Jacob Deck was born in the province of Alsace, France, and 
was but eight or nine years of age when he came to America with his 
parents, the family locating in Missouri, where he grew to manhood and 
after his marriage established his home, after a time locating at Boon- 
ville, where he is now engaged in the retail meat business. To him and 
his wife eight children have been born. Of these all are living save two. 

William H. Deck received his schooling in the schools of Boonville 
and was graduated from the high school there in 1905, after which he 
entered Kemper Military School, from which he was graduated in 1906. 
In the meantime he had been giving his attention to the study of phar- 
macy and upon leaving school he entered the Mittelbach drug store at 
Boonville as a clerk, continuing for four years, or until 1910, during which 



828 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

time he completed his pharmacy course. Thus equipped, he went to 
Steelville, Mo., where he remained for two years, clerking in a drug store, 
until 1912. During this latter year he acquired further experience in the 
drug business as a clerk at Salem and at Columbia and in 1913 returned 
to Cooper County and bought the drug store of Meyer Brothers at Pilot 
Grove. Since taking possession of that store Mr. Deck has made nu- 
merous improvements and has considerably enlarged the stock, as well as 
increased the facilities for the carrying on of the business, now having a 
full line of drugs and druggists' sundries, and is doing a good business, 
being recognized as one of the "live" young business men of the town. 
Mr. Deck is an independent republican. He is affiliated with the Ancient 
Free and Accepted Masons and the Woodmen of the World and is the 
present secretary of the former lodge. He is a member of the Evangel- 
ical Church, and his wife of the Christian Church. 

July 17, 1910, William H. Deck was united in marriage to Marie L. 
Roe, who was born in Pilot Grove, Aug. 17, 1891, daughter of Prof. D. 
Lee and Lillie (Fray) Roe. Professor Roe is now residing at Canadian, 
Okla. His wife is deceased. Prof. D. Lee Roe was born at Pilot Grove, a 
member of a pioneer family, who were owners of the land on which the 
town is situated. Professor Roe formerly and for a number of years 
was a teacher in the Pilot Grove schools and is now superintendent of 
schools at Canadian, Okla. 

Dr. George C. Jones, Jr., well-known doctor of dental surgery at 
Pilot Grove, this county, and long recognized as one of the progressive 
citizens of that community, is a native son of Cooper County and has 
resided here all his life with the exception of that period of his life when 
he was away completing his schooling. He was born on a farm in Black- 
water township on March 9, 1876, son of George C. and Anna (Trent) 
Jones, further mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume. 

Reared on the home farm in Blackwater township, the junior George 
C. Jones received his early schooling in. the schools of that neighborhood 
and the Johnson Military School at Pilot Grove. Upon leaving the latter 
institution, he entered Central College at Fayette and later took a course 
at Washington University, where he received his first year in the study 
of dental surgery, finishing in the Dental College at St. Louis in 1900. 
Thus admirably equipped for the practice of his chosen profession, Doctor 
Jones in the following year, 1901, opened an office at Pilot Grove, where 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 829 

he ever since has been successfully engaged in practice. He has shown 
his faith in Cooper County land by investing in a farm of 160 acres in 
Blackwater township and is vitally interested in the general development 
of the region in which his life has been spent. By political preference the 
Doctor is a democrat and gives close attention to local civic affairs, but 
he has not been a seeker after public office. 

William A. Scott, mayor of the city of Pilot Grove and for many 
years one of the best known business men there, was born in McLean 
County, 111., Aug. 13, 1859, son of John and Harriet (Diffenbaugh) Scott, 
the latter of whom was born in that same county, who came to Cooper 
County many years ago. John Scott was born in Ohio, but early became 
a resident of Illinois, where he married and where he resided until after 
the close of the Civil War, when he came to Missouri with his family and 
located on a farm in the vicinity of Prairie Home, where he spent the rest 
of his life. He died in 1887, aged 60 years. His widow died in 1890, aged 
55 years. John Scott and his wife were the parents of five children: 
William A. ; one died in infancy ; Andrew, Moniteau County ; Bettie ; and 
Hester, who are now living in California. 

William A. Scott received his schooling in the district schools and 
grew up a farmer, becoming the owner of land, both in Moniteau and 
Cooper Counties. In 1895, Mr. Scott sold his land and located at Pilot 
Grove, where he became engaged in the retail meat business, which he 
ever since has followed wth success. He has long given considerable 
attention to raising pure-bred Poland China hogs for breeding purposes 
and has created a wide market for the output of his pens, shipping breed- 
ing stock to far-distant points. As an example of the demand that has 
been created for his pigs, it may be said that a recent bunch of 25 head 
of spring pigs netted him $1,000. Mr. Scott is a democrat and has for 
years been an active factor in party affairs. In 1916, he was elected 
mayor of Pilot Grove to fill a vacancy and in the ensuing election was re- 
elected and is now serving his second term. Mr. Scott is a member of 
the Masons and he and his family are members of the Presbyterian 
Church. 

Jan. 5, 1882, William A. Scott was married to Birdie Lee Smith 
and to this union three children have been born: Artie Belle, wife of 
Guy Long, a hardware merchant, Pilot Grove; Nellie, wife of Boyd Lusk, 
St. Louis, and Catherine, at home with her parents. Mrs. Scott was bom 



830 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

in Cooper County and is a member of a pioneer family. Her parents, 
John I. Smith and wife, the latter of whom was a Guyer, were born in 
Kentucky and many years ago became residents of Cooper County, where 
their last days were spent. 

Hamilton Lusk, one of the most substantial retired fanners and 
stock breeders of Cooper County, living at Pilot Grove, was born in Polk 
County, March 1, 1858, son of James and Joanna (Bond) Lusk, Tennes- 
seeans, whose last days were spent in Cooper County. James Lusk was 
born in 1818 and grew to manhood in Tennessee, coming into Missouri 
after his marriage and locating in Polk County, where he remained until 
after the close of the Civil War, when, in 1865, he moved to Cooper 
County and bought a farm four miles south of Pilot Grove, where he 
spent the remainder of his life. He died in 1884. His widow died in 1892. 
She was born in 1818. James Lusk and his wife were the parents of 
eight children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the only survivor. 
The eldest son, John Lusk, a soldier of the Confederacy, was killed in 
battle at Helena, Ark. Another son, Benjamin Lusk, also was a soldier 
of the Confederacy. He died in Kansas City, Mo., a few years ago. 

Hamilton Lusk was about seven years of age when his parents came 
to this county and he grew to manhood on the home place, south of Pilot 
Grove, receiving his schooling at Mt. Vernon and at Pleasant Green. He 
remained on the home farm and after the death of his father, bought the 
interests of the other heirs in the place and gradually adding to the same 
until he became the owner of 557 acres, which he developed into one of 
the best improved farms in the county, among these improvements being 
a modern farm house, which was looked on as one of the finest in Cooper 
County. In addition to his general farming, Mr. Lusk for years gave par- 
ticular attention to the breeding of pure bred Poland China hogs and 
Hampshires and the pure bred Shorthorn cattle. In 1914 he sold his 
land and closed out his live stock and retired, and is now living in Pilot 
Grove in a house which was erected by his son, Boyd S., and which is 
the finest house in the town. Mr. Lusk has been connected with the Pilot 
Grove Bank for 25 years, and has for years been a member of the board 
of directors of that financial institution. He is a democrat, but has not 
been a seeker after public office. He is a Mason. 

Oct. 16, 1884, Hamilton Lusk was united in marriage to Lulu Schlotz- 
hauer, of this county, and to this union four children have been born: 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 831 

Stella V., married Prof. Roy Wharton and is now living at Columbia, 
where Professor Wharton is engaged in teaching civil engineering in the 
university; Edgar Hamilton, deceased; Boyd S., who is now living in St. 
Louis, where he is engaged in the grain commission business, and Mar- 
shall B. Lusk, who was with the American Army of Occupation in Eu- 
rope. Marshall B. Lusk was born on June 16, 1896. In June, 1917, two 
months after this country entered the World War, he was inducted into 
the National Army and went into training at Camp Dodge, where he be- 
came attached to the Signal Corps, with which command he sailed in the 
following August for France, attached to the 351st Regiment, Infantry, 
88th Division, and with that command participated in some of the mo«t 
difficult campaigning of the war, in one battle about 30 of the members 
of his company having been killed. He was discharged at Camp Taylor, 
June 6, 1919, now living at St. Louis, engaging in business with his 
brother, Boyd S. Mrs. Lusk was born in Cooper County of German par- 
entage, her parents, John W. Schlotzhaur and wife, the latter of whom 
was a Weaver, both having been born in Germany. John W. Schlotzhaur 
settled in Cooper County many years ago and is still living in the Harris 
neighborhood. 

Dr. Thomas 0. Pendleton, one of the best known members of the 
medical profession in Cooper County, is a Kentuckian. He was born at 
Goshen, Ky., Jan. 26, 1852, son of Dr. George T. and Catherine (Ma- 
gruder) Pendleton, both also natives of Kentucky, who came to Missouri 
many years ago and whose last days were spent in this county. 

Dr. George T. Pendleton received his professional education in the 
Kentucky School of Medicine, Louisville, and in his native state began 
the practice of his profession, remaining there until 1852, when he came 
to Missouri with his family and located in Cooper County, opening an 
office at Pilot Grove, where he continued in practice the rest of his life, 
becoming widely known over the county as one of the leaders of his pro- 
fession. During the latter years of his life the burden of his practice 
was lifted from his shoulders by his son, the subject of this review, who 
became associated with his father in practice six or seven years before 
the latter's death, which occurred about 1883. The senior Doctor Pendle- 
ton and his wife were the parents of eight children, all of whom are still 
living, and of whom the subject of this sketch was the first born, the 
others being as follows: William Pendleton, an attorney-at-Iaw, of 



832 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Boonville; Mrs. Elizabeth A. Foster, Macon, Ga. ; Mrs. Catherine Stites, 
of Pilot Gi'ove; Stapleton Pendleton, Denver, Colo.; Susan R., of Pilot 
Grove; Mrs. Nellie Embry, living in California, and George T., lawyer, 
Boonville. 

Reared at Pilot Grove, Thomas 0. Pendleton received his early 
schooling in that then village and in Cully's School at Bunceton. From 
the days of his boyhood, he was attracted to his father's profession and 
under the kindly and skillful preceptorship of his father, was prepared 
for medical school. In 1875 he entered the Missouri Medical School at 
St. Louis and so well equipped was he by preparatory study that he was 
enabled to graduate in the spring of 1876. Upon receiving his diploma, 
Doctor Pendleton returned to Pilot Grove prepared to relieve his father 
of the growing burden of the latter's practice, which, owing to his ad- 
vancing years, was growing too much for the elder doctor, and he ever 
since has continued in practice there; so long a time, in fact, that for 
some time he has expressed a desire to be permitted to retire from prac- 
tice, but every expression of this character has met with such stout oppo- 
sition on the part of those in the community who have so long depended 
upon his ministrations that he has again and again put off the day of the 
announcement of his definite intention to retire. The Doctor is a stock- 
holder in the Citizens Bank. He is a democrat and he and his family are 
members of the Methodist Church. 

July 31, 1876, Dr. Thomas 0. Pendleton was united in marriage to 
Ida Cunningham, who was born at St. Charles, Mo., and to this union 
one child has been born, Gertrude, who is living at Boonville. 

John W. Schlotzhauer, one of Pilot Grove township's successful farm- 
ers and stockmen, is a native son of Cooper County. He was born on a 
farm in Clear Creek township, March 30, 1879, son of John and Rickay 
(Masel) Schlotzhauer, both of whom also were born in this county, and 
the former is still living in Clear Creek township. 

John Schlotzhauer was born on a pioneer farm in what is now Pales- 
tine township, June 1, 1839, a son of Henry Schlotzhauer and wife, who 
were among the early settlers in that community. Henry Schlotzhauer 
was a native of Germany, and his wife was born in France. They were 
married in Germany and immediately afterward came to the United 
States. They came to St. Louis, and from there up the Missouri River 
and located in Cooper County, settling in Palestine township, reared their 
family and spent the remainder of their lives. It was on that pioneer 
farm that John Schlotzhauer grew to manhood, early taking his part in 



3 
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N 

X 




HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 833 

the development of the place. During the progress of the Civil War he 
was a member of the Home Guard. After his marriage he settled in 
Clear Creek township and became one of the substantial farmers of that 
neighborhood, and is still living there, the place now being operated by 
his son, Ernest. His wife, who was born in Palestine township in 1845, 
died April 17, 1901. She was a member of the Methodist Church, as is 
her husband, and their children were reared in that faith. There are 
seven children: James H., Pleasant Green; Mrs. Hamilton Luck, of whom 
further mention is made in this volume ; Mrs. P. G. Marshall, Marshall, 
Mo. ; John W. ; Ernest, on the home farm in Clear Creek township ; Mrs. 
Charles B. Sly, and Fred W., Clear Creek township. 

John W. Schlotzhauer was educated in the district schools and Pilot 
Grove College. When 21 years of age he began farming on his own 
account, renting land from his father, and has ever since been 
engaged in farming. At the age of 23 he bought from his father 120 
acres in Pilot Grove township. Later, he bought 100 acres more, a part 
of the old homestead of his grandfather, Henry Schlotzhauer, this giving 
him 220 acres, in addition to which he is farming another 100 acres, thus 
having control of 320 acres. In addition to general farming, he is exten- 
sively engaged in the raising of live stock, both cattle and hogs, and gives 
particular attention to his Aberdeen-Angus cattle. Mr. Schlotzhauer has 
made extensive improvements on his place, including two capacious silos, 
and is one of the most progressive farmers that section. He is a republi- 
can. He and his family are members of the Methodist Church. 

Nov. 28, 1893, John W. Schlotzhauer was married to Bettie Hampy, 
who was born in Palestine township on the farm of Nelson Leonard. She 
is a daughter of John and Mary (Yost) Hampy, both of whom were bom 
in Morgan County, Mo., who later came to Cooper County, moving 12 
years ago to Saline County. They live at Colorado Springs, Colo. Mr. 
and Mrs. Schlotzhauer have five children: Laura, married R. Eichel- 
berger, Columbia, Mo. ; Roy ; Herbert ; Ruby and Alice. 

Charles M. Shepherd, cashier of the Pilot Grove Bank at Pilot Grove, 
was born in McDonough County, 111., April 12, 1866, son of Levi and 
Joanna (Campbell) Shepherd, both natives of Missouri, the latter born in 
this county. Levi Shepherd, who died a few years ago, one of the sub- 
stantial landowners of Cooper County, was born at the then mere trading 
post of Independence, Jackson County, in January, 1833, a son of Elijah 
Shepherd and wife, Virginains, who were among the early settlers of that 
(45) 



834 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

place. When he was 18 years of age, Levi Shepherd came to Cooper 
County, where he afterward was married, and his interests thereafter 
were ever closely connected with this county, though for a time during 
and after the Civil War he resided in Illinois. During the latter part of 
the war, he was drafted into service and among the engagements in 
which he participated was the battle at Lexington, Mo. He settled in 
Saline township, this county, and at the time of his death was the owner 
of a fine farm of 270 acres, which is still owned by the heirs of the estate. 
For more than 60 years, Levi Shepherd was an earnest member of the 
Baptist Church, as was his wife, and they were useful and helpful factors 
in the social and moral life of the community. Levi Shepherd died in 
1915, and his widow died in 1917, aged 82 years. She was born in Saline 
township, daughter of Bradley and Meekie (Hall) Campbell, Tennessee- 
ans, who were among the earliest residents of that township, they having 
come up the river on flat boats and settled here on what is still known as 
the Campbell homestead place, 100 years ago. Levi Shepherd was of 
Scottish stock and his wife was of English descent, both families being 
of Colonial stock. Of the seven children bom to Levi and Joanna (Camp- 
bell) Shepherd, four are still living, those besides the subject of this 
sketch, the youngest, being : James B. Shepherd, of Wooldridge, Mo. ; 
Mrs. Rebecca Eager, Overton, and Mrs. Alice Clayton, of Wooldridge. 

Reared on the home farm in Saline township, Charles M. Shepherd 
grew to manhood there, receiving his elementary schooling in the district 
schools. This he supplemented by a course at Hooper Institute at Clarks- 
burg, where he was graduated in 1889, and in that year, after a brief 
course in normal work, passed the state examination under State Super- 
intendent W. E. Coleman and was granted a teacher's certificate for life. 
Thus admirably equipped for the teaching profession, Mr. Shepherd en- 
tered the ranks of Cooper County's teaching corps and for nine years was 
engaged in teaching in this county. In 1899, he was appointed by W. B. 
Rissler, county clerk, to serve as deputy clerk, and for four years, or until 
1903, he served in that capacity. Mr. Shepherd then engaged in the real 
estate business at Boonville until 1907, when he assisted in the organ- 
ization of the Bank of Blackwater at Blackwater, and as cashier of that 
institution, opened the same and started it on its successful career, con- 
tinuing thus engaged until June 9, 1913, when he entered upon his pres- 
ent position as cashier of the Pilot Grove Bank at Pilot Grove, to the 
duties of which position he since has been giving his undivided and earn- 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 835 

est attention. Mr. Shepherd is a democrat. He and his family are mem- 
bers of the Baptist Church, of which he is a deacon, and he is a York 
Rite Mason, affiliated with the Blue Lodge at Pilot Grove and the Com- 
mandery at Boonville. 

June 1, 1898, Charles M. Shepherd was united in marriage to Hattie 
M. Simms, of this county, and to this union three children have been 
born : Mable L., attending Hardin College at Mexico, Mo. ; William L., 
a student in the Pilot Grove High School, and Josephine. Mrs. Shepherd 
is a member of one of Cooper County's pioneer families. She was born 
in Saline township, daughter of H. Clay and Mary L. V. (Eager) Simms, 
Virginians, the latter of whom was a daughter of Lewis Eager, whose 
wife was a daughter of the pioneer Gooch, who came into this region in 
an early day and erected a mill in the southern part of what is now Saline 
township. He operated this mill for fifty years and the present village 
of Gooch's Mill gradually grew as the settlement expanded. 

Clemens A. Lammers, proprietor of "Shady Brook" farm in Pilot 
Grove township, this county, and a member of the board of directors of 
the Citizens Bank of Pilot Grove, was born in St. Louis, Mo., Dec. 27, 
1870, son of Henry and Wilhelmina (Vonderhaar) Lammers, natives of 
Germany, who were married in St. Louis, where they had located upon 
coming to this country about 1868, and who remained there until in 1877, 
when they came to Cooper County and settled on a farm in Pilot Grove 
township, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Of the children 
bom to Henry Lammers and his wife, six grew to maturity and five are 
still living, all residents of Cooper County. 

Clemens A. Lammers was but six years of age when his parents 
located in this county and he grew to manhood on the home farm in Pilot 
Grove township, receiving his schooling in the district schools. In 1895, 
he bought the farm on which he has since resided. "Shady Brook" is a 
well improved place of 305 acres on which Mr. Lammers has carried on his 
general farming and stock raising successfully. Among the improve- 
ments on the place are the commodious dwelling house and the corrugated 
iron barn, other improvements being in keeping with the same. Mr. 
Lammers is a member of the board of directors of the Citizens Bank of 
Pilot Grove and is one of the successful men of the community. He is 
a republican and he and his family are members of the Catholic Church 
and he is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus and the M. B. A. 

Feb. 13, 1895, Clemens A. Lammers was united in marriage with 



836 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Pauline Bahm, who was born in Pilot Grove township, daughter of Peter 
D. Bahm and wife, and to this union 10 children have been bora, two of 
whom died in infancy, the others being Herman, William, Augustine, 
Lorene, Isabel, Alice, Walter and Gilbert. 

Archibald McGuire, proprietor of "Mountcalm" farm in Blackwater 
township and one of the substantial farmers and stockmen of Cooper 
County. He was born on a farm in Pilot Grove township Dec. 18, 1876, 
son of John and Hannah McGuire, who were the parents of nine children, 
of whom six sui-vive as follows : George, a retired farmer, Nelson, ; 
Uncas, also living near Nelson ; Mrs. William Taylor, also of Nelson ; Mrs. 
Frances Younger, of Nelson ; Mrs. M. R. Bromer, Boonville, and Archibald. 

Archibald McGuire received his schooling in the district schools and 
from his boyhood has devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits. When 
21 years of age he rented a farm near Boonville and began to farm on his 
own account for six years, when he took a farm in Blackwater township 
and in the fall of 1904 established his home at "Mountcalm", where he 
now lives, a farm of 180 acres owned by his wife in section 13 of that 
township. In addition to his interest in this place Mr. McGuire is the 
owner of 375 acres. He has given considerable attention to the raising 
of live stock. His place is well improved. Mr. McGuire takes an interest 
in local civic affairs, but is independent in his political views. He and 
his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. 

Sept. 4, 1904, Archibald McGuire was married to Nancy Trent Jones, 
a member of one of the real pioneer families of Cooper County, and to 
this union two children have been born: Archibald Jones McGuire and 
Woodrow Wilson McGuire. Mrs. McGuire was bora near the place on 
which she is now living in Blackwater township (the old Jones home- 
stead) Jan. 1, 1881, daughter of George C. and Nannie (Trent) Jones, 
both members of pioneer families in this county, the founder of which 
family here was Caleb Jones, grandfather of Mrs. McGuire, who came 
here from Kentucky penniless in 1826 and who at the time of his death 
in 1883 was said to be the wealthiest man in Cooper County. 

John Schlotzhauer, one of Cooper County's most highly respected 
citizens, is now living retired in Clear Creek township. He was born on 
a pioneer farm in Clear Creek township, his birthplace having been a log 
cabin with a dirt floor, June 1, 1839, son of Henry and Catherine (Lingen) 
Schlotzhauer, who were among the early settlers of Cooper County. 

Henry Schlotzhauer was born in Germany, and there remained until 





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JOHN SCHLOTZHAUER 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 837 

young manhood, when he came to the United States, arriving at New 
Orleans, and for a time remained in the South, where he married Cather- 
ine Lingen, who was born in Alsace, France, and who had come to this 
country with her parents. Not long after their marriage, Henry Schlotz- 
hauer and his wife came by boat up the Mississippi and thence up the 
Missouri to Cooper County and settled in Clear Creek township, where 
they established their home in a log cabin. In that log cabin the first 
of their children were born, but they soon had a better house, and as time 
passed had a well improved farm. On that place they spent the remainder 
of their lives, useful and influential pioneers of Cooper County. Henry 
Schlotzhauer and his wife were the parents of six children, as follows: 
John ; Henry, Pilot Grove township ; Christina, wife of D. F. Nixon, Pilot 
Grove; Christian C, Pilot Grove township; Rudolph H., a resident of 
California, and Fredericka, deceased. 

John Schlotzhauer was reared on the farm on which he was born in 
Clear Creek township, and has always been a farmer. He became the 
owner of 500 acres of land, which in later years he sold to his sons, and 
is thus relieved of the responsibility of management, being now in a 
position to take things easy. During the Civil War, Mr. Schlotzhauer 
served as a member of the Home Guard. He has been twice married, his 
first wife, America Masel, was born in this county, a member of one of 
the pioneer families, and to whom he was married in 1866 ; she died many 
years ago. She was a daughter of Sylvester Masel, who also was born 
in this county, a son of one of the very early early settlers in this part of 
Missouri. To John and America (Masel) Schlotzhauer were born seven 
children, of whom further mention is made in this volume. Following 
the death of his first wife, Mr. Schlotzhauer married Mrs. Sarah V. 
(Long) Holman, widow of M. F. Holman, who died without issue. Mr. 
Schlotzhauer is one of the stockholders in the Boonville National Bank 
of Boonville. Politically, he is an independent republican, and is a Meth- 
odist. 

Theodore Koonse, an extensive farmer and stockman of Cooper 
County, was born in Northumberland County, Pa., Aug. 30, 1870, son of 
George R. and Emma (Gerhardt) Koonse, both natives of that same state. 
George R. Koonse grew up in Pennsylvania, familiar with the building 
trades and in his later life became a successful carpenter and building 
contractor. During the Civil War he served as a soldier of the Union, 
serving first as a private in one of the Pennsylvania infantry regiments 



838 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

and later with the cavalry and in one of the battles in which he was 
engaged was seriously wounded and was taken prisoner and confined in 
Libby prison, from which he was exchanged on account of his wound. 
In 1877 he came with his wife and family west and located at Ellsworth, 
Kan., where he became engaged as a building contractor and also worked 
for some time as a railroad carpenter. About 1895 he moved to Hugo, 
Okla., where he and his wife are now living retired, he being 77 years of 
age and his wife, 76. Two children were born to them: Mrs. Anna Spof- 
ford, now deceased, and Theodore. 

Theodore Koonse was seven years of age when his parents moved 
from Pennsylvania to Kansas and in the latter state he grew to manhood. 
In 1893 he came to Missouri and located at Boonville, where he worked for 
a while and then became engaged as a farm hand, working for 40 cents 
a day, and continued thus employed until 1901, since which time he has 
made his home on the farm on which he and his family are now living, 
a well improved place of 220 acres which is owned by his wife. Mr. 
Koonse is carrying on his farming operations on quite an extensive scale, 
using gas tractors and cultivating in all 400 acres of land, besides feeding 
much live stock. In the fall of 1918 he put in 130 acres of wheat and in 
the following spring put in an additional acreage of twenty-five acres in 
spring wheat, he having found that, contrary to the results of similar 
experiments on the part of some of his neighbors, spring wheat can be 
successfully raised in Boonville township. In his political views Mr. 
Koonse reserves the right to be independent, declining to be confined in 
his opinions of men and policies by party ties. 

July 10, 1901, Theodore Koonse was united in marriage to Lucy Pre- 
witt and to this union two children have been born, George P. and Van 
Wesley. Mrs. Koonse was born on the place on which she is now living, 
March 3, 1876, and has lived there all her life. She is the daughter of 
William and Nannie (Redd) Prewitt, the latter of whom, a native of 
Cooper County, is still living, making her home with her daughter on the 
old Prewitt homestead, which is regarded as one of the historic spots in 
west Boonville township, one of the first school houses in Cooper County 
having been erected just as the rear of the old original log cabin which 
stood on the place in pioneer days. A quarter of a mile south of the 
place is Magee Grove, a favorite camping ground for the freighters in the 
days of the old overland trail which passed through this farm. In the 
old days the Prewitt farm, which is in sections 13 and 14 of Boonville 
township, was owned by a Mr. Wilson, who hauled lumber by ox teams 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 839 

from Arkansas to erect a house on the place, exchanging merchandise 
for the lumber. For some years after coming to this county, Mr. Koonse 
was engaged in operating a threshing rig and saw-mill and in Sept., 1903, 
suffered the misfortune of losing his left arm while trying to manipulate 
the belting which controlled the big saw. He is now running a threshing 
rig and has two large tractors. 

Dr. Enslie Irvin Schilb, a well known young dentist of Pilot Grove, 
who served during the greater part of the period in which the United 
States participated in the World War as a private and later as first lieu- 
tenant in the dental detachment of the National Army and holds a com- 
mission in reserve corp for period of five years, was born at Otterville, 
April 1, 1893, a son of Francis and Sophia (Spiler) Schilb. 

Francis Schilb also was a native of Cooper County, born at Gooch's 
Mill in 1861, a son of Adam Schilb and wife, the former of whom was 
born in Germany and as a young man came to the United States, first 
locating in Kentucky, later coming to Missouri, where he settled on a 
farm in Cooper County and here spent the remainder of his life, a sub- 
stantial resident of the Gooch's Mill neighborhood. Francis Schilb grew 
up as a farmer and for some time followed that vocation near Otterville, 
but in 1899 he moved to Pilot Grove, where he was engaged in the hard- 
ware business until his death in 1911. His widow is making her home 
with her son, Doctor Schilb, at Pilot Grove. She was born on a farm six 
miles east of Boonville in 1866, daughter of Ernest Spiler and wife, the 
latter of whom was a Graff and both of whom were born in Germany, 
having come here with their respective parents in the latter '40s or early 
'50s. To Francis and Sophia (Spiler) Schilb were born three children, 
those besides the subject of this review being Emily, wife of Ray Lot- 
speich, of Nelson, Mo., and Ernest A., deceased. 

Dr. Enslie I. Schilb received excellent training for the practice of the 
exacting profession to which he early directed his studies and he has a 
well equipped office at Pilot Grove. He was but five years of age when 
his parents moved from the farm to Pilot Grove and his early schooling 
was received in the schools of that town, including the course in the 
academy there. In 1912 he entered the dental department of the Uni- 
versity at St. Louis and was graduated in June, 1915. Doctor Schilb then 
returned to Pilot Grove and opened an office for the practice of his pro- 
fession. In Jan., 1918, at Jefferson Barracks he enlisted in the National 
Army as a private in the dental detachment. In the following June he 
was called to service and was assigned to Camp Pike (Arkansas), where 



840 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

he was thus serving when the demobilization of his detachment was 
ordered some time following the signing of the armistice in the World 
War in November. Dec. 21, 1918, he received his honorable discharge and 
returned home and resumed his practice, to which he has since given his 
undivided attention. 

Doctor Schilb is a republican. He is a member of the Methodist 
Church and is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and 
the Knights of the Maccabees. The Doctor is a member of the Greek 
letter college fraternity Psi Omega (dental) and also takes a warm inter- 
est in the affairs of that organization. 

Judge Peter G. Meisenheimer, county judge for the western district 
of Cooper County, and one of the substantial land-owners and farmers in 
Clear Creek township, was born on the farm on which he now lives, April 
27, 1868. He is a son of Philip and Elizabeth (Stabeline) Meisenheimer, 
both natives of Germany, many years residents of this country. Philip 
Meisenheimer was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Dec. 18, 1822, and remained 
in his native land until he had reached his majority, when, in 1855, he 
came to the United States and located in Illinois, where he was living when 
the Civil War broke out. Aug. 8, 1861, he enlisted in Company E, Second 
Illinois Artillery, and he served until mustered out, Sept. 29, 1864. In 
St. Louis, he married, and in 1866 came to Cooper County and located on 
the farm now owned and occupied by Judge Meisenheimer. There he 
opened a general store, which he conducted in addition to his farming, 
and was appointed postmaster of Clear Creek. He developed an excel- 
lent farm, and there spent the remainder of his life. He died March 19, 
1912, he then being in his 79th year. His wife died Aug. 12, 1910. She 
was born in Baden, Jan. 25, 1832, and had been married twice prior to 
her marriage to Philip Meisenheimer. By her first marriage she was 
the mother of two children, William J. Reuter, who is still living in Clear 
Creek township, and Minnie Reuter, who has for years been a nun in the 
convent at Conception, Mo. By her second marriage she also was the 
mother of one child, Jacob F. Meussig, a farmer of Pilot Grove township. 
To Philip and Elizabeth (Stabeline) Meisenheimer were bom two chil- 
dren, Judge Meisenheimer having a sister, Mrs. Mary A. Bonen of Pettis 
County. Philip Meisenheimer was a member of the Evangelical Church 
and his wife was a Catholic. 

Peter G. Meisenheimer grew to manhood on the farm on which he 
born, receiving his schooling in the district school and Pilot Grove Acad- 
emy. In 1891, he began farming on his own account, renting the home 







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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY ' 841 

farm from his father. Following his father's death he inherited 225 acres, 
and is now the owner of 420 acres, 165 acres of which lies in Pilot Grove 
township. Judge Meisenheimer has made substantial improvements on 
the place. In addition to his general farming, he has long given consid- 
erable attention to the raising of live stock. He is interested in the Citi- 
zens Bank of Pilot Grove, and the Pilot Grove Bank. Since 1909, Judge 
Meisenheimer has been a director of the Clarks Fork Farmers Mutual Fire, 
Lightning and Tornado Insurance Company of Cooper County, and he has 
been vice-president of that company since 1915. The judge is a repub- 
lican, and has for years been recognized as among the leaders of his party 
in this county. Nov. 7, 1916, he was elected judge for the western dis- 
trict of Cooper County, and in 1918 was re-elected, thus now serving his 
second term in that capacity. Judge Meisenheimer and his family are 
members of the Evangelical Church. 

Judge Meisenheimer has been twice married. Dec. 28, 1892, he was 
married to Jennie Back, who was born in this county, Nov. 4, 1868, 
daughter of Daniel and Christina (Schupp) Back, and to that union three 
children were born: The Rev. Philip W., a minister of the Evangelical 
Church, Lewisville, Ohio; Daniel R., who was inducted into the National 
Army, a member of the Medical Corps, in 1917, and was stationed at Ft. 
Benjamin Harrison, Indianapolis, and is now at home; and Otto P., assist- 
ing his father in the management of the farm. The mother of these sons 
died April 21, 1903, and Dec. 27, 1907, Judge Meisenheimer married Kath- 
erine Eve Friess, who also was born in this county, and to this union four 
children have been born: Carl A., John Reinhardt, Paul E., and Oscar 
William. The mother of these latter children was born in Clear Creek 
township, Sept. 24, 1877, daughter of Philip and Elizabeth (Schupp) 
Friess, natives of Germany, and early settlers in Clear Creek township, 
both now deceased. 

John B. Immele, a prominent farmer and stockman and former mem- 
ber of the board of county commissioners of Cooper County, was born at 
Boonville on July 7, 1866, son of Louis and Teresa (Meisburger) Immele, 
natives of Alsace-Lorraine and members of pioneer families in Cooper 
County, whose last days were spent here. The Immele and Meisburger 
families were two of the pioneer families of Boonville. The passport of 
F. J. Immele and family, issued at Havre, France, in 1851, is still pre- 
served in the family. One son, F. J. Immele, Jr., accompanied the par- 
ents. The elder son, Louis Immele, father of the subject of this review 
was a cannoneer in the French army in Africa at the time. After six 



842 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

years of service with honors he rejoined the family in this country and 
located at Boonville. In 1856 the junior F. J. Immele married Catherine 
Meisburger and in 1859 Louis Immele married Catherine's sister, Teresa 
Meisburger. These young women were daughters of Max Meisburger, 
who with his family of eight children arrived in Boonville from Alsace, 
France, in 1848. Max Meisburger had served for six years as a soldier 
in the army of the great Napoleon and was very proud of the medals 
he had received for bravery. During the progress of the Franco-Prussian 
War (1870-73) he kept posted through the French papers which he re- 
ceived and when the Prussian victory was announced he, with clenched 
fists and tear-dimmed eyes, declared: "If our great Napoleon had lived 
he and I would never have tolerated the Prussians to lord it over our 
beloved France", and expressed the hope and belief that his grandchildren 
would live to see the happy day when Alsace-Lorraine would be liberated 
from the Prussian domination. During the time of America's participa- 
tion in the World War which resulted in the return to France of the "lost" 
provinces nine of his great-grandsons answered the call to the front and 
when the armistice was declared in the fall of 1918 six more were wait- 
ing for the next call, all eager to serve America first and France next. 
During the progress of the Civil War both F. J. and Louis Immele served 
faithfully for three years as soldiers in behalf of the cause of the union, 
and their previous military experience as soldiers of France gave a special 
value to their services, both being qualified as sharpshooters. 

Mrs. Immele, wife of the senior F. J. Immele and grandmother of 
Professor Immele, the subject of this sketch, was a daughter of Major 
General Boshea, who offered his life in a ten-years service in the French 
army. As the river boat on which she arrived at Boonville neared the 
landing amid the Boonville hills she exclaimed, "Oh, where are our beauti- 
ful church spires of France?" When she realized there were none here 
she begged to be permitted to return to France, but amid the many, 
though often trying, novelties of the new situated she presenlly became 
reconciled to the pioneer conditions which faced the family and per- 
formed ably her part in helping to bring about stable social conditions. 
Boonville then consisted of a few log houses used as trading centers and 
a few dwelling houses of a very humble sort. The house which the 
Immeles occupied until they could build a new one was located at what is 
now the corner of High and Sixth streets. Church services, which meant 
much to the Immeles, who were devout Catholics, were held in a room 
of a log cabin by Father Meister, a missionary, who once or twice a year 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 843 

would ride over from Illinois on his faithful donkey to administer for the 
comfort of the few families of the Catholic faith who by this time had as- 
sembled at the settlement around Boonville landing. These faithful fam- 
ilies formed the nucleus for the present strong Catholic congregation and 
the church and school which they established there. In those days deer 
roamed the woods which then covered the site of the present opera house 
at Boonville and F. J. Immele enjoyed deer hunting in the hills now known 
as Kemper Grounds. He was a skilled musician and was often called on 
to furnish the music for the dances which were held at Franklin, he and 
Doctor Roeschell and Doctor Kuekelhan crossing the river in a canoe and 
on their way combine duck-hunting with their prospective service in behalf 
of the merrymakers. 

The surviving members of the Immele family in Cooper County are 
mainly farmers. Prof. John Immele of Pilot Grove has combined teach- 
ing school for nearly 30 years with farming and has reared a family of 
10 children. Others also are farming successfully, while some have 
chosen city life for the exercise of their endeavors. The only surviving 
members in Boonville of the F. J. Immele family are Miss Mary Immele 
and Anna Immele Lester, who, with the aid of their aged father in 1894 
purchased the square known as Hendricks Addition on Third street. The 
abstract of title to this square carries the data back to 1800. The ab- 
stract to the present Immele location on Chestnut street also dates back 
to 1800. 

John B. Immele was reared on a farm and his elementary schooling 
was received in the parochial school at Boonville, this being supplemented 
by attendance at the public school and at Pilot Grove Collegiate Institute. 
In 1892 he began teaching school, continuing farming during the summers 
and for 27 years continued teaching, during this time becoming one of 
the best known educators in Cooper County. After his marriage in 1898 
Professor Immele established his home on his present farm of 80 acres a 
mile north of Pilot Grove and has since resided there. The Professor is a 
democrat. In 1905 he was elected a member of the board of county com- 
missioners from his district and in this important public capacity served 
for two years. He and his family are members of the Catholic Church 
and he is affiliated with the Catholic Knights of America. 

Sept. 5, 1898, Prof. John B. Immele was united in marriage with 
Anna Martin and to this union 10 children have been born: John, Ray- 
mond, deceased; Isabelle, Cecelia, Sophia, Mary A., Joseph, deceased; 
Martha, Leonard and Anastacia. Mrs. Immele was born on a farm in 



844 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Pilot Grove township on Nov. 9, 1873. Her parents were natives of 
Prussia, Daniel and Elizabeth (Esser) Martin, and were members of 
pioneer families in the Pilot Grove neighborhood. 

Judge James P. Talley, a veteran of the Civil War and former judge 
of the County Court of Cooper County, was born on a farm east of Boon- 
ville, April 17, 1842, son of Henderson and Mary (Taylor) Talley, the 
former a native of Tennessee and the latter of Kentucky, who came to 
this county with their respective parents in pioneer days and here spent 
the remainder of their lives. Henderson Talley and his wife were the 
parents of six children as follows: Mrs. Louisa Hopkins, deceased; Wil- 
liam, Boonville; James P.; Mrs. Mary Woods, deceased; Marion C, de- 
ceased, and Mrs. Catherine Nuland, a widow, Boonville. 

Reared on the home farm east of Boonville, James P. Talley received 
his schooling in the district schools and was living there when the Civil 
War broke out. When twenty years of age, in April, 1862, at Boonville, 
he enlisted as a member of the Missouri State Militia. Not long after- 
ward he enlisted in the Federal army as a member of Company I, Mis- 
souri Volunteer Cavalry and served in Missouri and the West until his 
discharge at Ft. Collins, Colo., in July, 1866, and was shortly afterward 
mustered out with his command at Ft. Leavenworth, Kan. He returned 
to Cooper County and resumed farming, renting a place near Boonville, 
where he continued farming until 1868 when he bought a farm of 265 
acres in Pilot Grove township. When Judge Talley bought that place it 
was almost wholly timber land, but he went to work vigorously to 
get the place cleared and under cultivation and it was not long until he 
had a well improved farm. There he continued to make his home until 
his retirement in 1911, when he sold the farm and moved to Pilot Grove, 
where he has since resided. Judge Talley is a republican. Many years 
ago he was elected constable in his home township and in 1892 was elected 
county judge, a position he filled for two terms. He and his wife are 
members of the Methodist Church and he is affiliated with the Ancient 
Free and Accepted Masons and with the local post of the Grand Army of 
the Republic. 

Judge Talley has been thrice married. His first wife, Zilda Morton, 
who was born in Tennessee, died six years after her marriage, leaving 
one child, Mrs. Annette Malott, of Pilot Grove township. The second wife, 
Isabel Kirkpatrick who was born in western Missouri, died '20 years ago. 
To that union were born six children, namely: Waldo, Pilot Grove town- 
ship; James B., of that same township; Effie M., wife of Curry Brown- 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 845 

field, of East Pilot Grove; Mrs. Nellie Cramer, of Blackwater township, 
and John, deceased. Nov. 9, 1894, Judge Talley married Fannie Mc- 
Gibony, who was born in Tennessee in 1853 and who was 18 months of 
age when, her parents came to Missouri and settled in the southern part 
of the state, where she grew to womanhood and was a school teacher, a 
vocation in which she was engaged for 29 years, teaching in and around 
Denton, Texas, and in Phelps and Howell Counties. 

Lester O. Zeigle, one of Cooper County's substantial farmers and 
stockmen, was born Sept. 18, 1873, son of Henry and Malinda (McGuire) 
Zeigle, influential residents of Boonville township in their generation and 
the latter of whom is still living in Pilot Grove township. Henry Zeigle 
was born in New York State about 1846, and was 12 or 14 years of age 
when he came to Missouri with his parents, the family settling on a farm 
in Boonville township, where he grew to manhood. During the Civil War 
he enlisted at Boonville as a soldier of the Union and served until the close 
of the war, even after he had been severely wounded by a minnie ball 
through the body in a battle in this State, rejoining his command before 
his wound had healed and fighting to the end. On one occasion he be- 
came separated from his command and found himself surrounded by a 
detachment of 50 or more of the enemy who demanded his surrender. 
In reply, he put the spurs to his horse and dashed through the line that 
surrounded him and thus made his way safely back to his own lines. At 
the close of his military service, Henry Zeigle engaged in farming, start- 
ing with $50. He prospered, and in time became the owner of over 500 
acres of land in Boonville township. Though his own schooling had been 
limited in the days of his youth, Henry Zeigle was an instinctive student 
and a great reader, and ever took an earnest interest in the cause of 
education, a constant encouragement to his children and to the whole 
neighborhood to make the most of the growing advantages along that 
line. He was a republican. He was an active member of the local post 
of the Grand Army of the Republic, and he and his wife were members 
of the Presbyterian Church, in the faith of which denomination their 
children were reared. Henry Zeigle died in 1913, and at his passing left 
a good memory. His widow is now living in Pilot Grove township, in 
which township she was born, a daughter of Timothy McGuire and wife, 
well known residents of that community in their generation. To Henry 
and Malinda (McGuire) Zeigle were born eight children, as follows: 
Lester 0. ; Prof. William H. Zeigle, who for years has been active in the 
work of the State Normal School at Kirksville, a lecturer in the school 



846 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

and a wide traveler in its behalf; Rev. Anthony F. Zeigle, also of Kirks- 
ville, and one of the best known Presbyterian clergyment in Missouri, a 
sound pulpit orator whose services are much in demand over the State 
as a preacher of baccalaureate sermons and for services of a general pub- 
lic character; John, deceased; one who died in infancy; Claud, deceased; 
Lee, deceased, and Grace M., wife of Daniel Rothgeb, of New Lebanon 
township. 

Lester 0. Zeigle received his schooling in the local schools, supple- 
menting the same by the extensive home reading to which his father con- 
stantly encouraged him. In 1909 he bought his first farm, a tract of 157 
acres, and in 1913 bought a tract of 235 acres, the place on which he is 
now living. In the spring of 1919 he sold his first tract and is now giving 
his whole attention to his home farm, which he has improved in admira- 
ble fashion and on which, in addition to his general farming, he raises 
live stock, with special reference to high grade Jersey cattle and 0. I. C. 
and Poland China hogs. Mr. Zeigle is a republican, as was his father. 
His wife and children are members of the Catholic Church. 

April 20, 1896, Lester O. Zeigle was married to Catherine Immele, 
who also was born in this county, daughter of Louis and Teresa (Meis- 
burger) Immele, who had come to this country with their respective 
parents in the early '50s. To Mr. and Mrs. Zeigle six children have been 
bora, namely: Lorena, who is completing her schooling at Pilot Grove; 
Viola, deceased; and Francis, Christina, Henry and Robert. 

George Gross, proprietor of a well-kept farm in Pilot Grove town- 
ship and one of the best-known men in that township, was born in St. 
Clair County, 111., April 15, 1858, son of Jacob and Josephine (Wachter) 
Gross, both natives of Bavaria, but whose last days were spent in this 
county, residents of the Chauteau Springs, Pilot Grove township and 
whose remains are resting in St. Martin's Cemetery in that township. 
Jacob Gross was born in 1819, and in 1840 he came to the United States, 
locating at Belleville, 111., where he operated a stone quarry, a vocation 
which he had followed in his home land. There he married and continued 
to reside until 1869, when he came with his family to Missouri, and set- 
tled on a farm near Chauteau Springs in Pilot Grove township, where he 
and his wife spent the remainder of their lives, his death occurring in 
1893. She was born Sept. 13, 1818, and died Nov. 22, 1912. Jacob Gross 
and wife were the parents of three children, one of whom died in infancy, 
and the others are George and Jacob, a resident of Pilot Grove township. 
George Gross was 10 years of age when he came to Cooper County with 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 847 

his parents in 1869, and he grew to manhood on the home farm in Pilot 
Grove township, completing his schooling in the local schools. After his 
marriage in 1886 he continued making his home on the home place of 120 
acres, and in time became the owner of the same. In 1893 he bought his 
present farm of 220 acres in that same township, and in 1895 sold the 
old home place and moved on to his present farm, which he has improved 
in excellent fashion. Mr. Gross is a democrat. He and his family are 
members of St. Martin's Catholic Church and he is a member of the 
Knights of Columbus. 

Jan. 20, 1886, George Gross was married to Elizabeth Peak, who was 
born in this county, and to this union seven children have been born, 
namely : Barnard, Howard County ; Josephine, wife of Andrew Gramlick, 
Pilot Grove township ; Frank, Howard County ; Mary, wife of John Schus- 
ter, Pilot Grove township ; John, at home, assisting in the operations of 
the home farm ; Edward H., who served with the United States Army in 
France; and Leonard, who is now a student in a school of automotive 
mechanics at Kansas City. Edward H. Gross, who was born Feb. 4, 1896, 
was inducted into the National Army, Sept. 20, 1917, and was trained at 
Camp Funston ; seven months later he went to France as a member of 
Company C, 138th Infantry, 35th Division, with which command he par- 
ticipated in some of the most severe campaigning of the World War, in- 
cluding the battle which was waged in the Argonne Forest. He was dis- 
charged in May, 1919, and is now at home. Mrs. Elizabeth Gross was 
born in Clear Creek township, May 1, 1863, daughter of Peter and Cather- 
ine (Keck) Peak, the former of whom also was bom in this county, of 
pioneer parentage, and the latter in Baden, Germany. During the Civil 
War, Peter Peak enlisted in behalf of the Union cause and was killed in 
battle during the Shelby raid. He and his wife were the parents of two 
daughters, of whom Mrs. Gross is the elder, she having a sister, Mary, 
who, under the name of Sister Mary Maura, has for years been rendering 
service in the convent school at Conception, Mo. Some time after the 
death of her soldier husband the Widow Peak married Bernard Horst, 
who also was born in Germany, and who as well as herself is now de- 
ceased. To that union five children were born. 

John T. Davis, owner of an excellent farm in Pilot Grove township 
and a good piece of property in the town of Blackwater, where he is now 
living and who prefers to refer to himself as an "ex-farmer", was born in 
Franklin County, Ohio, Sept. 18, 1862, son of John J. and Hester Ann 
(Rose) Davis, whose last days were spent in that county. John J. Davis 



848 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

was a native of Wales, born on a farm in 1841. When a boy he came 
with his parents to this country, locating at Pittsburgh, Pa., and later 
moved to Franklin County, Ohio, where he married and engaged in farm- 
ing and where he died in 1915. His wife, who was born in Fairfield 
County, Ohio, died in 1886 at the age of 56 years. They were the parents 
of seven children, four sons and three daughters, of whom the subject 
of this sketch is the only one residing in Missouri. 

Reared on the farm in Franklin County, Ohio, John T. Davis there 
grew to manhood, receiving his schooling in the district schools, and there 
remained until his marriage in the spring of 1889, when he and his wife 
came to Missouri and located at Blackwater, where he became engaged 
as a laborer, later becoming engaged as a farm hand. In 1904, he bought 
a farm of 35 acres and began farming. He prospered and in 1906, he 
bought 188 acres in Pilot Grove township, to which he moved and there 
continued to reside until his retirement in Aug., 1918, and return to Black- 
water, where he owns a comfortable place comprising six acres. Mr. Davis 
is a republican. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Church 
and he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. 

March 6, 1889, in Ohio, John T. Davis was married to Nina B. Smith 
and to this union seven children have been bom, namely: Irvin, is farm- 
ing in this county; John S., is farming the home farm in Pilot Grove 
township; Fannie, wife of C. G. Moore, Boonville; George, deceased; and 
Willard, Howard and Vernon, at home with their parents. Mrs. Davis 
was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, April 13, 1872, daughter of S. Smith 
and wife, the latter of whom was a Hoover. Mrs. Smith lives in Ohio. 

William B. Rissler, cashier of the Pleasant Green Bank of Pleasant 
Green, and former clerk of Cooper County, is a native of Virginia, but has 
been a resident of Missouri and of Cooper County since he was 12 years 
of age. He was born on a farm in Jefferson County, Va., July 27, 1861, 
son of Samuel L. and Sarah (Johnston) Rissler, both natives of Virginia, 
and the latter of whom is still living on the old home place there at the 
age of 87 years. Samuel L. Rissler was born in 1832 and died in 1905. 
He and his wife were the parents of 11 children, of whom the subject of 
this sketch was the third in order of birth. 

When he was 12 years of age, William B. Rissler came to Missouri 
with his uncle. William Rissler, who located on a farm here in 1873, and 
who afterward served as judge for the western district of the county, 
and on that farm he grew to manhood, completing his schooling in the 
public schools and at Central College at Fayette, Mo. He then resumed 




WIT.I.IAM B, KISSI.KK 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 849 

farming on the farm of his uncle, Judge Rissler, but in 1884, began farm- 
ing on his own account, and thus continued until his election in 1898, as 
the nominee of the democratic party, to the office of clerk of Cooper 
County. For four years Mr. Rissler occupied that position, and upon the 
expiration of his term he engaged in buying and selling horses and mules. 

In 1905, recognizing the need of a bank at Pleasant Green, Mr. Riss- 
ler set about the organization of such an institution, and upon organiza- 
tion was elected cashier of the same, a position he since has occupied. 
The Pleasant Green Bank is capitalized at $10,000. Upon organization of 
the bank in 1905, Judge J. D. Stark was chairman of the organization. 
Dr. J. S. Parish was elected president, which office he now holds. A. J. 
Reed has been vice-president of the bank since its organization. The 
bank has a directorate of nine members, all farmers with the exception 
of Mr. Rissler and Doctor Parish, and is a member of the Missouri State 
Bankers Association and of the American Bankers Association. 

Mr. Rissler is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church (South), 
and he is affiliated with the Masons and with the Independent Order of 
Odd Fellows. He is a Royal Arch Mason, a member of the council, Free 
and Accepted Masters; of the commandery, Knights Templar (York 
Rite), and of the Boonville temple of the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles 
of the Mystic Shrine. 

William T. Tally, a veteran of the Civil War, and a substantial retired 
farmer of Cooper County, was born on a farm in Saline township, Oct. 14, 
1839, son of Henderson and Mary Ann (Taylor) Tally, the former a native 
of Tennessee, born Jan. 6, 1811, and the latter of Kentucky, born Feb. 10, 
1816. They were married in this county Dec. 15, 1836, and spent the 
remainder of their lives here. Henderson Tally died in 1887. He and 
his wife were the parents of six children: Mrs. Louisa Hopkins, deceased; 
William T. ; Judge James P. Tally, Pilot Grove; Mrs. Mary Woods, de- 
ceased ; Marion C, deceased, and Mrs. Catherine Newlin, a widow, Boon- 
ville. 

William T. Tally received his schooling in the primitive schools of the 
time, and was living at home when the Civil War broke out. In 1862 he 
enlisted in the Union cause for two years, and was attached to Company 
F, Fifth Regiment, Missouri State Militia. At the end of his two years 
he re-enlisted and went to the front as a member of Company I, Twelfth 
Missouri Cavalry, serving with Sherman's army. Nov. 24, 1864, in the 
battle of Franklin, his horse was shot from under him and he was taken 
(54) 



850 JIISTOKY OK COOPER COUNTY 

prisoner and sent to the Confederate prison at Andersonville, Ga., where 
he remained until the close of the war and was mustered out under a 
general order, April 29, 1865. During a visit home on furlough in the 
summer of 1863, Mr. Tally had married, and upon his return home, after 
his long military service, he resumed farming in Saline township, where 
he owned a farm of 120 acres. He added to his holding, and from time 
to time was the owner of several farms in this county. In 1903, Mr. 
Tally disposed of his farm holdings and moved to Boonville, where he 
since has made his home at 1026 Fifth Street. Mr. Tally is an ardent 
Republican, but has not been a seeker after office. He is a member of 
the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic. 

Aug. 14, 1863, William T. Tally was united in marriage to Louisa A. 
Tate, who was born in Warren County, Tenn., Dec. 22, 1845, daughter of 
Douglas and Sarah (Price) Tate, the former of whom was born in that 
county, and the latter in Jackson County, Ala., who came with their fam- 
ily to Missouri in 1852 and settled on a farm in Texas County, where they 
spent the remainder of their lives. Douglas Tate and wife were the 
parents of 11 children, of whom Mrs. Tally was the fourth in order of 
birth. Mr. and Mrs. Tally have six children: William A., Boonville; 
Alice, wife of A. L. Durnil, Saline township; Joseph D., Boonville; Charles 
E., of Excelsior Springs; Oscar F., a railway mail clerk of Kansas City; 
and Hattie E., widow of David A. Snyder, resides with her parents in 
Boonville. Mrs. Snyder has three children, two daughters and a son, the 
latter of whom, Oscar E. Snyder, enlisted in the aviation corps of the 
National Army Jan. 25, 1918, and was assigned to Camp Sevier, N. C, 
where, after a period of training, he was made a first-class sergeant, and 
in March, 1918, sailed for overseas service, and is still (spring of 1919) 
in France. 

Charles L. Vollrath, for ye^rs president of the City Council at Boon- 
ville, and until quite recently secretary-treasurer of the Sombart Milling 
Company, was born on July 10, 1858, son of Nicholas and Mary Elizabeth 
(Breneisen) Vollrath, natives of Germany, whose last days were spent 
here, both dying while their son Charles was still a child. Nicholas Voll- 
rath was born at Frohubach, in the Saxon duchy of Saxe-Coburg, Aug. 28, 
1814, and came to this country with his brother, George, and engaged in 
the milling business at Boonville until they sold their mill to the Sombart 
Milling Company, which has ever since been carrying on the business. 
Here, Nicholas Vollrath married Mary Elizabeth Breneisen, who was born 
at Bruchsaal, Gross Hernogthum, in the grand duchy of Baden, Aug. 31, 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 851 

1830, and who was but a girl when she came to this country with her 
parents, Reinhart and Mary E. Breneisen, the family coming to Missouri 
and locating at Boonville. Reinhart Breneisen was born in Milan, Italy, 
Dec. 24, 1800, and was trained there as a manufacturer of silk. Upon 
taking up his residence in Boonville he became engaged in the general 
mercantile business and continued until his death, one of the best known 
of the earlier merchants of that city. He died at Boonville, July 16, 1878. 
Nicholas Vollrath died at Boonville Feb. 29, 1867. His wife died Dec. 5, 
1865. They were the parents of six children, as follows: H. W., de- 
ceased; Mrs. George J. Weber, a widow, Kansas City, Mo.; Mrs. C. C. 
Greenlease, also of Kansas City; Charles L. ; Fannie R., deceased; and 
Mary A., deceased. 

Charles L. Vollrath was but a child when he was bereft by death of 
his parents, and he was reared at Boonville by kinsfolk, supplementing 
the schooling he received in the schools of that city by a course in the 
University at St. Louis. Upon returning from the university he took 
employment with his elder brother, H. W. Vollrath, who was engaged in 
the stoneware and pottery business at Boonville, and some time later 
began clerking in the general store of his uncle in that city, later taking 
employment in the Brockmeyer store, and thus became thoroughly famil- 
iar with the details of the mercantile business. In 1892, Mr. Vollrath 
began his service with the Sombart Milling Company, having acquired an 
interest in the same, and was made secretary-treasurer of the company, 
a position he occupied until in January, 1919, when he retired from busi- 
ness. Mr. Vollrath is a republican, and has for many years been regarded 
as one of the leaders of that party in Cooper County. For 13 years he 
was a member of the Boonville Board of Aldermen and president of the 
City Council, and on several occasions was urged to become a candidate 
for mayor of the city, but he always declined. He has been a member of 
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows since 1883, and of Boonville Lodge, 
No. 91, Knights of Pythias, since 1884. He is a member of the Evangel- 
ical Church, in the faith of which he was reared, and his wife is a mem- 
ber of the Catholic Church. 

Jan. 24, 1884, Charles L. Vollrath was married to Pauline C. Kratz, 
of Boonville, and to ths union one child has been born, Bertha C, wife of 
H. Goodman, who is engaged in the furniture business at Boonville. Mrs. 
Vollrath was born in Boonville, March 24, 1858, daughter of Christian C. 
and Elizabeth Cecelia (Beha) Kratz, natives of Germany, who became 
residents of Boonville in their youth, they having accompanied their re- 



852 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

spective parents to this country many years ago, and whose last days 
were spent in that city. Christian C. Kratz, who was bom in the duchy 
of Nassau, now Wiesbaden, a district of the Prussian province of Hesse- 
Nassau, in 1836, died at his home in Boonville, July 5, 1866, at the age of 
32 years, 9 months and 26 days. His widow died in Boonville, Jan. 12, 
1913. She was born in the grand duchy of Baden on Nov. 19, 1827. 

Judge Herbert J. Hoff, former county judge for the western district 
of Cooper County, and a well-known and progressive farmer of Pilot Grove 
township, was born Dec. 4, 1875, son of Jacob and Jacobanna (Felton) 
Hoff, the latter whom also was born in this county, and both of whom are 
still living. Jacob Hoff was born in Eppenbrumen, Germany, May 12, 
1842, and in his young manhood came to the United Staes, going to Michi- 
gan. He soon afterwards came to Missouri and located in Cooper County, 
where he worked as a farm hand and presently was married here. After 
his marriage he bought the farm which he still owns in Pilot Grove town- 
ship, and there continued to reside until his retirement and removal to 
Pilot Grove, where he and his wife are now living. Mrs. Hoff was born 
in this county in 1853, daughter of Hubert Felton, further mention of 
whom is made in this volume. To Jacob Hoff and his wife were born 
eight children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the second in order 
of birth. 

Reared on the home farm in Pilot Grove township, Herbert J. Hoff 
received his schooling in the local schools, and from boyhood has been 
engaged in farming. In 1899 he bought the farm of 76 acres on which 
he is now living, and has made many improvements on the place. He 
carries on general farming and stock raising. Judge Hoff is a democrat 
and is one of the leaders of his party in Cooper County. In 1914, he was 
elected county judge for the western district, and in that important 
capacity served the people for two years. He and his family are members 
of the Catholic Church, and he is a member of the Knights of Columbus. 

May 23, 1899, Herbert J. Hoff was married to Helena Weber, and to 
this union five children have been born Gertrude, Herman, Cecelia, Clara 
and Anna M. Mrs. Hoff was born at Tipton, Mo., July 29, 1875, a daughter 
of Godfrey and Gertrude (Lutz) Weber, natives of Germany, who settled 
in Moniteau County many years ago and are now deceased. 

Anthony Vollmer, one of the well-known and substantial farmers of 
Pilot Grove township, was born on a farm in Clear Creek township, March 
16, 1866, son of Leo and Mary Vollmer, both of German descent, the 
former of whom died at 30 years of age, when his son Anthony was but 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 853 

eight years old. Leo Vollmer and his wife were the parents of four chil- 
dren : Anthony ; Joseph, Pilot Grove township ; Sophia, wife of Joseph 
Sellers, Clear Creek township; and Frank, Clear Creek township. 

Anthony Vollmer was early thrown upon his own resources, and from 
the days of his youth has made his own way in the world. Thirty years 
or more ago he rented a farm in Blackwater township. His affairs pros- 
pered, and in 1893 he was enabled to buy a farm of 190 acres in Pilot 
Grove, where, after his marriage in the spring of 1896, he established his 
home, and resided there until 1911, when he sold that farm and bought 
200 acres where he is now living and which he has greatly improved, 
erecting a residence and making other improvements. He carries on gen- 
eral farming and stock raising, and has prospered. Mr. Vollmer is a 
republican, and he and his family are members of St. Joseph's Catholic 
Church, Pilot Grove, and he is a member of the Catholic Knights of 
America, while his elder son, Leo, belongs to the Knights of Columbus. 

April 21, 1896, at St. Martin's Church, Anthony Vollmer was married 
to Mary Bonen, and to this union have been born seven children: Leo H., 
assisting his father on the home farm ; Minnie M.. Anna E., Raymond J., 
Sophia T., Bernardine M. and Edna M. Mrs. Vollmer was born in Pilot 
Grove township, Jan. 2, 1874, daughter of Henry and Mary (Vonderheil) 
Bonen, both natives of Germany who came to this country with their 
respective parents in their youth, the Bonen and Vonderheil families 
locating in this county. Henry Bonen and wife, both now deceased, were 
the parents of seven children, of whom Mrs. Vollmer was the fifth in 
order of birth. 

Stonewall Jackson Coleman, who died at his farm home at the edge 
of the village of Pilot Grove, in the spring of 1915, was born on April 13, 
1868, son of James S. and Margaret Ann (Cockrell) Coleman, the latter 
of whom was a cousin of the late United States Senator Cockrell, of this 
State, and both of whom spent their last days in this county. James S. 
Coleman was born in Fairfax County, Va., Jan. 6, 1830, and was but eight 
years of age when he came to Missouri with his parents, Dr. Samuel and 
Sarah (Gunnell) Coleman, in 1838, the family settling on the farm now 
owned by the widow of S. J. Coleman, near the site on which the village 
of Pilot Grove sprang up. The town received its name from a grove 
which was on this farm. This place thus having been in the Coleman 
family's continuous possession now for more than 80 years. Though 
giving considerable attention to the development of his farm, Doctor Cole- 
man continued the practice of his profession after coming here, and for 



854 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

years was one of the best known pioneer physicians in these parts. His 
son, James S. Coleman grew up on that farm, and after his marriage to 
Margaret Ann Cockrell continued making his home there, carrying on the 
farming operations until his death, which occurred July 4, 1897. His 
widow died March 19, 1898. She was born in Frederick County, Va., 
Oct. 21, 1830. To James S. Coleman and wife were born nine children, 
four of whom are living, namely: Samuel W., of Kansas City, Mo.; Gen- 
eral Lee, lives at Sedalia, and is a teacher in the Northeastern High 
School, Kansas City; Major B., Kansas City; and Mary E., wife of D. 
Grover, Kansas City. 

Stonewall Jackson Coleman completed his schooling in the old Pilot 
Grove College, at that time being conducted by W. F. Johnson, author of 
this history, and upon leaving school continued his place on the farm, 
later assuming management of the same, and in 1899 bought the other 
heirs' interests in the place. He made extensive improvements on the 
place and enjoyed one of the most comfortable suburban residences in the 
county. He was a stanch democrat and a member of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church (South), as is his widow, and their sons have been reared 
in that faith. 

July 12, 1893, Stonewall Coleman was married to Hortense Hardy, 
who was born at California, Mo., and to this union were born two sons, 
James Hardy, born on Aug. 6, 1894, and Charles William, May 18, 1896. 
James Hardy Coleman in 1918 married Sarah Morris, of Centralia, Mo., 
and lives on the home place. Charles William Coleman was inducted into 
the National Army during the World War, and after preliminary training 
sailed in August, 1918, for overseas service, and is now at Camp Mills, 
N. J., having returned to the United States, June 23, 1919. Mrs. Cole- 
man is a daughter of the Rev. James M. and Elizabeth (Duncan) Hardy, 
the former born in Tennesse, and the latter in Virginia. The Rev. James 
M. Hardy was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church (South), and 
his last days were spent in Moniteau County, for many years one of the 
best known clergymen in that county. His wife was widow when he 
married her, her first husband having been Allen Hammond, who yeai's 
ago was the editor of the Boonville Observer, the forerunner of the pres- 
ent Advertiser. 

Walter J. Kraus, proprietor of an excellent farm in Pilot Grove town- 
ship, and one of the progressive young farmers of Cooper County, was 
bom Jan. 30, 1889, son of Frank and Julia (Wittman) Kraus, the former 
of whom is still living at Pilot Grove, retired. Frank Kraus was born 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 855 

on a pioneer farm in Clear Creek township, Dec. 15, 1858, and grew up to 
the life of the farm, afterward buying the farm now owned by his son, 
Walter, and there resided until his retirement. His wife, who was born 
on Nov. 2, 1859, died July 4, 1915. She was a member of the Catholic 
Church, as is her husband, and their children were reared in that faith. 
There were six of these children, as follows : Walter J. ; Herman, who in 
the spring of 1917 was inducted into the National Army and after pre- 
liminary training sailed in April, 1918, for overseas service with the 89th 
Division, and was in France until June 12, 1919, when he returned to the 
United States and is now living at Columbia; Fred, who also participated 
in the World War, in the naval service, and recently received his honor- 
able discharge at the naval station at Pensacola, Fla, now mail carrier. 
Pilot Grove; Regina, deceased; and Bernardine and Rosaline (twins), 
the former of whom is living with her father at Pilot Grove, and the lat- 
ter is deceased. 

Walter J. Kraus was reared on the home farm, receiving his school- 
ing in the schools of Pilot Grove, and when 21 years of age began farming 
on his own account on a rented farm, continuing thus engaged until 1917, 
when he bought his father's farm of 104 acres, the place on which he is 
now living. In addition to his general farming, Mr. Kraus gives consid- 
erable attention to the breeding of Poland China hogs and is meeting with 
success. His place is well improved, and he carries on his operations in 
accordance with up-to-date methods. Mr. Kraus is a republican. He 
and his wife are members of the Catholic Church, and he is a member of 
the Knights of Columbus. 

April 10, 1918, Walter J. Kraus was united in marriage to Martha 
Esser, who was born in Pilot Grove township, daughter of Lawrence and 
Margaret (Martin) Esser, both of whom were born in Pilot Grove town- 
ship. Lawrence Esser was born in 1851 in Pilot Grove township, and is 
now living retired in Boonville, Mo. His parents were natives of Ger- 
many. Mrs. Margaret (Martin) Esser was born in 1857, and died in May, 
1914. Seven children were born to them, of whom Mrs. Kraus is the 
youngest. 

Henry G. Lammers, proprietor of "Hickory Grove" farm in Pilot 
Grove township, a substantial farmer and stockman, was born in St. Louis, 
May 15, 1877, son of Henry and Wilhelmina (Vonderhaar) Lammers, who 
were born in Germany and were married in St. Louis in 1868. In that 
city they remained until the summer of 1877 when they came to Cooper 
County with their children and settled on a farm in Pilot Grove township, 



856 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

where they spent the remainder of their lives. Of the children born to 
Henry Lammers and wife six grew to maturity and five are still living, all 
residents of Cooper County. 

Henry G. Lammers was but an infant in arms when his parents came 
to Cooper county and he grew to manhood on the home farm in Pilot 
Grove township, receiving his schooling in the district school. In 1900 
he began farming on his own account and in the fall of 1903 he settled 
on the farm where he is now living, beautiful "Hickory Grove" farm, 
formerly known as the Eads farm, where he has a well-improved place 
of 276 acres. He raises pure-bred Poland China hogs. Mr. Lammers is 
a republican. He and his family are members of the Catholic Church 
and he is a member of the Knights of Columbus. 

Oct. 20, 1903, Henry G. Lammers was married to Mary C. Schuster, 
a member of one of Cooper County's pioneer families, and to this union 
have been born seven children, Roy, Raymond, Ona, Robert, Estella, 
Marvin and Ernest. Mrs. Lammers was born in Pilot Grove township, 
daughters of William and Christina (Felten) Schuster, both now deceased. 
The late William Schuster was twice married and his widow, who before 
her marriage was Anna Vollrath, is living on the old home farm. 

Dr. John Sinclair Parrish, physician and druggist at Pleasant Green, 
and president of the bank at that place, where he has been engaged in 
practice for nearly 30 years, is a native of Cooper County. He was born 
on a farm near Speed, March 6, 1863, son of David and Elizabeth (Sin- 
clair) Parrish, both of whom died in the days of his childhood, leaving 
him to be reared by kinsfolk in this county. 

David Parrish was a North Carolinian, born in 1807, who came to 
Missouri in his young manhood and settled on a farm on Lone Elm Prairie, 
Palestine township, this county, later moving to a farm near Speed, 
where his last days were spent. During the rush of gold seekers to Cali- 
fornia in 1849, he made the trip across the plains with others from this 
section. He presently returned and was content to remain here the rest 
of his life. He became a substantial farmer and died at his home near 
Speed in 1872. David Parrish was twice married. By his first wife, 
who was a Miss Waller, he was the father of seven children. After the 
death of the mother of these children he remained a widower for 20 years, 
when, in 1860, he married Elizabeth Sinclair, who was born in Illinois 
To that union five children were born. Of these Doctor Parrish was the 
second in order of birth. 

Dr. Parrish received excellent scholastic training for the arduous 
profession to which he early devoted his talents, and has for many years 




DR. JOHN SINCLAIR PARRISH 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 857 

been one of the best known physicians in this county. Reared on the 
home farm near Speed, which, after the death of his parents, was retained 
in the possession of the family, his early schooling was received in the 
district school. He then attended the old Parrish Institute at Bunceton, 
and thus prepared by preliminary study, entered the State Normal School 
at Warrensburg, and after his graduation from that institution was for 
five years engaged in teaching school during the winters, continuing farm- 
ing in the summers. In the meantime, he had been devoting his leisure 
to the study of medicine, and in 1888 entered Beaumont Hospital Medical 
College at St. Louis. From this institution he was graduated in 1891, 
and began the practice of his profession at Jamestown, Mo. He had been 
there but a few months, however, when he returned to Cooper County 
and located at Pleasant Green, where he has since resided. In 1895, 
Doctor Parrish opened a drug store at Pleasant Green and has since been 
carrying on the business in addition to the wide practice he has enjoyed 
all these years. He was one of the organizers of the Pleasant Green 
Bank, and upon its organization was elected president of the same. He 
is a democrat. Though reared in the Christian Church, he has for years 
been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church (South). He is affili- 
ated with the local lodge of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. 

April 29, 1895, Dr. John S. Parrish was married to Martha Eliza- 
beth Rissler, who was born in Pettis County, daughter of John G. Rissler 
and wife, the latter of whom was was a Miss Longon, both natives of 
Virginia, and to this union two children have been born, Mary, born Feb. 
10, 1897, and John R., born in 1898, and died in 1907. Mary Parrish 
married James W. Stephens, who was born in this county, and who was 
with the American Expeditionary Forces in France, and was discharged 
June 11, 1919, now al home, as is set out elsewhere in this volume. 

Robert Lee Dunn, one of Blackwater township's substantial fanners, 
was born in Blackwater township, Aug. 12, 1867, son of Joseph William 
and Nancy Dunn. Joseph William Dunn was born in Logan County, Ky., 
of Irish parentage, both of his parents having been natives of Ireland, 
who first made their home in Kentucky after coming to this country, but 
later came to Missouri and settled in Cooper County, where they spent 
the remainder of their lives. During the Civil War, Joseph W. Dunn 
served in behalf of the cause of the Confederacy until the close of the 
war. Upon his return he resumed farming in this county and became 
well-to-do, continuing his farming until his death in 1890, he then being 
65 years of age. His widow, who was born in the city of Cincinnati, died 



858 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

in 1901, aged 75 years. They were members of the Baptist Church, and 
their children were reared in that faith. There were six of these chil- 
dren, of whom the subject of this sketch, now the only survivor, was the 
youngest, the others having been as follows: Rebecca, married J. Hamil- 
ton; Mrs. Eliza A. Potter; Bettie, married P. D. Smith; and Thomas and 
Charles. 

Reared on the home farm in Blackwater township, Robert Lee Dunn 
received his schooling in the local schools and from his boyhood has de- 
voted his attention to farming. Upon beginning operations on his own 
account he rented a farm, continuing his operations as a renter until in 
1918 when he bought from his niece, Orpha Dunn, of Kansas City, the 
farm on which he is now living, and where for years he had been making 
his home. Mr. Dunn has his place well improved and is prosperous. He 
is a stanch democrat, and is affiliated with the Woodmen of the World. 

Jan. 2, 1902, Robert Lee Dunn was united in marriage to Mrs. Eliza 
A. (Barnhart) Stone, widow of Henry Stone, and to this union have 
been born two sons, Warner and Sylvester. By her first marriage, Mrs. 
Dunn was the mother of two children; the first born died in infancy, and 
the other, Mada Stone, is living. Mrs. Dunn was born in Osage County, 
Mo., daughter of William and Sarah (Morris) Barnhart, both of whom 
were born in Maries County, Mo., and who many years ago came to Cooper 
County and settled in Saline township, where they remained until their 
retirement from the farm and removal to Boonville, where they now live. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Barnhart were born four children, of whom Mrs. Dunn 
was the second. 

Henry Kraus, one of Clear Creek township's most substantial farm- 
ers and the proprietor of an excellent farm in that township of 230 acres 
of land, was born on that farm June 23, 1864, son of Francis M. and Mary 
Ann (Remspeacher) Kraus, natives of Germany, who were married in 
this county, and whose last days were spent here. Francis M. Kraus was 
born in Ratheim, Germany, June 25, 1812, son of Jacob and Katherine 
(Eries) Kraus, who spent all their lives in their native land. When he 
was 24 years old, Francis M. Kraus came to the United States, and shortly 
afterwards came to Missouri and located in this county. Here he began 
working as a farm hand. In 1858 he entered from the Government the 
tract of land now owned and occupied by his son, Henry, and developed 
and excellent farm where he spent the rest of his life. He died Nov. 23, 
1892, he then being 80 years of age. His wife died Sept. 18, 1890. She 
also was born at Ratheim, July 6, 1827, and was nine years of age when 
she came to this country with her parents, Anthony Remspeacher and 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 859 

wife, who settled in this county, Anthony securing from the Government 
a grant of land in Clear Creek township. The original certificate of this 
grant, issued during the administration of President Taylor, is now in 
the possession of Henry Kraus, as is the certificate of the land grant 
issued to his father, Francis M. Kraus, during the administration of Pres- 
ident Buchanan. Francis M. Kraus and his wife were Catholics, were 
among the first members of St. John's Catholic Church, and their chil- 
dren were reared in that faith. Of the children born to them 10 were 
reared to maturity, of these the subject of this sketch being the ninth in 
order of birth. 

Reared on the farm on which he was born in Clear Creek township, 
Henry Kraus received his schooling in the local schools, and from boy- 
hood devoted his attention to the labors of the farm. He married in the 
spring of 1891, and after his father's death in 1892 bought from the 
other heirs to the estate their respective interests in the home farm of 
180 acres, and has since continued to reside there. He has made many 
improvements on the old home place. In addition to his general farming, 
Mr. Kraus gives considerable attention to the raising of live stock. Mr. 
Kraus is a republican, and has served as director of schools in his district. 
He and his family are members of St. John's Catholic Church. 

April 15, 1891, Henry Kraus was united in marriage with Elizabeth 
Wessing, who also was born in this county, and to them four children 
were born: Frances K., wife of H. T. Young, New Lebanon township; 
Daniel F., who is at home looking after the interests of the farm; Flor- 
ence M., wife of B. Felton, and Matilda, at home. The mother of these 
children was born on Feb. 24, 1869, and died March 5, 1905. She was a 
daughter of Anthony and Katherine (Twenter) Wessing, natives of Ger- 
many, who many years ago settled on a farm in this county and spent 
the remainder of their lives here. 

Jacob F. Muessig, proprietor of a well-kept farm in Pilot Grove town- 
ship, this county, and long accounted one of the progressive farmers of 
that section, was born at St. Louis, on April 18, 1857, son of Ludwig and 
Elizabeth (Stabeline) Muessig, and has been a resident of this county 
since he was seven or eight years of age. Ludwig Muessig was a native 
of Germany, born in Baden in 1831, who came to this country when he 
was 23 years of age, and in St. Louis married Elizabeth Stabeline, also a 
native of Baden, born in 1832. To this marriage were born two children: 
Jacob F., and one died in infancy. Ludwig Muessig died and his widow 
married William Reuter, who died as the result of an accident in St. Louis, 
leaving two children, William J., Clear Fork township, and Minnie, now 



860 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

a nun in Conception Convent, Clyde, Mo. After the death of William 
Reuter his widow married Philip Meisenheimer. Two children were born 
to this union: Peter G., of Cooper County, and Mrs. Mary A. Bonen, of 
Pettis County. The family came to Cooper County and settled on a farm 
in Clear Creek township in 1866. On that place Philip Meisenheimer and 
his wife spent the remainder of their lives, the latter dying in August, 
1910, and the former in March, 1912. 

Jacob F. Muessig was but a lad when he came to this county with 
his mother and his stepfather from St. Louis in 1866, and he was reared 
on the home farm in Clear Creek township, receiving his schooling in the 
schools of that neighborhood. From his boyhood he was trained to the 
ways of farming, and after his marriage at the age of 23 rented a farm 
and began operations on his own account. He prospered and soon bought 
a farm of 80 acres in Clear Creek township. Later he bought an adja- 
cent tract in Pilot Grove township, and now has an excellent farm of 145 
acres, which he has improved, and on which he makes his home. Mr. 
Muessig is a republican, and he and his family are members of the Cath- 
olic Church. 

Oct. 19, 1880, Jacob F. Muessig was united in marriage to Anna A. 
Kraus, who was born in Clear Creek township Feb. 12, 1860. and died 
Feb. 23, 1905. She was a daughter of Francis Kraus and wife. To Jacob 
F. and Anna A. (Kraus) Muessig were born nine children, namely: Clara 
E., widow of F. Klenklen who is now housekeeper for her father; Frank 
L., is farming in that township; Mary M., wife of Frank Stoecklein, Pilot 
Grove township; Johannes, deceased; Martha, deceased; Anselma I., wife 
of William Kemp, Pilot Grove; Pauline, deceased; Robert J., who is now 
(spring of 1919) with the American Army in France, and John J., who is 
at home assisting his father in the operation of the farm. Robert J. 
Muessig, the soldier son, was born May 27, 1896, and was a farmer when 
he was inducted into the National Army for service in the World War. 
After a period of military training in this country he sailed for overseas 
service in September, 1918. 

James M. Haley, one of the well-known older residents of Palestine 
township, was born in Howard County on March 12, 1848, son of Thomas 
A. and Elizabeth (Benson) Haley, who were the parents of 10 children, 
of whom James M. was the fourth in order of birth. 

Thomas A. Haley also was a native Missourian, bom in Boone 
County, Dec. 19, 1820. He grew up a farmer, married March 2, 1841, in 
Moniteau County, where his wife was born March 26, 1827, resided for a 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 861 

while in Howard County, and later in Moniteau County, and from the lat- 
ter county moved to Cooper County in 1865 and located on a farm near 
Boonville, where died in 1898. His wife died Nov. 22, 1877. He was a 
republican and he and his wife were members of the Baptist Church. 

James M. Haley was 17 years of age when he came to this county 
with his parents from Moniteau County in 1865, and here he remained 
until his marriage at the age of 21, after which he moved to a farm in 
Jasper County. In 1872, he returned to Cooper County and bought 
a farm near Boonville. In 1884 he bought the farm on which he is now 
living in Palestine township, and has since made his home on that place. 

Jan. 7, 1869, James M. Haley was united in marriage to Mary M. 
Batton, who also was born in Howard County, and to this union eight 
children have been born: two first born died in infancy; Minnie, married 
F. W. Babbitt, Walsenburg, Colo.; Mrs. Mattie Roberts, Prairie Lick; 
Maud, wife of Peter Schlotzhauer, Palestine township; Emma, wife of 
Joseph Schlotzhauer, Clear Creek township; Arthur and Leslie, who are 
operating the home place in Palestine township. Mr. and Mrs. Haley 
have 10 grandchildren, in whom they take much delight. 

Mrs. Mary M. Batton Haley died April 3, 1919. She was born Dec. 
24, 1848. 

Sylvanus Masel, a veteran of the Civil War and one of the well-known 
farmers of Clear Creek township, was born on a farm in Palestine town- 
ship, April 3, 1841, son of John George and Elizabeth M. (Mueller) Masel, 
both of European birth, who became early settlers in this county, and 
here spent their last days. John George Masel was born in Switzerland 
in 1803, and was there trained to the art of cabinet making, at which 
trade he worked there until 1837, when he came to Missouri and settled 
on a farm in Palestine township, this county, where he died in 1845. His 
widow, who was born in Bavaria in 1807, married George Weber, and died 
in 1882 without issue of that union. By her first marriage she was the 
mother of five children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the fourth 
in order of birth, the others being Mary, married Christian Schupp and 
is now deceased ; John C, deceased ; Fredericka, married John Schloutz- 
hauer and is deceased, and one who died in infancy. 

Sylvanus Masel was but four years of age when his father died, and 
he early undertook to face the responsibilities of life "on his own hook." 
The meager schooling he received in the days of his boyhood was obtained 
in the little old log school house in the neighborhood of his home, and 
when 14 years of age he began working on the farm of a neighbor at $5 



862 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

a month, and when 15 years of age he was driving oxen to a "breaking" 
plow at 20 cents a day. He recalls distinctly an incident in May, 1856, 
while he was driving oxen for Henry Schlotzhauer, when the oxen became 
so annoyed at the flies which then were a perfect scourge that they ran 
away, making a break for a clump of shade trees and dragged behind 
them, boy, plow, and all. On Aug. 12, 1862, Sylvanus Masel, then 21 
years of age, enlisted in the Union Army, and went to the front, a mem- 
ber of Company A, 29th Regiment, Missouri Volunteer Infantry, and 
with that command saw much active service, first in the Mississippi cam- 
paigns and later on the march with Sherman to the sea. At the battle 
of Arkansas Post he had a narrow escape when a bullet struck his belt. 
After the Atlanta campaign, Nov. 1, 1864, his regiment was mounted 
and he thereafter served as a cavalryman in the 15th Army Corps, and 
was mustered out at Washington, D. C, June 12, 1865, the war then being 
over. 

Mr. Masel returned to his home in this county and resumed farming 
on rented land until 1870, when he bought the farm on which he is now 
living. At one time he owned there a tract of 95 acres, but some time 
ago he sold 40 acres of the place to his adopted son, Frank Wilfred Masel, 
who is living on the place. Mr. Masel is a member of the local post of 
the Grand Army of the Republic and he and his wife are members of the 
Evangelical Church. 

Feb. 22 1870, Sylvanus Masel was united in marriage to Josephine 
Schupp, who was born in Clear Creek township, this county, Feb. 10, 1852, 
a daughter of Henry and Dorothy Schupp. Mr. and Mrs. Masel have no 
children of their own, but years ago they adopted a son, Frank W., who 
was born in 1872. Frank W. Masel has been twice married. By his first 
wife, Mary Organbright, was born one child, who died in infancy. After 
the death of his first wife he married Mary Saner, and to this union four 
children have been bom, namely: Matilda, Louisa, Rebecca. One, the 
oldest, died in infancy. 

Mr. Masel was justice of peace of Clear Creek township for 16 years, 
and was again elected in 1919, but declined to serve. 

Robert H. Jeffress, one of the substantial citizens of Pilot Grove 
township, was born on a farm in Boonville township Oct. 17, 1863, son of 
John R. and Isabel (Laurie) Jeffress. Robert H. Jeffress received his 
schooling in the public schools, and from boyhood has devoted his atten- 
tion to farming. For some time he worked a rented farm and then 
bought a farm east of Boonville. In 1908 he sold that place and bought 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 863 

the farm on which he is now living in Pilot Grove, which he has greatly 
improved. Mr. Jeffress has an excellent farm of 265 acres. He is a 
member of the board of directors of the Citizens Bank of Pilot Grove, of 
which he is the secretary. In civic affairs he has long been accounted 
one of the leaders in his neighborhood. In 1913 he was made democratic 
central committeeman for Pilot Grove township, and in 1919 was re- 
elected to that position. He and his family are members of the Baptist 
Church, and he is one of the deacons of the same. Mr. Jeffress is a mem- 
ber of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Modern Woodmen of 
America and the Knights of the Maccabees. 

June 25, 1892, Robert H. Jeffress was married to Sophia Baker, and 
to them have been born six children: Ruth, Henry, Mable, Mildred, Rob- 
ert B., and one died in infancy. Mrs. Jeffress was born near Alton, 111., 
daughter of Charles and Rebecca (Hill) Baker, the latter a native of Ken- 
tucky, now living in Stone County, Mo., at the age of 82 years. Charles 
Baker was a native of England who came to this country in young man- 
hood. During the Civil War he served in the Union Army, a member of 
an Illinois regiment, and in 1873 came with his family to Missouri and 
settled on a farm near Boonville, in this county, where he spent the re- 
mainder of his life. 

Richey Brothers (John W. and Henry L. Richey), who have been 
farming together in this county for the past 25 years, and who are the 
owners of an excellent farm in Pilot Grove township, were born in this 
county. John W. Richey was born Sept. 27, 1867, and Henry L. Richey 
Jan. 1, 1871. They are sons of John H. and Rebecca N. (Kirkman) 
Richey, both of whom are now deceased, the latter dying on Jan. 12, 1913, 
and the former, Dec. 14, 1918. 

John H. Richey was a Kentuckian, born on June 6, 1837, and was but 
two years of age when his parents, William and Diamy (Tinsley) Richey, 
also natives of Kntucky, came to Missouri and settled in Hickory county. 
In that county, John H. Richey grew to manhood, afterward coming to 
Cooper County and locating on a farm east of Speed. Here he married 
Rebecca N. Kirkman, who was born in Pilot Grove township on Oct. 31, 
1839, and after his marriage bought a farm in that township, where he 
made his home and where he was residing when the Civil War broke out. 
He enlisted in the Confederate Army, participating in some severe en- 
gagements until he was captured by the enemy and taken to the military 
prison at Rock Island, 111., where he was kept a prisoner of war until the 
close of the war. Upon his return home, Mr. Richey resumed fanning 



864 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

in Pilot Grove township and there remained until his retirement from the 
farm and removal to Pilot Grove, where his last days were spent. He 
was a democrat, and he and his wife were members of the Baptist Church. 
They were parents of nine childen, as follows: Emma, married F. Waller 
and is now deceased ; Mary Ellen, married B. H. Meredith and is deceased ; 
Elizabeth, wife of Charles E. Wilson, Pilot Grove; Sarah, wife of William 
Sharp, Palestine township ; John W. ; Lucy, wife of Charles Jeffress, same 
township ; Henry L. ; Anna, is living- with her brother in Pilot Grove town- 
ship; and Cora, married James Gosnell and is now deceased. 

John W. and Henry L. Richey grew up together on the home farm in 
Pilot Grove township, and received their schooling in the district school. 
From the days of their boyhood they have devoted their attention to 
farming and early decided to "stick together" in their operations along 
those lines, and thus for 25 years have been in partnership. In 1918 
they bought the Thomas Sims farm of 120 acres in Pilot Grove township 
and are making extensive improvements. They entertain similar politi- 
cal views, both being democrats, as was their father; and, as were their 
parents, both are members of the Baptist Church. The younger brother, 
Henry L. Richey, is unmarried, but the elder brother, John William 
Richey, was married on April 28, 1917, to Edverda Barnes, who was born 
in Saline County. 

James H. Schlotzhauer, a substantial farmer and stockman, and the 
owner of an excellent farm in Clear Creek township, has been a resident 
of Cooper County all his life. He was born on a farm in Palestine town- 
ship, Oct. 27, 1862, the eldest of the children born to John and Fredericka 
(Masel) Schlotzhauer, who were prominent among the residents of that 
community. 

James H. Schlotzhauer completed his schooling in the school at Pilot 
Grove, under Professor Eichelberger and C. M. Johnson, and for a while 
thereafter remained at home, farming for his father. In 1885, he bought 
130 acres in Clear Creek township, proceeded to improve the same, and 
for 21 years made his home there. In 1906, he sold that farm and bought 
the farm on which he is now living, formerly known as the A. W. Walker 
farm, and which, when he bought it, consisted of 350 acres, 122 acres of 
which he later sold to his son Harry. Mr. Schlotzhauer has made exten- 
sive improvements on the place, including the erection of a large silo and 
a set of farm buildings for his son, Harry. Mr. Schlotzhauer has for 
many years made a specialty of feeding live stock for the market and in 
his operations has done well, long having been regarded as one of the 



a 
- 




HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 865 

leading farmers in that part of the county. He is an independent repub- 
lican, and for two years served as a member of the School Board in Dis- 
trict No. 54. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church (South). 

Mr. Schlotzhauer has been twice married. March 3, 1885, he was 
united in marriage to Christina Back, who was born in Clear Creek town- 
ship in 1862, daughter of Daniel and Christina (Yost) Back, and who died 
on June 24, 1894. To that union five children were born, namely : Harry, 
who is living on the home farm, a part of which he now owns ; Elizabeth, 
who married B. Cordrey, and who is now deceased ; Oscar, who is engaged 
in the automobile business at Boonville ; James H., Jr., who also is engaged 
in the automobile business at Bunceton, and one who died in infancy. 
Dec. 23, 1895, Mr. Schlotzhauer married Mrs. Lottie (Carson) Pounds, 
and to this union three children have been born, Hazel, Virgil, and one 
who died in infancy. Mrs. Schlotzhauer was born in Morgan County, 
and has been a resident of this State all her life. 

David Brownfield, proprietor of an excellent farm in Pilot Grove 
township and one of the most substantial farmers and stockmen in that 
section of Cooper County, was born Oct. 4, 1848, son of John and Cath- 
erine (Brownfield) Brownfield, Pennsylvanians, who came to this county 
in the '40s and here spent their last days, the latter living to a ripe old 
age. John Brownfield was born in 1820 and in young manhood came 
West and settled in this county. He took a trip across the plains and on 
his return settled on his farm in Pilot Grove township, where he died 
Oct. 4, 1856. His widow died Feb. 24, 1919. John Brownfield and his 
wife had two children, the subject of this sketch and Mrs. Margaret Eliz- 
abeth Graham, now deceased. 

David Brownfield received his schooling in the district schools. 
When 20 years of age, in 1868, he bought the farm on which he is now 
living. Mr. Brownfield has a well improved farm of 265 acres, and in 
addition to his general farming he raises high grade live stock. The 
Brownfields have a pleasant home. Two of the sons of the family served 
with the American Army in France during the World War. Mr. Brown- 
field is a republican, but has not been an office seeker. 

Oct. 3, 1871, David Brownfield was united in marriage to Christina 

Schupp, who was born in Clear Creek township, this county, and to this 

union 11 children have been born, namely: Joseph, deceased; Curry, who 

is living in East Pilot Grove: Jacob, of that same place; Margaret, wife 

(46) 



866 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

of F. Gerling, of Pilot Grove township; Daniel, who is now living in 
Wyoming-; Grover, deceased; Veit, who was with the American Army in 
France, taking his part in the World War, now at home; Arthur, who is 
at home assisting in the operation of the farm ; Catherine, who married 
G. Meredith and is now living in Omaha, Neb.; Silas, who went overseas 
for service in the aviation corps of the United States Army and is now in 
the United States ; and Opal, wife of F. Neeley, who makes his home with 
the Brownfields and is assisting in the operation of the home place. Mrs. 
Brownfield is a member of one of the pioneer families of Cooper County. 

Charles A. Stites, one of Pilot Grove township's substantial farmers 
and stockmen, was born Aug. 5, 1870, son of Prof. Joseph M. and Amanda 
(Hail) Stites, Tennesseans, who came to Missouri with their respective 
parents, and who after the Civil War settled in Cooper County, and the 
latter living at Pilot Grove. 

Prof. Joseph M. Stites, who for many years was recognized as one 
of the leading educators in this part of Missouri, was born in Wilson 
County, Tenn., Feb. 3, 1834, and was but four years of age when his 
parents, Levi and Mary (Adamson) Stites, who were born in North Caro- 
lina and in Tennessee, respectively, moved to Illinois in 1838. Two years 
later they came to Greene County, Mo., where they spent the remainder 
of their lives. It was thus that Professor Stites had his rearing and his 
early schooling in Greene County, this State, he having been but six years 
of age when his parents took up their residence there. That was in 1840, 
and the schools of that region were not organized on the high plane that 
today marks Missouri's schools, but he made the most of his opportuni- 
ties, and became qualified to enter upon his long career as a teacher, a 
profession which he followed for 25 years or more. On Feb. 28, 1858, 
Professor Stites married Amanda Hail, who also was born in Tennessee, 
and in 1863 came to Cooper County, and settled on a farm in Pilot Grove 
township. He followed farming and teaching, spending his winters very 
usefully in that important calling. Professor Stites died in 1891. To 
Professor and Amanda (Hail) Stites were born five children, as follows: 
Prof. Horace L. Stites, who is now carrying on his educational labors in 
the State of Oklahoma; Fannie, wife of George Judy, Pilot Grove; Miss 
Mattie Stites, who is engaged in office work at Pilot Grove, and Charles 
A. ; Bertha, who married R. S. Harriman and is now deceased. 

Charles A. Stites was reared on the home farm in Pilot Grove town- 
ship and received his schooling in this county, the same being supple- 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 867 

men ted by the careful home instructions he received from his father. 
From his boyhood he has devoted his attention to farming, a vocation 
which he has followed with considerable success, for he is now the owner 
of a well-improved farm of 240 acres and is one of the progressive citi- 
zens of his community. He is a shareholder in the Citizens Bank of 
Pilot Grove. He is a democrat and he is affiliated with the Ancient Free 
and Accepted Masons. 

In February 1911, Charles A. Stites was united in marriage to Emma 
Davis, daughter of J. C. Davis and wife, and to this union two children 
have been born, Winifred and Ellen. 

James Lewis Painter, a prominent farmer and stockman of Pales- 
tine township, was bom on a farm in Clear Creek township, Jan. 27, 1857, 
son of William and Eliza (Long) Painter, Virginians. They settled in 
Clear Creek township and here spent the remainder of their lives. It 
was from Loudoun County, Va., that William Painter and his wife and the 
two children came to Cooper County. Their third and last child, James 
L., the subject of this sketch, was born after they came here. William 
Painter did not live many years after his arrival here. He died about 
1861. His widow continued to make her home in this county and died in 
1902. Besides the subject of this sketch she had another son, Charles 
Painter, her first born, now living in California, and a daughter, Alberta, 
who married A. Workman and is now deceased. 

Having been but a child when his father died, James L. Painter was 
early thrown pretty much on his own resources, and thus early learned 
the great secret of self-reliance. He completed his schooling in Pleasant 
Green, and when 18 years of age began working as a farm hand at $12 
a month. He afterward rented a farm and later he bought 85 acres in 
Palestine township and continued farming that place until 1906, when he 
bought his present farm, the old Doctor Evans home place, and has since 
resided there. Mr. Painter has a well-kept farm of 244 acres, maintains 
one of the best farm plants in the township. He is giving considerable 
attention to the raising of high grade live stock. He is a Democrat. 
He and his family are members of the Methodist Church. 

Feb. 1, 1884, James L. Painter was united in marriage to Mary Bab- 
bitt, who also was born in this county, and to this union three children 
have been born: Edna, who married Lester Worts, living near Bellaire, 
Mo.; Lester, Palestine township; and Lloyd, is cashier of the Bank of 
Speed, at Speed, Mo. Mrs. Painter was born in Palestine township, Dec. 



868 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

SI, 1862, daughter of William and Mary (Burnham) Babbitt, both of 
whom died while she was a small child, and she was reared by a relative, 
Mrs. Sarah Stewart Babbitt. 

Peter L. Muntzel, a successful farmer and stockman of Palestine 
township, was born on a farm in Clarks Fork township, May 25, 1872, son 
of Fred and Doris (Senholt) Muntzel, who came to this country after the 
close of the Civil War. Fred Muntzel was born in Hanover in 1832, and 
there grew to manhood and married Doris Senholt, who was born in that 
country about 1842. In 1865 he came to this country. Six months later 
he returned to his native land to get his wife, and upon their return 
located at St. Louis, where for two years he was employed in a butcher 
shop. He came to Cooper County with his family in 1868, and bought 
a 40-acre tract of land in Clarks Fork township. His affairs prospered 
there, and in time he moved to Palestine township, where he bought a 
farm of 190 acres, and there spent the remainder of his life. He died 
in January, 1904. His widow died in January, 1918. Fred Muntzel 
and his wife were members of St. John's Evangelical Church at Billings- 
ville, and their children were reared in that faith. There were nine chil- 
dren, of whom six are still living, as follows: Anna, Billingsville ; Adolph, 
Boonville township ; Peter L. ; Amelia, wife of Thomas Grathwohl, Bil- 
lingsville; Fritz, farming the home place, Palestine township; and Mar- 
tha, wife of W. Helmrich, Little Rock, Ark. 

Peter L. Muntzel has from the days of his boyhood devoted his at- 
tention to farming, and has prospered. He received his schooling in 
Palestine township and remained at home until 1903, when he bought an 
80-acre farm in Palestine township and there made his home until 1905, 
when he sold that place and bought his present place in that same town- 
ship. Mr. Muntzel has a well-improved farm of 301 acres, and follows 
general farming and raising of high-grade live stock. He is a republican. 
He and his family are members of the Evangelical Church. 

Aug. 5, 1903, Peter L. Muntzel was united in marriage to Jessie 
Eichelberger, who also was born in this county, daughter of Washington 
and Mary Elizabeth (Merritt) Eichelberger, and to them have been born 
five children: Dorris, Ona. Lawrence, Anna May and Helen Marie. 

Charles P. Mitzel, a well-to-do farmer of Palestine township, was 
born on a farm in Pilot Grove township, May 19, 1868, son of Fenton W. 
and Cora (Simmons) Mitzel. Fenton W. Mitzel was born in Morgan 
County, Ohio, Dec. 2, 1848, and came to Missouri with his parents. Peter 
Mitzel and wife, in 1858, the family settling in this county. Reared on a 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 869 

farm, he early began farming on his own account, and prospered, becom- 
ing a large land-owner and an extensive dealer in live stock, buying over 
a wide radius and selling in the markets. Though now practically retired 
Mr. Mitzel still maintains ownership in a tract of 90 acres at the edge of 
Pilot Grove, and there has a very pleasant home, which is now presided 
over by his daughter. On May 22, 1867, Fenton W. Mitzel was united in 
marriage to Cora Simmons, who died on March 5, 1883. To that union 
were born six children, of who four are still living : Charles P. ; Elizabeth 
Matilda, who lives with her father; James F., living retired at Pilot 
Grove, and Lottie May, wife of Waldo Talley, of Pilot Grove township. 

Charles P. Mitzel has successfully followed farming for years. He 
completed his schooling in the Pilot Grove Academy, of which at that 
time W. F. Johnson was the principal, and in 1889 began teaching school, 
a profession which he followed for 12 years, in the meantime continuing 
his farming operations during the summers. The first farm he bought 
was a tract of 200 acres in Pilot Grove township, and that place he farmed 
for 17 years, when he sold it and in 1910 bought his present farm of 164 
acres in Palestine township, paying for the same what was said at the 
time to have been the highest price ever paid for farm land in Cooper 
County. Mr. Mitzel has made extensive improvements, and has one of 
the best farm plants in the county. He is quite extensively engaged in 
cattle feeding. He recently bought the house, with its surrounding lot, 
in which Governor Crossley was born at Bellaire. Mr. Mitzel is an inde- 
pendent republican. He and his family are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church (South), and he is affiliated with the Ancient Free and 
Accepted Masons. His father was a member of the Pilot Grove lodge of 
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. 

March 7, 1894, Charles P. Mitzel was united in marriage to Vira A. 
Grigsby, of this county, and to this union three children have been born: 
Mary Corrine, who was graduated from the Boonville High School with 
the class of 1917; William Roy, who in that same year was graduated 
from the Bunceton High School, and Charles Harold, who is now a student 
in the Bunceton High School. Mrs. Mitzel was born at Landmark, How- 
ard County, a daughter of Henry and Mary (Blanton) Grigsby, who came 
to this county with their family about 1884 and located at Pilot Grove. 
Mrs. Grigsby was born in Missouri, a member of one of the pioneer fam- 
ilies. She died July 30, 1919. Her mother was a McCrary. Henry 
Grigsby was born in Ohio and came to Missouri in young manhood. He 
became engaged in the shoe business at Pilot Grove and there spent his 



870 HISTORY OF COOPER CO'JNTY 

last days, one of the leading merchants in that place, with his son, Ed- 
ward M. Grigsby, who is now conducting the largest shoe store of Liv- 
ingston, Mont. 

Michael Myer, a leading farmer and stock raiser of Pilot Grove town- 
ship, was born on a farm in Hamilton County, Ohio, near Cincinnati, 
June 13, 1859, son of Adam and Margaret (Fullmar) Myer, both of whom 
were born in Germany, and the latter of whom spent her last days in 
Cooper County, she having come here with her children after the death of 
her husband. Adam Myer was born about 1821 and grew to manhood 
in his native lands. As a young man he came to this country and first 
worked as a farm hand in Hamilton County, Ohio. There he married, 
and rented a farm there for some years, when he moved with his family 
to Indiana and settled on a farm in Jennings County, where he died about 
1877. After his death his widow disposed of the farm in Indiana, and 
in 1880 came to Missouri with seven of her children and located in Cooper 
County, where she died about 1894. She was born in Germany about 
1822. Of the children born to Adam Myer and wife nine grew to matur- 
ity, and seven of these accompanied their mother to Missouri in 1880. 
Of these children the subject of this sketch was the fifth in order of 
birth, the others being the following: Mary, wife of George Miller, of 
Boonville township; Lena, married Chris Young, and is living in Indi- 
anapolis, Ind. ; Barbara, married Adam Kirsch, also living in Indianapolis ; 
Louis, deceased; Jacob, now living at Pilot Grove; Charles, Kansas City; 
Joseph, Pilot Grove, and John is a bridge worker for the Missouri Pacific 
Railroad Company. 

Michael Myer came to Cooper County with his mother and other 
members of the family when he was 21 years old, and he began farm 
work. In 1887, he bought a tract of 80 acres and proceeded to improve 
the same. As he prospered he added to his original tract until he became 
the owner of 280 acres. His original "80" he recently sold to his son, 
Jacob N. Myer, and still owns 200 acres. He has made excellent im- 
provements on the place, and has one of the best farm plants in the neigh- 
borhood. He is a stockholder in the Pilot Grove Bank of Pilot Grove. 
He is an independent democrat. He and his family are members of the 
Catholic Church. 

Michael Myer has been twice married. In 1885 he married Anna 
Dorflinger, who was born in this county and who died without issue 14 
months after her marriage. In 1887 Mr. Myer married Katherine Hoff, 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 871 

who was born in Germany and came to this country with her parents, 
and to this union five children have been born ; Jacob N. ; Rosa, deceased ; 
William, deceased; Minnie, wife of H. Foser, of Boonville township, and 
Hubert, at home. 

Charles E. Wilson, now living in Pilot Grove, is a native Missourian, 
born in Jasper County on March 23, 1859, son of John M. and Eliza 
(Beebe) Wilson, who were the parents of 12 children, nine of whom are 
still living. About 1867 John M. Wilson and his wife came to Cooper 
County with their family and settled on a farm in LaMine township, 
where they remained until their retirement, after which they made their 
home with their children. John M. Wilson died at Sedalia in 1914, he 
then being 91 years of age. His widow died in 1915, she then being 81 
years of age. 

Charles E. Wilson has always been a farmer, and though he recently 
sold his farm and moved to town he is even now casting about for another 
farm to suit him. He was eight years of age when his parents moved 
from Jasper County to Cooper, and his schooling was acquired in the 
schools of LaMine township. As a young man he started farming on his 
own account, renting a farm, and continued until 1894, when he bought 
a farm near Clifton City. He improved it and sold to advantage. He 
then bought 175 acres in Pettis County, where he lived for four years, 
when he sold that place and in 1912 bought 120 acres in Pilot Grove 
township, where he lived until he sold that place early in 1919 and moved 
to Pilot Grove. Mr. Wilson is independent. 

March 13, 1887, Charles E. Wilson was united in marriage to Eliza- 
beth Richey, of this county, and to this union two children have been 
born, Charles L. Wilson, at home, and Anna May, who married Ricie Bea- 
man, of Heaths Creek township, Pettis County. Mrs. Wilson was born 
in Cooper County in 1863, daughter of John and Rebecca (Kirkman) 
Richey. 

William A. Betteridge, proprietor of "Crestmead Farm," in Clear 
Creek township, this county, and one of the best known breeders of high 
grade cattle in Missouri, is a native of England. He was born in Shrop- 
shire, England, Jan. 7, 1858, son of George and Ann M. (Jones) Bet- 
teridge, and was the eldest born of the six children, four of whom grew 
to maturity. In 1863 George Betteridge moved with his family from 
England to Canada and there remained until 1888, when he and his wife 
came to Cooper County, their son William having settled here, and here 



872 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

George Betteridge is still living, being now in his 85th year. His wife 
died here in 1899, she then being 65 years of age. 

Having been but five years of age when he came to America with his 
parents in 1863, William A. Betteridge was reared in Canada and there 
received his schooling. When he was 16 years of age, in 1874, he came 
to the United States, and two years later came to Missouri and located in 
Cooper County, where he ever since has made his home, and where he 
has for many years been engaged in farming and in the breeding of pure- 
bred cattle. In 1888, Mr. Betteridge began the breeding of Scotch Short- 
horn cattle, and the herd he then established has been for years widely 
known throughout the West, shipments from "Crestmead" being made 
to various parts of the country. "Crestmead" is a well-improved farm 
of 340 acres in Clear Creek township, and is recognized as one of the 
model stock farms in this section of Missouri. Mr. Betteridge is a mem- 
ber of the American Shorthorn Breeders' Association, and has for years 
taken an interested part in the deliberations and activities of that body. 

Oct. 22, 1890, in this county, William A. Betteridge was united in 
marriage to Ada M. Amick, and to this union has been born one child, 
Verne K. Betteridge, bom on May 27, 1896, near Bellaire, this county, 
who upon leaving the Boonville High School, entered Robins Business 
College at Sedalia, and was graduated from that institution and is now 
a valued assistant to his father in the operations of "Crestmead Farm." 
Mrs. Betteridge was born in this county, daughter of Leander and Melissa 
(Lampton) Amick. Mrs. Betteridge and her son are members of the 
Baptist Church. 

George Schupp, a progressive farmer and stockman in Clear Creek 
township, and a member of the board of directors of the Citizens Bank of 
Pilot Grove, is a native son of Cooper County. He was born on the farm 
where he is now living in Clear Creek township, June 8, 1859, son of 
Christian and Mary (Masel) Schupp, natives of Germany. Christian 
Schupp was born in Nassau, and was about 20 years of age when he came 
to this country with his parents, following the revolution of 1848, who 
settled in Cooper County. Here Christian Schupp married Mary Masel, 
who also was born in Germany, and who was but a child when she left 
there with her parents, the Masel family also settling in this county. 
After his marriage, Christian Schupp established his home on a farm in 
Clear Creek township, the place now owned by his son, Geoi'ge, and there 
he spent the rest of his life. He died in 1911, he then being 82 years of 
age. His wife had preceded him to the grave about six years, and she 




M I: AN] I M RS I ; I'.' 1R1 : E SCHUPP 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 873 

was 65 years of age at the time of her death. They were the parents of 
14 children, of whom ten grew to maturity, and of whom the subject of 
this sketch was the sixth in order of birth. 

George Schupp received his schooling in the district schools, and has 
always retained his interest in farming, a vocation which he has followed 
with much success. He bought his first farm in 1882, and on that place 
built a house and barn, and made other improvements, and there resided 
until 1893, when he bought the old home place. His eldest son, August 
Schupp, is now residing on the first named farm. As he prospered in his 
affairs, Mr. Schupp bought more land, until now he is the owner of 708 
acres, all lying in Clear Creek township, save a tract of 265 acres in Pilot 
Grove township. In addition to this he is the owner of some business 
buildings in Pilot Grove, and is a stockholder in the Citizens Bank of 
Pilot Grove, and a member of the board of directors of this institution. 
Mr. Schupp is a republican. He and his family are members of the Evan- 
gelical Church. 

Feb. 16, 1882, George Schupp was married to Minnie Walje, who died 
June 5, 1914, and to that union four children were born, namely: Mrs. 
Catherine Eichelberger, Clear Creek township; August, farming in Clear 
Creek township; Walter, farming in Pilot Grove township, and Reinhart, 
who is at home assisting his father. Mrs. Minnie Walje Schupp, mother 
of these children, was born in Germany, Nov. 7, 1856, and was about 10 
years of age when she came to this country with her parents, Ernest 
Walje and wife, the latter of whom was a Miss Foglepohl, and settled in 
Pettis County. A year or two later, in 1868, they came into Cooper 
County, and settled in Clear Creek township, where the parents spent the 
remainder of their lives. 

Walter Cyrus West, contractor and builder at Pleasant Green, was 
bom on a farm in Clear Creek township, Aug. 21, 1879, son of John Wil- 
liam and Mary Elizabeth (Robertson) West, both of whom also were born 
in Missouri, and the latter of whom is still living, she and her son Walter 
making their home together at Pleasant Green. 

John William West was born near Manchester, in St. Louis County, 
Mo., March 14, 1838, son of Thomas West, a native of Kentucky, and 
came to Cooper County, arriving here on Oct. 8, 1855. Upon coming here 
he bought a tract of 128 acres of timber land in Clear Creek township. 
This he proceeded to clear and render tillable, and after his marriage 
established his home on that place and there remained until his death, 
March 15, 1908, he then being one day past 70 years of age. Mrs. Eliza- 



874 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

beth West was born in this county, Sept. 7, 1848, daughter of George 
Robertson and wife, the latter of whom was a Mann, natives of Kentucky, 
who had come to this county with their respective parents. Mrs. West 
was left an orphan at an early age. Her mother died and her father later 
vvent to Indian Territory and was never again heard from, the presump- 
tion being he was killed by Indians. John William West helped build the 
Methodist Episcopal Church (South) at Pleasant Green, and was for a 
number of years one of the trustees of the same. He was married Aug. 
29, 1878. Four children were born to this union, of whom Walter Cyrus 
was the eldest born, the other being : Thomas P., deceased ; George H., a 
farmer, Clear Creek township ; and Anna F., deceased. 

Walter C. West received his early schooling in the local schools of 
• Clear Creek township and the Otterville High School and a short course at 
the State University. He continued farming until 1903, when he became 
engaged working on the Midland interurban bridge at St. Charles, and 
while thus employed became so interested in the carpenter's trade that 
he ever since has been engaged working at that trade, gradually devel- 
oping in business for himself as a building contractor, and since returning 
from St. Charles in 1903 has erected many of the houses and barns in 
Pleasant Green and vicinity. In 1918, Mr. West was employed on the 
new Baptist Church at Syracuse, Mo. In 1906, he spent the year working 
on the structure at old Ft. Supply in Oklahoma, which has been converted 
into a hospital for the insane. Mr. West is a democrat, and he is affili- 
ated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Sedalia. He is a 
stockholder in the Pleasant Green Bank. 

Charles W. Oglesby, a member of the board of directors of the Bunce- 
ton Bank, as well as a stockholder in the Pleasant Green Bank, and who 
for years has been recognized as one of the leading farmers and stock- 
men in Palestine township, was born on the farm on which he is now 
living, May 13, 1862, son of Henry F. and Martha C. (Nichols) Oglesby, 
both of whom were born in Cooper County and who spent all their lives 
here. 

Henry F. Oglesby was born on May 13, 1836, a son of Pleasant G. 
and Millie C. (Wollery) Oglesby, the latter of whom also was born in this 
county, daughter of one of the early settlers, her father having entered 
a good deal of land in what afterward came to be Palestine township. 
Pleasant G. Oglesby was born in Kentucky March 12, 1804, and came here 
with his parents. He married here and engaged in farming on the place 
now owned by his grandson, Charles W. Oglesby. He died July 1, 1845. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 875 

His widow died Nov. 2, 1882. She was born here Nov. 14, 1814. They 
had five children. Henry F. Oglesby grew up on the farm on which he 
was born, in time became owner of the same and there spent his life. 
He died Jan. 27, 1888. He was twice married. April 14, 1859, he was 
united in marriage to Martha C. Nichols, who was bom in this county 
Sept. 10, 1840, and died June 7, 1869. To that union were born four chil- 
dren: Charles W. ; Mollie, wife of C. W. Cordrey, Palestine township; 
George P., deceased, and Martha, deceased. Nov. 23, 1871, Henry F. 
Oglesby married Nancy E. Wollery, who was born in Palestine township, 
Feb. 26, 1839, and died Sept. 19, 1887. To that union three children were 
born, Hamilton, died in 1874; Mattie Hamilton, born May 23, 1875, now 
living with his half brother Charles, and Robert F., born March 13, 1878, 
Stoneton, Colo. 

Charles W. Oglesby received his schooling in the district schools. 
After the death of his father in 1888 he bought the interests of the other 
heirs in the home tract of 197 acres and has added to the same by pur- 
chase of adjoining land until he now owns 2IOV2 acres. His improve- 
ments including the erection in 1907 of a fine new and modern farm house. 
His wife is the owner of a tract of 78 acres in Lebanon township, which 
also is well improved. In 1904 Mr. Oglesby became engaged in the breed- 
ing of Shorthorn cattle, starting his herd with select stock from the cele- 
brated Betteridge herd in this county, and is one of the best stockmen 
in that neighborhood. He is a stockholder in the Bunceton Bank and in 
the Pleasant Green Bank and is a member of the board of directors of the 
first named institution. Mr. Oglesby is a stanch Democrat. He and his 
family are members of the Baptist Church 

Oct. 8, 1889, Charles W. Oglesby was united in marriage to Eva E. 
Cordry, who also was born in Cooper County, and to this union four chil- 
dren have been born, namely: Anna E., born May 7, 1891, married 
Charles McCutcheon living near Pilot Grove; Mattie Ellen, born Sept. 21, 
1895, is a Cooper County teacher; Daphn Alberta, Jan. 26, 1900, is a 
teacher in grade school, Hartsburg, Mo., and Charles Kenneth, Aug. 22, 
1902, is attending school at Boonville. Mrs. Oglesby was born on a farm 
in Lebanon township Sept. 1, 1865, daughter of James and Anna E. (Rob- 
inson) Cordry, the former born in Kentucky and the latter in this county 
and both now deceased. 

Edward B. Windsor, proprietor of "Airy View Farm" in Palestine 
township, a progressive farmer, was born on a farm in Lebanon township 
June 19, 1861, son of Henderson and Icybindia (Coleman) Windsor, Vir- 



876 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

ginians. Henderson Windsor was born in Fayette County, Va., in 1818 
and his wife was born in that same county in 1831. After their marriage 
they located in Jackson County and came to this county in 1860 and 
located on a farm about three miles south of Pleasant Green. There 
Henderson Windsor died in May, 1900. His widow survived him until 
1903. They were the parents of eight children, of whom the subject of 
this sketch was the fifth in order of birth, the others being: Sallie, de- 
ceased; Dorcas, married M. Tavner and is now deceased; Emma, wife of 
James W. Coe, Lebanon township; Mrs. Jennie Woolery, of Sedalia; Mrs. 
Mattie Cruse, deceased; Mrs. Susan Read, deceased, and Mrs. Margaret 
Heim, Pleasant Green. 

Edward B. Windsor was reared on the farm on which he was born, 
receiving his schooling in the district schools. In 1893, he bought the 
farm on which he is now living and there established his home. Mr. 
Windsor has made extensive improvements, including a fine modern farm 
house, and he and his family are very pleasantly situated on his place of 
240 acres. Mr. Windsor has for years raised graded Polled Angus cattle 
and has an excellent herd. He is a Democrat, voting the ticket "straight". 

Feb. 15, 1893, Edward B. Windsor was manned to Kate R. Davis, 
who also was bom in this county, and to this union four children have 
been born, namely: Arlotta, wife of Sidney A. Lusk, Bunceton; Helen 
W., wife of Speed Boulware, Lebanon township; Grovner D., who is at 
home assisting his father, and Edward B., Jr., also at home. Mrs. Wind- 
sor was born in Boonville township, a daughter of Daniel G. and Ruth M. 
(Brereton) Davis. 

Morgan Broe, who died at his home in Clear Creek township in the 
fall of 1906 and whose widow and several members of the family are still 
living there, was for many years one of the best known citizens of that 
part of Cooper County. He was bom in Ireland Feb. 3, 1848, and came to 
Cooper County in 1872. His parents, Patrick and Margaret (Fitzsim- 
mons) Broe spent their lives in Ireland. They were the parents of eleven 
children, of whom Morgan was the youngest. Several of these children 
had come to the United States and when he was 14 years of age, Morgan 
Broe came to join them. Here he learned the stone cutter's trade and 
had worked at that trade for some years in various parts of the country, 
when in March 1872, he became employed as a stonecutter on the M. K. & 
T. railroad bridge which then was being constructed across the LaMine 
River between Clifton and Pleasant Green. When the bridge was com- 
pleted he located at Boonville, where he was employed at his trade until 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 877 

in 1874, when he rented a farm in Clear Creek township and engaged as 
a tenant farmer until 1879, when he bought a farm of 160 acres in that 
township and spent the remainder of his life there, one of the substantial 
members of the community. He died Oct. 21, 1906. Mr. Broe was a 
democrat and always took an active interest in local politics. He was a 
member of the Catholic Church, as is his widow, and their children were 
reared in that faith. 

July 29, 1872, Morgan Broe married Eliza Sweeney, of this county, 
and to that union seven children were born, namely: Mary M., wife of 
Frank Clevorn, of Clear Creek township; Timothy E., on the home farm, 
giving particular attention to the live stock interests ; Anna A., who also 
is at home with her mother; William M., now living at St. Louis; Eliza 
C, wife of A. C. Mayfield, a hardware merchant, Pleasant Green ; John H., 
at home and who in partnership with his brother Timothy, under the 
firm name of Broe Brothers, and Elsie I., wife of T. W. Stratton, a grocery 
merchant, Bunceton. Mrs. Broe was born in St. Louis County, Mo., 
Feb. 7, 1855. and was but an infant in arms when she became a resident 
of Cooper County, her parents, Dennis and Mary (Quaid) Sweeney, hav- 
ing come here in the spring of 1856 and settled on a farm in Lebanon 
township, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Both Dennis 
Sweeney and his wife were natives of Ireland. They had two children, 
Mrs. Broe and Mary, wife of William Quirk, of Enon, Mo. 

Frank C. Stegnor, one of Palestine township's well known and sub- 
stantial farmers and the proprietor of an excellent farm was born in Pilot 
Grove township on Jan. 23, 1874, son of George J. and Theresa (Richard) 
Stegner, both now deceased. George J. Stegner was born in Saxony and 
was 12 years of age when he came to this country with his parents and 
settled in this county. Here George J. Stegner grew to manhood on a 
farm and became a farmer. He was twice married. By his union with 
Theresa Richarp, who was born in this county, he had four children: 
Frank C. ; Charles L., Palestine township; Julius IL, same township, and 
Ada, deceased. The mother of these children died in 1886, at the age of 
30 years, and Mr. Stegner later married Katherine Schreck. who was born 
in Moniteau County and died in 1917 at the age of 66 years. To that 
union four children were born, namely: Minnie, deceased; Joseph, who 
was with the American Expeditionary Forces in France, now living at 
Boonville; Hannah, wife of H. Schwitzsky, Boonville, and James C, of 
Boonville. Joseph Stegner, the soldier son, was bora Jan. 27, 1887. He 
was inducted into the National Army and after a period of training sailed 



878 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

in September, 1918, for overseas service in the World War, a member of 
A Company, 351 Regiment of Infantry, 88th Division of the United States 
Army. 

Frank C. Stegner received his schooling in the public schools and not 
long after he had attained his majority he rented a farm from his grand- 
mother and began fanning. Later, in association with his brother, 
Charles L., he bought 60 acres and as his affairs have prospered he has 
added to his original purchase until he is now the owner of a fine farm 
of 185 acres in Palestine township, where he is engaged in farming and 
stock raising. He is a stockholder in the Pilot Grove Bank. He is a 
republican and takes an active interest in local civic affairs, having been 
one of those who helped to organize the last special road district. He and 
his wife are members of the Evangelical Church. 

Mr. Stegner has been twice married. In 1902 he was married to 
Clara Dumolt, who also was born in this county and who died in 1913. 
To that union was born one child, who died in infancy. Aug. 10, 1915, 
Mr. Stegner married Lillian L. Kinser, who was born in Logan County, 
111., daughter of William and Amanda (Robinson) Kinser, and to this 
union has been born one child, who died in infancy. 

William D. Cole, who is a member of one of the real pioneer families 
of Cooper County, has an excellent farm of 207 acres in Palestine town- 
ship and in addition to his general farming gives considerable attention 
to the raising of Duroc Jersey hogs. He was bom on a farm in this 
township March 13, 1863, son of Stephen and Josephine (Bryant) Cole, 
both of whom also were born in this county, both the Cole and the Bryant 
families having been represented here since the early settlement. Stephen 
Cole was a farmer and was one of the well known residents of the com- 
munity. He and his wife were the parents of six children, one of whom 
died in infancy and of whom the subject of this sketch was the third 
in order of birth, the others being, Ada, married D. Horner and is now 
deceased ; Holbert, Palestine township ; George, living in Morgan County, 
and Irving, also a resident of Morgan County. 

William D. Cole received his schooling in the district schools and when 
21 years of age began farming on his own account. He rented land until 
1886, when he bought seventy acres in the section in which he now lives; 
later he added to that farm, later sold his original tract of 70 acres and 
bought more land until now owns 207 acres, which is well improved. Mr. 
Cole is a democrat and takes an interest in local affairs. 

March 18, 1892, William D. Cole was married to Catherine Reed, 
whom he had known since the days of her childhood, and to this union 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 879 

three children have been born, Noel, Clarence and Carl, all of whom are at 
home. Mrs. Cole also was born in Palestine township and has lived there 
all her life. She is a daughter of James and Evaline (Ewing) Reed and 
was born on Feb. 22, 1874. 

George H. Schlotzhauer, a well known farmer of Palestine township 
and one of the leading orchardists of Cooper County, was born in Pilot 
Grove township March 17, 1870, son of Chris and Lottie (Morrow) Schlotz- 
hauer, the latter of whom was born in Scotland and died in this county in 
1880, she then being 29 years of age. Chris. Schlotzhauer is one of the 
leading farmers of Pilot Grove township. He is one of the sons of Henry 
Schlotzhauer, a pioneer of Cooper County. George H. Schlotzhauer was 
educated in the district schools and attended the Pilot Grove Academy. 
Shortly after attaining his majority he bought the place on which he is 
now living in the spring of 1896. Mr. Schlotzhauer has an excellent farm 
of 150 acres and has the same improved in admirable fashion. He has a 
fine apple orchard of 20 acres and has long been regarded as one of the 
most successful orchardists in Cooper County, as his father was before 
him, for on his father's place there also is a very fine orchard of 20 acres 
or more. Mr. Schlotzhauer is a republican. He is affiliated with Bunce- 
ton Lodge No. 456, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and the Wood- 
men of the World at Speed. He and his family are members of the Meth- 
odist Church. 

March 10. 1896, George H. Schlotzhauer was united in marriage to 
Ella Babbitt, who also was born in Pilot Grove township, daughter of Wil- 
liam and Sarah (Stewart) Babbitt, both now deceased, and to this union 
five children have been born, namely: Elizabeth B., wife of L. Gander, 
Lebanon township ; Hallie C, who recently returned from army service, 
and Eugene, Arthur and Mary E. Mr. and Mrs. Schlotzhauer have reared 
two of the children of William Babbitt, Mrs. Katie Haley and Lester Bab- 
bitt, both of Pilot Grove township. Hallie C. Schlotzhauer, the soldier 
son, was bom Aug. 2, 1899. In Oct., 1918, young Schlotzhauer enlisted 
for service in the celebrated "Tank" Corps of the United States Army 
and was sent to Camp Dix, N. J., for training and was there when the 
armistice was signed, when his corps was demobilized. 

Leslie F. Cordry, a prominent farmer of Palestine township, was born 
on a farm in Lebanon township on Sept. 2, 1873, son of William F. and 
Dora (Hutchison) Cordry, both natives of this county, reared on the home 
farm in Lebanon township, Leslie F. Cordry was educated in the district 
school and in the Otterville High School. He remained on the home 
farm until the spring of 1900, when he bought from his father the tract 



880 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

of 120 acres on which he is now living. Since taki lg possession of that 
place Mr. Cordry has made extensive improvement i on the same, these 
improvements including the erection of a new and modern farm house 
and other buildings in keeping with the same. His f trm is in a high state 
of cultivation and his operations are being carried on with constantly- 
increasing profit, he having demonstrated to his own satisfaction that 
progressive methods pay. Mr. Cordry is a republican. He and his wife 
are members of the Presbyterian Church. 

Feb. 14, 1900, Leslie F. Cordry was united in marriage to Maggie A. 
Fritts, who was born in Lebanon township, this county, Oct. 3, 1873, fifth 
in order of birth of the eight children born there to John W. and Patsy 
(Reese) Fritts, the latter of whom is still living, making her home with 
Mr. and Mrs. Cordry. She was born in Audrain County, May 8, 1843, and 
came to Cooper County with her parents, this having been her home when 
she married in 1863. Mr. Fritts was a Virginian, born Oct. 9, 1836. 
When he was 24 years of age, he came to Cooper County. After his mar- 
riage to Patsy Reese he settled on a farm in Lebanon township and there 
spent the remainder of his life. He died Feb. 1, 1888, aged 52 years. 
Mrs. Fritts is now in her 72nd year and can tell many interesting tales 
of conditions in Missouri as she knew them in her girlhood. 

Christopher Schlotzhauer, a progressive citizen of Pilot Grove town- 
ship, who is a well known farmer, and one of the most successful orchard- 
ists in central Missouri, is a native son of Cooper County. He was born 
on a pioneer farm in Palestine township, June 21, 1848, a son of Henry 
Schlotzhauer and wife, well known in that section in their generation. 

Christopher Schlotzhauer was early trained in the ways of farming, 
and has followed that vocation all his life. He received his schooling in 
the local district schools, and when little more than a boy served for 
three months as a member of the Missouri State Militia, during the Civil 
War. When he attained his majority, he began farming on his own ac- 
count. His father deeded him 120 acres long before his death, and since 
coming into possession of the same he has made extensive improvements 
to the same, for years having had one of the best farm plants in that 
neighborhood. About 20 years ago, Mr. Schlotzhauer set out an apple 
orchard of 20 acres on his place, and has for years been recognized as 
one of the most successful orchardists in Cooper County, though of recent 
years he has not given the attention to this branch of his operations that 
he formerly did. He also has another orchard on a farm in the vicinity 
of Pilot Grove. During the years in which he gave special attention to 




CHRISTOPHER SCHLOTZHAUER 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 881 

his orchards he was an active member of the Fruit Growers Association, 
and some years ago shipped in one season 13 carloads of apples from his 
place. Mr. Schlotzhauer is the owner of 320 acres of land, which is well 
improved and profitably cultivated. He is a republican. He and his 
family are members of the Methodist Church. 

Mr. Schlotzhauer has been twice married. In 1869 he was married 
to Lottie Morrow, who was born in Scotland, and who died at her home 
in this county in 1880, at the age of 29 years. To that union were born 
four children, namely : George, a farmer, of Bellaire, Mo. ; Margaret, who 
makes her home with her brother, George; Lloyd, Morgan County, Ohio; 
and Arthur, deceased. On Feb. 11, 1883, Mr. Schlotzhauer married Mar- 
garet Ferguson, who was born in Pettis County, and to this union five 
children have been born. Of these the fourth in order of birth died in 
infancy. The others are as follows: Myrtle, married Fred Harris, La- 
monte, Mo. ; Charles, Pilot Grove ; Horace, who is at home assisting his 
father; and Grace, wife of James Verts, farming near Boonville. Mrs. 
Schlotzhauer was reared in Pettis County, where she was born. She is 
a daughter of Samuel and Lucretia (Smith) Ferguson, who spent their 
last days in Pettis County. Samuel Ferguson was bom in that county, 
and his wife was born in Kentucky. 

. Robert E. Downing, one of Cooper County's best known real "old- 
timers," was bom in Palestine township March 28, 1847, son of Robert 
E. and Lucy (Boulware) Downing, and was the second in order of birth 
of the three children born to that parentage, he having had two sisters, 
Mrs. Lucy Harness, now deceased, and Agnes, who died in infancy. 
Robert E. Downing, Sr., was born in Northumberland County, Va., and 
came to Missouri in the early '40s and settled on a farm west of the site 
of Bunceton. In 1849 he joined that great band of fortune hunters which 
streamed across the plains seeking gold in California. Not finding con- 
ditions there as his fancy had painted them, he started home, taking ves- 
sel to return by way of Cape Horn, but was taken ill and died before many 
days out and was buried at sea. He was twice manned and by his first 
wife, Eliza Bell, who also was born in Virginia, had two sons, Everett S., 
and Samuel W., both now deceased. His second wife, Lucy Boulware, 
also was born in Virginia. She died at her home in this county in 1875, 
being then 55 years of age. 

The earliest recollections of Robert E. Downing have to do with the 
efforts he early recognized to help his widowed mother. Of his father 



882 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

he has no recollection, for he was little more than an infant when that 
unfortunate man started on his ill-fated quest for gold. He grew up on 
the little farm which his mother retained, west of Bunceton, and his 
schooling was received in a little old log school house more than three 
miles from his home and to which he walked to and from during the win- 
ter periods of from three to four months in which school was "held." 
His boyhood was given over to farm work until he was 18 years of age, 
when, in 1865, he became employed by the government as a "bullwhacker" 
for the supply trains of ox-teams plodding across the plains to Ft. Union 
in New Mexico territory, and during this period of employment under- 
went some interesting experiences. Upon the completion of this service, 
Mr. Downing resumed his place on his mother's farm and continued in 
charge of the same until her death in 1875. In the meantime, a few years 
prior to that event, he had married ; moved to Cass County. After three 
years, he returned to Cooper County and formed a partnership with Green 
Walker in the live stock business and was for three years thus engaged. 
At the end of that time he moved back to the old home farm, then owned 
by T. J. Wallace, and formed a partnership with Mr. Wallace in the opera- 
tion of the place which lasted for three years, when, in 1886, he bought 
80 acres of the farm now owned by E. B. Windsor in Palestine township. 
Mr. Downing resided there for about 20 years, when he sold it and bought 
the quarter section on which he is now living. In addition to his general 
farming operations, Mr. Downing has been engaged ever since his return 
from Cass County in the buying and selling of mules and has long been 
recognized as an expert in mule values. Although Mr. Downing is widely 
known as one of the "safest" buyers in the country, he says the days of 
former profits in the mule market seem to have gone forever. Mr. Down- 
ing is a democrat and has since the days of his young manhood taken an 
interested part in local civic affairs. For the past 20 years he has been 
the clerk of the school board in his home district and during that time 
has done much to help elevate educational standards, it having been dur- 
ing his incumbency that District No. 49 became famous as the seat of 
the highest-priced school plant of any country school district in Missouri, 
a distinction it held from the time it achieved the same until six years 
ago, when the banner was won away by another district; however, Dis- 
trict 49 still claims the best country school in Cooper County. The Down- 
ings are members of the Baptist Church. 

Dec. 24, 1872, Robert E. Downing was united in marriage to Martha 
Paxton, who was born in Nichols county, Ky., Sept. 12, 1846, daughter 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 883 

of Thomas and Margaret (Orr) Paxton, both of whom were born in that 
state. Thomas Paxton died in Kentucky and his widow later came to 
Cooper County, where her daughters resided, and here spent the re- 
mainder of her life. To Robert E. and Martha (Paxton) Downing five 
children have been born: William B., superintendent of schools of 
Cooper County; Lutie May, who died in infancy; twins, who died in in- 
fancy, and Martha, wife of W. H. Streitt, of Lebanon township. Mr. and 
Mrs. Streitt have two children, Wade H., Jr., and Margaret. 

Prof. William B. Downing, county superintendent of schools, began 
his educational career when, at the age of 16 years, following his gradua- 
tion from the Otterville High School, he was granted a certificate to teach 
school, his examination papers receiving the highest grade accorded in 
the county in that year. Though but a boy, his initial effort was success- 
ful and he ever since has continued as a teacher, and is recognized as one 
of the leading educators in this part of the State, and in Jan., 1919, was 
elected superintendent of schools for Cooper County. Professor Down- 
ing makes his home with his children in the household of his parents, his 
wife having died in 1906, leaving three children, Lucy, Dorothy and 
Lewis. The mother of these children was Grace Parrish, who was born 
in this county, daughter of Robert Parrish and wife, the latter of whom 
was a Waller, and who died in 1906 at the age of 32 years. 

John M. Putnam, manager of the Nelson farms in Kelly township, 
was born on a farm in Palestine township June 27, 1863, son of Darius 
and Mary (Jeffress) Putnam, both deceased. Darius Putnam was born 
in Worcester County, Mass., and was but a child when his father died. 
His mother married again and he left home and came West, arriving at 
Boonville when he was 12 years of age. There, under the instructions 
of George Sahm, he learned the shoemaker's trade, which he followed 
the rest of his life and in which he was successful, making considerable 
money, which he lost in unfortunate investments. He entered business 
in Boonville, that being a time when custom-made boots were generally 
worn, and after some years moved to Bunceton, where he set up in busi- 
ness and bought a farm on which his sons were reared and trained in the 
ways of farming, and there he spent the rest of his life, dying at the age 
of 56 years. His widow died in 1881, aged 71 years. She was bora in 
Tennessee and was married in this county. Darius Putnam was a stal- 
wart democrat and ever took an active interest in political affairs, serving 
for some time as constable and later for years as justice of the peace in 
and for Palestine township. He and his wife were the parents of nine 



884 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

children, of whom but two are now living, the subject of this sketch hav- 
ing a sister older than himself, Mrs. Elizabeth Blackburn, Alhambra, Calif. 

Reared on the home farm in Palestine township, John M. Putnam 
was from the days of his boyhood given an excellent training in the ways 
of practical farming. He received his schooling in the local schools and 
when 21 years of age began farming on his own account, renting a por- 
tion of the Nelson tract. Early in 1888 he married, thereafter continu- 
ing his farming as a renter until in 1891 he was made sole manager for 
the Dr. Arthur W. Nelson farms, a position he ever since has occupied, 
now having under his charge 3500 acres of land in Kelly township. Mr. 
Putnam is a stockholder in the Traders Bank of Tipton, Mo. He is a 
democrat, as was his father. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the Mod- 
ern Woodmen of America. He and his wife are members of the Metho- 
dist Church. 

Feb. 22, 1888, John M. Putnam was united in marriage to Elizabeth 
Ranz, of this county, and to this union five children have been born, 
namely: Florence, wife of C. E. Hutchinson, Lebanon township; George, 
Palestine township; Frank, Morgan County; Arthur W., Kelly township, 
and Thomas, who has but recently returned from service in the United 
States Army, having received his honorable discharge on Feb. 7, 1919. 
He was in training at Camp Funston, and was a corporal in the head- 
quarters company of the Tenth Division, Infantry, when the armistice 
was signed. Mrs. Putnam was born in Tennessee and was but four years 
of age when she came to Missouri with her parents, Jacob and Elizabeth 
Ranz, the family locating in this county. Here Jacob Ranz spent the re- 
mainder of his life. His widow is now living in Moniteau County. 

Joseph R. Koontz, one of Kelly township's successful fanners, was 
born in Page County, Va., Feb. 21, 1863, son of Lewis and Elizabeth 
(Hutchinson) Koontz, both of whom also were born in that state, the 
latter in Shenandoah County, and who died there. Lewis Koontz was 
born in 1821 and died in 1899. Many years ago he made several trips 
west and bought land both in Illinois and in Missouri as an investment, 
but never farmed the same. He made three trips into Cooper County, 
coming once by boat and twice by wagon, to look after his investments 
here, but could not make up his mind to make this his place of residence, 
as many other Virginians, who came here about the same time, did. He 
and his wife were the parents of 10 children, of whom the subject of this 
sketch was the seventh in order of birth. 

In 1883, Joseph R. Koontz came to Missouri to look after some land 
investments that his father had made in Cooper County and he ever 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 885 

since has resided here. He settled on the place where he is now living, 
238 acres of which he bought in 1885, and which he has well improved. 
This farm is the site of the old John Roatcap flour mill, which stood there 
in pioneer days and the products of which were known for miles about, 
the early settlers driving from far distant points to get their "grist" 
done there. In those days there was a big spring near the mill and the 
waters of which had a wide celebrity among the pioneers. 

Dec. 21, 1886, Joseph R. Koonte was married to Lida Funkhouser, an 
adopted daughter of Eli Funkhouser, and to this union four children have 
been bora, namely: Lewis, now a resident of St. Louis; Russell, farmer, 
Kelly township; Frank and Josephine, at home. Mr. Koontz is a demo- 
crat, and he is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America. 

Charles S. Phillips, a veteran of the Civil War and one of the leading 
farmers of Kelly township, was born in Washington County, Ohio, Aug. 
6, 1843, son of John and Czrina (Buchanan) Phillips, both of whom also 
were born in Ohio, the former in Athens County and the latter in Morgan 
County. John Phillips died in Washington County when about 45 years 
of age. His widow survived him many years and her last days were spent 
in Grundy County, 111. They were the parents of six children, of whom 
two are still living, the subject of this sketch having a brother, Walter 
Phillips, Morris, 111. 

Charles S. Phillips was reared on a farm and educated in the public 
schools. When the Civil War broke out, he enlisted in the Union Army, 
and went to the front as a member of Company D, Fourth Virginia (after- 
ward West Virginia) Cavalry, with which command he served for six 
months, when he re-enlisted as a member of Company A, 36th Ohio Vol- 
unteer Infantry, with which he served until mustered out at Wheeling, 
W. Va., in 1865, the war then being over. During this service, Mr. Phil- 
lips participated in the battle of Medaly Gap as a cavalryman and after 
joining the infantry took part in several of the important battles and 
engagements of the war, including Meadows Bluff, Lynchburg, Winches- 
ter and Cedar Creek. At the battle of Winchester, July 24, 1864, he was 
severely wounded by a minnie ball, which went through his right leg 
below the knee. After the war, Mr. Phillips returned to his home in Ohio 
and remained until 1867, when he came to Missouri and located in St. 
Louis County. In 1871 he returned to Ohio, but in 1875 came back to 
Missouri and located in Cooper County, beginning here by renting a farm 
in Pilot Grove township and was thus engaged there until 1880, when he 
moved to Kelly township, rented of James Nelson the farm. In 1893 he 
bought his present farm. Mr. Phillips has been successful in his farm- 



886 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

ing and stock raising and has added to the acreage until now he is the 
owner of 238 acres and has one of the best improved farms in the neigh- 
borhood. Mr. Phillips is a republican, but has not been a seeker after 
office. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic at Tipton. 
Formerly he was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He 
and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church (South). 

March 4, 1880, Charles S. Phillips was married to Matilda Barnhart, 
who was born in Illinois in 1853, and to this union four children have been 
born: Charles S., Kansas City; Clarence E., Lebanon township; Orville 
H., at home, and Mary, wife of Harry Hegmire, Kelly township. 

James N. Blythe, formerly and for many years a well-known black- 
smith at Pleasant Green, was born on a farm in Otterville township 
March 20, 1858, son of William and Nancy (James) Blythe, natives of 
Kentucky, who had come here some years prior to that date and had set- 
tled on a farm in Otterville township. William Blythe also was a black- 
smith and the forge he set up on his farm was a great accommodation 
to his neighbors. He continued to make his home on that place and there 
died in 1907, he then being 66 years of age. William Blythe was twice 
married. His first wife, Nancy James, whom he married in Kentucky, 
died in 1864. By that marriage he was the father of seven children, of 
whom James N. was the sixth in order of birth. Following the death of 
the mother of these children, William Blythe married Mary Fink, and to 
that union seven children also were born. 

Reared on the home farm in Otterville township, James N. Blythe 
received his schooling in the district schools and was early trained by his 
father not only in the ways of farming but in blacksmithing, to which 
latter vocation he gave particular attention and about 40 years ago set 
up as a blacksmith on his own account. He married in 1881 and not long 
thereafter moved to Pleasant Green, where he bought a tract of 35 acres 
at the edge of the town, and set up his blacksmith shop, and for many 
years worked there at his trade, one of the best known smiths hereabout. 
In 1913, Mr. Blythe bought a tract of land adjoining his home and has 
since then been devoting the greater part of his time to the breeding of 
Poland China hogs and to the buying and selling of stock, and has met 
with success. He owns a well-kept farm of 151 acres. He also is a stock- 
holder in the Pleasant Green Bank. Mr. Blythe is a democrat, and a 
member of the Modern Woodmen of America. He is a member of the 
Methodist Church, and his wife is a Baptist. 

Mr. Blythe has been twice married. Dec. 24, 1881, he was married 
to Margaret Campbell, who was born in Polk County, Mo., and who died 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 887 

without issue in 1890, at the age of 41 years. Dec. 28, 1891, Mr. Blythe 
married Sarah W. Woolery, who was born in this county, daughter of 
Taylor and Eliza (Berry) Woolery, both members of pioneer families in 
Cooper County and both of whom are living on their farm, east of Pleas- 
ant Green. 

William F. Cordry, one of the progressive farmers of Lebanon town- 
ship, was born near the farm on which he is now living, Nov. 8, 1846, son 
of William L. and Polly Ann (Weir) Cordry. William L. Cordry was born 
in Todd County, Ky., Jan. 15, 1816, and was but 14 years of age when, in 
1830, he came with his parents, James Cordry and wife, to Missouri, the 
family driving through with both oxen and horses and settling on land 
which James Cordry had entered from the Government, in Lebanon town- 
ship. There a log cabin was erected. The nearest market at that time 
was at Boonville and conditions of living were somewhat rough and prim- 
itive. The little old log cabin which sheltered the family for years and 
in which children were born and reared, is still standing on the old home 
pdace, a most highly valued relic of pioneer days, and is being carefully 
preserved. It was on that pioneer farm that William L. Cordry grew to 
manhood and laid the foundations for his after success, for in time he 
became one of the most substantial farmers and landowners in that com- 
munity. In the spring of 1838 he married Polly Ann Weir, who was born 
in Howard County, Sept. 28, 1819, and after his marriage established 
his home in Lebanon township, where he and his wife spent the remain- 
der of their lives. Both lived to be past 80 years of age and at their pass- 
ing left good memories as a legacy to their children, grandchildren and 
great-grandchildren. William L. Cordry died in 1902. His wife died 
Oct. 14, 1900. They were the parents of eight children, as follows: Sam- 
uel J., now deceased, was a soldier of the Union Army during the Civil 
War; James N., a farmer in Kelly township; William F. ; Thomas N., 
Pilot Grove; Charles W., Palestine township; Robert D., Lebanon town- 
ship ; Mrs. Alice Eichelberger, Fulton, Mo. ; and Margaret Ida, wife of 
Peter F. Smith, Lebanon township. 

Reared in Lebanon township, William F. Cordry attended school in 
the little old log school house which was serving the district in the days 
of his boyhood, but which before his school days were over was sup- 
planted by a small frame structure with oak slabs for seats. He was but 
15 years of age when the Civil War broke out, but he was enrolled for 
service, thought it never became necessary to call him out to active duty. 
In 1871, his father gave him the "80" on which he established his home 
and on which he is still living. As his affairs prospered Mr. Cordry 



888 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

bought more land adjoining and now has an excellent farm of 250 acres, 
besides which he has given land and money to his children. Mr. Cordry 
has lived to see many wonderful changes in the methods of agricultural 
operations since the days of his boyhood and has been progressive 
enough to adopt the new ways, and he has prospered thereby. Mr. Cor- 
dry is a republican, but has not been included in the office-seeking class. 
He and his family are members of the Presbyterian Church. 

Jan. 12, 1871, William F. Cordry was married to Madora Hutchinson, 
who was born in that same township, Dec. 17, 1851, daughter of L. M. 
Hutchinson and wife, the latter of whom was a Cordry. L. M. Hutchin- 
son was born in Page County, Va., and his wife was born in Kentucky. 
Mr. and Mrs. Cordry have four children, namely: Leslie L., a farmer of 
Palestine township ; Oliver L., a Lebanon township farmer ; Owen E., also 
of Lebanon township, and Bessie, wife of John Streit, in Otterville 
township. 

Davin Brothers, Michael and Andrew Davin, extensive farmers and 
stock raisers in Pilot Grove township, and the latter of whom served for 
three terms as county judge for the western district of Cooper County, 
and is vice-president of the Pilot Grove Bank, and vice-president of the 
Elliott & Chapman Furniture Company of that place, have resided in this 
county since 1877, and have for years been among its most progressive 
and substantial citizens. Michael Davin was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. 
Dec, 2, 1854, and Andrew Davin was born across the Ohio River, in Cov- 
ington, Ky., June 29, 1860, sons of Michael and Ellen (Ryan) Davin, 
natives of Ireland, who came to this county after their marriage, and 
after a some time residence in Cincinnati and Covington, came to Mis- 
souri with their family and settled on a farm in Pilot Grove township, 
where they spent the remainder of their lives. 

Michael Davin, the father, was born Jan. 6, 1816, and grew to man- 
hood in Ireland, where on Feb. 8, 1837, he married Ellen Ryan, who was 
bom in 1817. He and his wife remained in their native land until 1848, 
when they came to the United States. At that time they had several 
small children and others were born to them after they came to this 
country. They first went to Cincinnati, but later moved across the river 
to Covington and there remained until the spring of 1877 when they came 
to Cooper County, arriving here March 17 and settled on a farm in Pilot 
Grove township, which place is still in the family and there they spent 
the remainder of their lives. Michael Davin died on July 9, 1891, and his 
widow died July 27, 1899. They were members of the Catholic Church 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 889 

and their children were reared in that faith. There were twelve of these 
children, of whom two died in childhood, the others besides the subjects 
of this sketch being as follows: Thomas, born in Ireland, March 1, 1838, 
died July, 1898 ; Mary, married John Kirwin and is deceased ; Bridget, 
wife of Thomas Woods, St. Louis ; Jeremiah, deceased ; John, deceased ; 
Ellen, with her brothers on the old home place; Margaret, who also is at 
home, and James, deceased. 

Of these children, Michael was the seventh in order of birth and 
Andrew the ninth. The former had passed his majority when the family 
came to Cooper County and the latter was about 17 years of age. Thus 
both were able assistants in the labors of developing and improving the 
farm on which the family settled. Following the death of their father, 
the brothers continued operations on the home place and now have an 
excellent farm of 480 acres, on which they are profitably carrying on gen- 
eral fanning and stock raising. They are republicans and in 1908 Andrew 
Davin was elected county judge for the western district of Cooper County 
and by successive re-elections served in that important judicial capacity 
for three terms. He is a member of the board of directors and vice- 
president of the Pilot Grove Bank as well as vice-president of the Elliott & 
Chapman Furniture Company of Pilot Grove. The Davin brothers and 
their sisters are members of the Catholic Church and Michael and Andrew 
Davin are members of the Knights of Columbus. 

William R. Phillips, one of Clear Creek township's well-known 
farmers, is a native son of Cooper County, member of one of the real 
pioneer families. He was born in Clear Creek township, Feb. 18, 1847, 
son of Martin G. and Susan (Huff) Phillips, both of whom were members 
of pioneer families in this county and who spent their last days here. 

Martin G. Phillips was born in Alabama in 1814 and was but eight 
years of age when his parents, Jeremiah and Ann (Brown) Phillips, came 
to Missouri with their family and a few years later settled on Govern- 
ment land near Buffalo Prairie in Clear Creek township, where they spent 
the remainder of their lives. Jeremiah Phillips was of Irish stock and 
was a soldier of the War of 1812. On that pioneer farm in Clear Creek 
township, Martin G. Phillips grew to manhood and after his marriage to 
Susan Huff, who was born in Kentucky and who had come to Missouri 
with her parents, settled on a farm in that same neighborhood and there 
he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives. Martin G. Phillips 
died in 1894, at the age of 80 years. His widow died in 1896. She was 
born in 1818. They were the parents of 11 children, of whom five are 



890 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

still living, as follows : William R. ; James W., Yukon, Okla. ; George W., 
of Hughesville, Mo. ; Jennie, widow of J. Parrish ; and Addie, wife of C. F. 
Smith, Clear Creek township. 

William R. Phillips, from the days of his boyhood, gave his attention 
to farming. He received his schooling in the local schools of his home 
neighborhood and remained at home until his marriage in the spring of 
1873, when he rented a farm. He continued as a renter until 1888, when 
he bought the farm where he has since made his home. Since taking 
possession of that place, Mr. Phillips has improved it in substantial 
fashion. In his political views he is a democrat. He and his family are 
members of the Baptist Church. 

April 8, 1873, William R. Phillips was married to Catherine Gentry, 
who also was born in this county, and to this union five children have 
been born, namely: George, deceased; Jennie, wife of John J. Potter, 
Clifton; Martin G., Palestine township; Margaret, deceased, and Riley, 
who is at home assisting his father on the farm. Mrs. Phillips was born 
in Pilot Grove township, daughter of William and Margaret (Roe) Gen- 
try, who for years were among the well-known residents of that part of 
the county. 

In May, 1919, Mr. Phillips retii-ed from the farm and moved to Pilot 
Grove, where he bought property. His son, William Riley, Jr., is con- 
ducting the farm. 

Daniel R. Brubaker, a veteran of the Civil War and one of the well- 
known and substantial farmers and stockmen of Lebanon township, was 
born in Page County, Va., Feb. 14, 1844, son of Gideon and Nancy (Roth- 
geb) Brubaker, both also natives of that state and who spent their lives 
there. Gideon Brubaker was born in Page county, Va., Aug. 28, 1806, 
and died in 1892. He was a son of Peter and Barbara Ann (Kaufman) 
Brubaker, both natives of Virginia. The Brubakers are of Swedish stock 
and have been established in this country since 1700, when the first of 
the name on this side of the water settled in Virginia. Gideon Brubaker 
was married four times and had children by three wives. By his union 
with Nancy Rothgeb, mother of the subject of this sketch, he had six 
children, of whom Daniel R. was the first born. 

Reared on the farm on which he was born in Page county, Va., Dan- 
iel R. Brubaker was living there when the Civil War broke out, he then 
being 17 years of age. He enlisted in the Confederate Army at Luray, 
Va., and served until finally mustered out. At the battle of Malvern Hill 
— the seven days fight — he was wounded in the eye and sustained other 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 891 

wounds from bursting shells. In the spring of 1866 he married and set- 
tled down in his home county, where he remained until Feb. 22, 1873, 
when he left Virginia with his family and came to Missouri, settling in 
this county. Here he bought a tract of 90 acres, a part of the farm on 
which he is now living in Lebanon township. As his affairs prospered, he 
added to the same until he now owns 440 acres. Fifty years and more 
ago, back in his old home county, Mr. Brubaker taught a term of school 
and has ever retained the liveliest interest in school affairs. For some 
time he served as director of his local school district and also has served 
as clerk of the school board. He maintains an independent attitude on 
political questions. 

March 29, 1866, in Page County, Va., Daniel R. Brubaker was united 
in marriage with Frances E. Gander, who was born in that county, and 
to this union 10 children have been born, namely: Edgar, Sedalia, Mo.; 
Lizzie, wife of V. L. Biedler, of Rockingham County, Va. ; Hubert L., Chi- 
cago, 111.; Henry M., who is at home with his father; Ashby W., Kansas 
City; Elmer J., Kelly township; Ella M., wife of J. C. Cordry, Kelly town- 
ship; Homer V., of Lebanon township; Nettie L., wife of W. P. Coe, Se- 
dalia, and Bessie P., wife of T. H. Coe, Sedalia. Mrs. Brubaker, mother 
of these children, was born on July 18, 1844, daughter of Henry and Mary 
Coffman Gander, who were born in what is now known as Page County, 
Va. Three years ago Mr. and Mrs. Brubaker celebrated their golden 
wedding anniversary. 

William H. Glasgow, a successful young stock breeder of Kelly town- 
ship, was born on Oct. 10, 1894, son of William H. and Belle J. (Gates) 
Glasgow, both now deceased. The senior William H. Glasgow, who died 
at Syracuse Oct. 30, 1901, was born in this county, Sept. 23, 1849, son 
of James H. and Harriet (Cranmer) Glasgow, who were among the pio- 
neers of Cooper County. James H. Glasgow was born in Delaware, Jan. 
5, 1807, and came to Missouri when Government land still was available 
for settlement in Cooper County. He was a slaveholder and bought from 
the Government for $1.25 an acre the land upon which he settled, later 
increasing his holdings until he became the owner of a plantation of 800 
acres. He died at his home in this county Dec. 5, 1885. His widow died 
Oct. 5, 1902. She was born in Kentucky Nov. 10, 1816, and came to this 
county with her parents, the Cranmers having been among the early set- 
tlers here. Of the four children born to James H. Glasgow and wife, Wil- 
liam H. was the second in order of birth. He grew to manhood in this 
county and became an extensive farmer and influential. He organized 



892 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

the Cooper County Anti-Horse Thief Association, and was the first presi- 
dent and until his death one of the leading spirits. William H. Glasgow, 
Sr., died in the fall of 1901 and his widow died March 14, 1917. She was 
born at Memphis, Tenn., June 25, 1860, and was past 57 years of age at 
the time of her death. She was a member of the Gates family, which 
came from England to this country in Colonial days and of which now 
widely scattered family there is a complete genealogy beginning in the 
17th century and bringing the descent down to the year 1917. William 
H. Glasgow and Belle J. Gates were married at St. Louis, Oct. 5, 1892, 
and to that union three children were born. Of these the subject of this 
sketch was the second in order of birth. The first born, Versalis H., died 
in infancy. The third, Clayton S. Glasgow, lives on the farm adjoining 
that of his brother William, a part of the old home place, in Kelly 
township. 

The junior William H. Glasgow was but seven years of age when his 
father died and the responsibility of carrying on the operations of the 
home place early fell upon his shoulders. He completed his schooling in 
Central College at Fayette and upon his return from college resumed his 
place on the farm, he and his brother carrying on the operations of the 
place jointly in behalf of their mother. After their mother's death, in 
the spring of 1917, the brothers divided the estate equitably, this division 
giving to each 210 acres. For some years past William H. Glasgow has 
been giving particular attention to the raising of Hampshire sheep and 
his breeding cotes have attained more than a local reputation. He has 
made exhibits at the Bunceton Fair and in addition to the private sales 
which he conducts on his farm, he has received orders for the increase of 
his flock from several states. Mr. Glasgow is a member of the American 
Hampshire Sheep Association of Detroit, and a member of the local 
Sheep Breeders' Association, which confines its field of activities to 
Cooper and Moniteau Counties. He is a democrat. 

Oct. 18, 1916, William H. Glasgow was married to Dora B. Kite, who 
also was born in this county, and to this union one child has been born, 
William H. Glasgow, III. Mrs. Glasgow was born in Lebanon township, 
daughter of George W. and Emma J. (Buracker) Kite, the latter of whom 
is living in Lebanon township. She was born in Page County, Va., Jan. 
1, 1867. George W. Kite also was born in Page County, Va., March 27, 
1857. He and his wife came to Missouri about 1887 and located on a 
farm in Lebanon township, where he spent the remainder of his life. He 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 893 

died in 1905. To him and his wife were born five children, of whom three 
are still living, Mrs. Glasgow having a brother, Grover C. Kite, of Kelly 
township, and a sister, Ruth V., who is at home with her mother. 

Clayton Stilhnan Glasgow, one of the progressive young farmers and 
stockmen of Kelly township was born on the place where he now resiues, 
Aug. 27, 1896, son of William H. and Belle J. (Gates) Glasgow, both now 
deceased. The former died in 1901 and the latter in 1917. James H. 
Glasgow, a native of Delaware and the grandfather of the subject of this 
sketch, bought at an early day a considerable tract of land here on which 
to establish his home. This pioneer's son, William H. Glasgow, anc? his 
wife had three children, the first born a daughter, who died in infancy, 
Clayton S. Glasgow having an elder brother, William H., who lives on the 
farm adjoining him. 

Reared on the home farm, Clayton S. Glasgow was from the days of 
his boyhood trained in the ways of farming, the operations of the home 
place early devolving upon his elder brother and himself due to the tact 
of their father's death when they were but boys. He completed his 
schooling in Central College at Fayette and in the University of Missouri 
and upon leaving the university returned to the home farm and there re- 
sumed his operations, he and his bi'other managing the place jointly in 
behalf of their mother, and after the latter's death in 1917 the brothers 
divided the estate, each receiving 210 acres of excellent and well improved 
land. In the following spring Clayton S. Glasgow married and estab- 
lished his home on that portion of the estate which came to his share and 
has since been making extensive improvements on the same. In addition 
to his general farming he has for some time given special attention to the 
raising of Shorthorn cattle and Shropshire sheep and has met with much 
s-uccess in this line. Mr. Glasgow is a member of local association of 
Shropshire breeders which confines its activities to Cooper and Moniteau 
Counties, has been an exhibitor at the county fair and is going into the 
breeding business in a way to bespeak his continued success and influence 
in that line, coming to be recognized as one of the wideawake young 
stockmen of his county. 

May 29, 1918, Clayton S. Glasgow was united in marriage with Velma 
G. Palmer, who was born on a farm near Greenville, 111., June 15, 1897, 
daughter of A. L. and Alice (Betteridge) Palmer. A. L. Palmer is n 
native of Illinois and his wife of Connecticut. Upon coming to Cooper 
County from Illinois they located on a farm in Lebanon township and are 



894 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

living there. Mr. and Mrs. Glasgow are members of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church. Mr. Glasgow is a democrat, as were his father and grand- 
father before him. To Mr. and Mrs. Glasgow have been born a son, Cecil 
Wayne, born April 27, 1919. 

George Barnhart, one of Kelly township's substantial farmers and 
stockmen, was born on a pioneer farm forty miles north Oskaloosa, 
Iowa, Dec. 15, 1857. He is a son of John and Sarah (Ashmead) Barn- 
hart, natives of Pennsylvania, who settled in Cooper County at the close 
of the Civil War and whose last days were spent here, both living to a 
ripe old age. 

John Barnhart was reared in Pennsylvania, his native state, and there 
married Sarah Ashmead, who also was born in that state. Not long after 
their marriage they moved to central Iowa, where they remained until 
1866, when they moved to Missouri and located in Cooper County. Not 
long after coming here John Barnhart bought a farm south of Boon- 
ville and he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives there. John 
Barnhart died in 1894, he then being past 76 years of age. His widow 
died in 1909, being 76 years of age. They were the parents of nine chil- 
dren, of whom the subject of this sketch was the fifth in order of birth 
and three of whom are still living, Mr. Barnhart having two sisters, 
Matildia, wife of C. S. Phillips and Mrs. Laura Rockwood, near Pilot Grove. 

George Barnhart was nine years of age when he came to Cooper 
County with his parents from Iowa in 1866 and his schooling was com- 
pleted in the district school. When 22 years of age he rented a farm in 
Boonville township and continued to make that township his residence 
until 1899, when he bought the quarter section in Kelly township on which 
he is now living. Mr. Barnhart has made numerous substantial improve- 
ments on his place. In addition to his general farming he has an excellent 
herd of Hereford cattle. He is a republican. 

Feb. 12, 1884, that George Barnhart was married to Susan Wilson, 
who was born at Adair, Mo., daughter of James T. Wilson and wife, the 
latter of whom was a Jones, and who died Feb. 24, 1915, at the age of 53 
years. To that union was born one child, a daughter, Laura, who married 
Earl Stahl and is now (spring of 1919) at home with her father during 
the continued absence of her husband in Europe as a member of the 
American Expeditionary Forces. Mr. and Mrs. Stahl have one child, a 
daughter, Ruth. 

Thomas G. Hutchison, a successful farmer and stockman of Kelly 
township was born at Danville, Ky., May 30, 1847. He is a son of John 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 895 

G. and Sallie (Downton) Hutchison, who many years ago became residents 
of Kelly township, and are buried in the cemetery at Syracuse, Mo. John 
G. Hutchison was born in Kentucky and there married and became a 
farmer and merchant. In 1856 he disposed of his interests and with 
his family came to Missouri, locating in Kelly township, where he became 
a quite extensive landowner and where he spent the remainder of his 
life, living to a ripe old age. His wife died at Sedalia, ten years before 
her husband's death. A couple of years after John G. Hutchison had 
settled in this county his parents, Elijah and Isabel (West) Hutchison, 
disposed of their interests in Kentucky and also came here. Elijah Hutch- 
ison was a Virginian as was his wife. Upon coming here in 1858 he 
bought several thousand acres of land in Cooper and Pettis Counties and 
with the 200 negroes which he brought with him from Kentucky started 
in to create a great plantation with particular reference to the raising of 
cattle and mules, but the breaking out of the Civil War, a few years later, 
and the permanent consequences necessitated a complete revision of his 
plans, though he still maintained a considerable estate. John G. Hutch- 
ison and his wife lived to ripe old ages. Of the children born to them 
but two are now living, the subject of this sketch having a younger 
brother, Elijah Hutchison, now living at Independence, Mo. 

Reared on the farm on which his parents had settled when he was 
nine years of age, Thomas G. Hutchison has continued to make that place 
his home. He married when twenty years of age and established his 
home on the place, in time coming into the inherited possession of 300 
acres of the same. Of this tract he later sold fifty acres and thus now 
has 250 acres, the same being well improved and profitably cultivated. 
In addition to his general farming Mr. Hutchison has for many years 
given considerable attention to stock raising. In recent years he has been 
ably assisted in the management of the place by his son, Richard E. For 
nine years during the educational period of their son,Mr. and Mrs. Hutch- 
ison maintained a city residence at Sedalia, where their son went to school, 
Mr. Hutchison meantime, however, continuing to look after the farm. 
He is a democrat and he and his family are members of the Methodist 
Church. 

Mr. Hutchison has been twice married. In 1867 he was married to 
Lucy E. Thompson, who was born in this county and who died leaving 
two children, Mary E., wife of T. Bradley, of Boonville, and Segis Leslie, 
deceased. Oct. 17, 1883, Mr. Hutchison married Margaret Lenora Ellis, 
who also was born in this county, and to this union three children have 



896 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

been born, namely: Margaret, deceased; Richard Ellis, mentioned above, 
and Thomas G., Jr., deceased. Richard Ellis Hutchison married Julia 
Bridges and is making his home on the home farm in Kelly township, 
being able thus to relieve his father of much of the detail of management. 
Mrs. Margaret Lenora Hutchison was born in Lebanon township Sept. 28, 
1849, one of the nine children born to Richard P. and Margaret V. (Fergu- 
son) Ellis, the eldest of these children having been the late Mrs. Mary E. 
Harris, mother of Mrs. W. F. Johnson, whose name appears on the title 
page of this work. Richard P. Ellis was a native of Virginia, born in 
Orange County, in 1809. Nov. 25, 1830, he married Margaret V. Fergu- 
son, who was born in Bath County, Ky. In 1836 he came to Missouri 
with his family and settled in Cooper County, where he was living when 
the Civil War broke out. During that struggle he was killed. His widow 
died at Pilot Grove many years afterward. 

William A. Mayfield, one of the large landowners and best known 
farmers and stockmen in the county, now living retired at Pleasant Green, 
was born on a farm in Clear Creek township March 29, 1852. He is a 
son of James and Elizabeth V. (Linn) Mayfield, both of whom were bom 
in Barren County, Ky., and came to Cooper County nearly 70 years ago 
and settled in the Clear Creek section. 

James Mayfield was born at Glasgow, Ky., March 4, 1815, a son of 
one of the pioneer families of that section. The Mayfields are an old 
Colonial family, the first of this name in this country, having come here 
from Glasgow, Scotland, about 300 years ago, settling on the North Caro- 
lina coast, whence members of the family drifted into Kentucky in the 
early days of the settlement of that state. Sept. 3, 1843, in Kentucky, 
James Mayfield married Elizabeth V. Linn and there continued to reside 
until 1850, when he came with his family to Missouri and settled on a 
farm in Clear Creek township, where he spent the remainder of his life. 
He died Oct. 19, 1892. His widow died Jan. 25, 1901. She was born Aug. 
28, 1822. They were the parents of six children as follows: Louisa, 
married Captain Zollinger and is now deceased : Emma, who married W. 
A. Huyett and is deceased; William A.; Thomas^ Vernon County, Mo.; 
James, deceased, and David B. Mayfield. a stockman, Otterville. 

William A. Mayfield was reared on the farm on which he was born 
in Clear Creek township and received his schooling in the district schools. 
As a young man he began farming on his own account on rented land 
owned by his father, but in 1878 he bought a farm on which he made his 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 897 

home until he later sold it. He has from time to time made some excel- 
lent investments and has owned a great deal of land. At present he -is 
the owner of 750 acres in this county and 480 acres near Amarillo, Texas. 
During the progress of the various Liberty Bond sales during the World 
War Mr. Mayfield bought $20,000 worth of bonds and was in other ways 
an active factor in promoting the sale of these securities in this county. 
In 1910 Mr. Mayfield retired from the active labors of the farm and moved 
to Pleasant Green, where he is now very comfortably situated, his house 
being surrounded by a four-acre tract. He is a democrat but has not 
been a seeker after office. 

Feb. 20, 1878, William A. Mayfield was married to Laura J. Licklider, 
who was born in Ohio on Oct. 30, 1849, and who died at Pleasant Green 
Sept. 13, 1917. To that union were born eight children, namely: Maud 
E., deceased ; Elsie, wife of Doctor Hite, Greenridge, Mo. ; James W., farm- 
ing in New Lebanon township; Cleveland, who is engaged in the hard- 
ware, grain and live-stock business at Pleasant Green; Laura, at home 
with her father; Luella, wife of James Algaier, a hardware and imple- 
ment merchant at Lincoln, Mo.; Ruth, at home, and Anna B., wife of E. 
Hurt, of Pleasant Green. Ewing Hurt, a corporal in the 89th Division 
of the United States army, attached to the American Expeditionary Forces 
overseas, and who is now (spring of 1919) in France with his command, 
was inducted into the army in 1917, and in 1918 sailed with his division 
for overseas service. He participated in the great battle of the Argonne 
Forest and other engagements. 

Joseph Clark Cordry, a progressive farmer of Kelly township, was 
bom Nov. 30, 1874, son of Newton and Amanda (Woolery) Cordry, both 
members of pioneer families in Cooper County. Reared on the home 
farm, Joseph C. Cordry received his schooling in the district school and 
from his boyhood was a valued assistant in the labors of the home farm. 
When he had attained his majority his father gave him 80 acres, a part 
of the home place, and he then began farming on his own account, a 
vocation he ever since has followed and with considerable success. That 
was in 1895 and seven vears later, he bought an adjoining 80 and has 
since been engaged in cultivating and improving his place of 160 acres 
until now he has an excellent farm, among these improvements being the 
erection of a new house and a new barn on the place. Mr. Cordry has 
long given proper attention to the raising of live stock and has found 
(47) 



898 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

that a profitable phase of his agricultural operations. Mr. Cordry does 
not acknowledge unshaken fealty to any political party, preferring rather 
to maintain an independent attitude, particularly with respect to local 
issues. 

June 5, 1900, Joseph C. Cordry was married to Ella May Brumaker, 
who also was born in this county and to this union four children have been 
bom, Cletus Daniel, Jessie F., Agnes E. and Joseph C, Jr. Mrs. Cordry 
is a daughter of Daniel R. Brubaker and wife, members of pioneer fam- 
ilies in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Cordry are members of the Baptist 
Church and have ever taken an interested part in church work. 

William H. Cordry is one of the well fixed farmers of Kelly township 
and he has a pleasant home where he and his family are very comfort- 
ably situated. The youngest member of that household is Mr. Cordry's 
grandson, Arthur William Putman, a representative of the Cordry family 
in the fifth generation since that family came to Cooper County from 
Kentucky, the Cordrys being one of the real "old families" of this com- 
munity. William H. Cordry was born on the old Cordry home place in 
Kelly township, on a part of which he still resides. He was born Sept. 
27, 1870, his parents being James Newton and Amanda L. (Woolery) 
Cordry. James Newton Cordry gave his son, William H., 80 acres of the 
home place when the latter attained his majority and that property not 
only has been carefully conserved but added to, the present owner long 
having been looked upon as one of the substantial farmers of that neigh- 
borhood. He had grown up on the home farm, had received his schooling 
in the public school and had from the days of his boyhood been a valuable 
assistant on the home place. When he took possession of his farm there 
was no improvement save an old house which had been erected there many 
years before, thus all the present improvements, including the comfortable 
farm house, the ample barn and other buildings have been placed by the 
present owner. In 1904 Mr. Cordry bought an adjoining tract of 35 
acres and now has an excellent farm of 115 acres, well improved and 
profitably cultivated. 

Sept. 5, 1893, William H. Cordry was married to Nora May Davis, who 
also is a member of one of Cooper County's pioneer families, and to this 
union one child has been born, a daughter, Mary G., who married A. W. 
Putman, who is living on the Cordry place, assisting in the operations of 
the same, and has one child, Arthur William, representative in the fifth 
generation of the Cooper County Cordrys. Mrs. Cordry was born in this 
county in Aug., 1872, daughter of George W. and Matilda (McMahan) 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 899 

Davis, both now deceased. George W. Davis in his younger days was a 
Santa Fe "trailer", an Indian fighter and a man thoroughly conversant 
with the hazard of Western frontier life, having often faced the most 
imminent peril and come through the same safely. But death came to 
him at last amid the calm pursuits of peaceful agricultural life at home. 
One day he was riding horseback across the fields when a prairie chicken 
whirred up from the grass directly in front of his horse. The frightened 
animal whirled and threw its rider. Mr. Davis' back was injured and he 
died from the effects. The Cordrys are members of the Baptist Church 
and Mr. Cordry is affiliated with the Masons and the Modern Woodmen 
of America. 

James M. Corson, who died at his farm home in Kelly township in 
the spring of 1911 was born in Madison County, Ohio, Feb. 11, 1845. He 
was a son of John and Elizabeth (Blizzard) Corson, and was one of the 
eight children born to them. 

Reared and schooled in his native county, James M. Corson learned 
the trade of blacksmith and upon finishing his trade came to Missouri and 
located in Henry County, where he had relatives. There he remained 
until 1876, when he came to Cooper County and took employment on the 
farm of the Mrs. Varner, a widow, in Kelly township. A few months 
later he married the youngest daughter of Mrs. Varner, established his 
home on the place and thereafter continued in proprietory management 
of the same, spending the rest of his life there. He died April 12, 1911, 
he then being past 66 years of age. During his many years of residence 
in Kelly township, Mr. Corson did well his part in the work of community 
betterment. He was a member of the Baptist Church and was a demo- 
crat. 

Aug. 12, 1876, James M. Corson was united in marriage to Rose 
Vainer, who was born on the farm on which she is still living and which 
she owns, Jan. 17, 1856, daughter of Daniel A. and Eustatia (Cordry) 
Varner, both long since deceased. Daniel A. Varner was a Virginian who 
came to Missouri and entered government land in Kelly township, a part 
of his original tract being the farm which Mrs. Corson now owns. Here 
he married Eustatia Cordry, who was a member of the pioneer Cordry 
family from Kentucky, and was getting a good start along the lines of 
development on his home place when he died in 1861, he then being but 40 
years of age. His widow maintained the home place and survived him 
for many years, her death occurring on May 4, 1898. Of the six chil- 
dren born to Daniel A. Varner and wife, Mrs. Corson was the youngest, 



900 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

the others being as follows : Charles N., Benton County, Mo. ; Asa, de- 
ceased ; Barbara, married William Smith and is now deceased ; John T., 
deceased, and Mary R., wife of Charles Hassett, Syracuse, Mo. 

To James M. and Rose (Varner) Corson were born seven children, 
namely: Jesse B., who is now living in Canada; Elizabeth, of Kansas 
City; Levi, of Sedalia ; Etta, of Kansas City; Nettie, wife of Cyrus Decker, 
of Morgan County ; Marsh, deceased, and Bertie, at home with her mother. 
Mrs. Corson has a well improved farm of 80 acres and a very pleasant 
home. She is a member of the Baptist Church and has ever taken an 
interested part in church work. 

James Henry Gunn, cashier of the Bank of Otterville, is one of Cooper 
County's well known and successful business men. He was born on a 
farm in Morgan County, Nov. 1, 1875, son of Judge Ephraim F. and Sallie 
A. (Madale) Gunn, both members of pioneer families. 

Judge Ephraim E. Gunn was a native of Tennessee, born in Cum- 
berland County, Nov. 7, 1838, and in 1840 his parents, Starling and Jemima 
(Marshall) Gunn, came to Missouri and settled near Versailles, Morgan 
County, where they spent the remainder of their lives. On that farm 
Ephraim F. Gunn grew to manhood and became a farmer and landowner, 
a man of influence. An earnest member of the primitive Baptist Church, 
he was licensed to preach and became widely known exhorter of the faith. 
He also took an active interest in political affairs, was one of the leaders 
of the Democratic party in his home county and for some time served as 
judge of the eastern district of Morgan County. He had a good farm and 
in addition to his general farming, for 21 years operated a threshing-rig. 
Judge Gunn died on Jan. 1, 1889, and his widow died Jan. 2, 1910. She 
was born in Kentucky May 5, 1837, and was but a child when her parents, 
Samuel and Sarah (Ross) Madale, also natives of Kentucky, came to Mis- 
souri and settled in Morgan County. Judge Gunn and wife were the par- 
ents of nine children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the eighth 
in order of birth and six of whom are still living. 

James H. Gunn was reared on the home farm in Morgan County and 
received excellent schooling, completing his studies in Barnett Academy 
and in the high school at Versailles, after which for four years he was 
engaged during the winters as a teacher in the public schools of his home 
county. He early began to turn his attention to commercial pursuits and 
in 1899, in association with his brother, John R. Gunn, who then was 
cashier of the Bank of Otterville, became engaged in the agricultural 
implement business at Otterville. In 1902 he was elected assistant cashier 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 901 

of the Bank of Otterville and in 1909 was elected cashier of that institu- 
tion, a position he since has occupied, one of the best known bankers in 
Cooper County. Mr. Gunn also is a stockholder in the Boonville National 
Bank and in the Boonville Trust Company. He owns a tract of 40 acres 
of land in this county and has other investments. He is a Democrat and 
is a member of the board of directors of the Otterville public schools. 
He is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, a Royal Arch 
Mason, a member of the chapter at Sedalia and of the council, Royal and 
Select Masters, at Centralia of the Order of the Eastern Star, of the Inde- 
pendent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Knights of the Maccabees. He 
and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church (South) at 
Otterville and he is a member of the board of stewards of the same. Mr. 
Gunn also has long been interested in Sunday school work, is superintend- 
ent of the Sunday school of his church and is vice-president of the Cooper 
County Sunday School Association. He has for years given much earnest 
thought to local historical matters and is an active member of the Mis- 
souri State Historical Society, in the affairs of which society he takes a 
warm interest, a valued contributor to its archives. 

Dec. 4, 1912, James H. Gunn was married to Ida May Potter, who 
was born at Otterville. Mrs. Gunn is a daughter of Samuel W. and Ida 
May (Amick) Potter, both now deceased. Samuel W. Potter was a 
graduate of the University of Missouri and was for years engaged in the 
drug business at Otterville, one of the most influential factors in the com- 
mercial life of that town. He also owned an excellent farm. Mr. and Mrs. 
Gunn have a pleasant home and take an active interest in the general 
social affairs of their home town. 

Edwin Price Harned, manager of the Bunceton Telephone Company, 
a director of the Bunceton High School, owner of a fine farm of 230 
acres in Palestine township and in other ways interested in the affairs of 
Cooper County, is a native son of this county. He was born on a farm in 
Kelly township Dec. 8, 1865, son of George and Marcia A. (Pash) Harned, 
natives of Kentucky, who became residents of Cooper County in Civil War 
times and whose last days were spent here. 

George Harned was born in Nelson County, Ky., April 8. 1829. He 
was a son of Benjamin Harned and wife, the latter of whom was a Blan- 
ford, both of whom were born in Christian County, Ky., who spent most 
of their lives in Nelson County, where they died and are buried. Benjamin 
Harned and wife had a large family, but of their numerous children George 
was the only one who located in Cooper County. Two of the latter's 



902 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

brothers, Lee and Ack. L. Harned, served as soldiers of the Confederacy 
during the Civil War, the former losing his life at the battle of Shiloh 
and the latter being so seriously wounded that one of his arms had to be 
amputated. In 1859 George Harned and wife came to Missouri, locating 
in the southeastern part of the state, where they remained until Feb., 
1865, when they came to Cooper County, where he bought 1,000 acres of 
land in Kelly township and establishing there in that same year a great 
herd of Shorthorn cattle, being the third person in this county to under- 
take the breeding of Shorthorns. For ten years he maintained this herd 
and became widely known among stockmen as an exhibitor at county 
fairs, his herd attracting much attention. He developed a fine farm and 
lived to be past 70 years of age. He died in 1900. His widow died March 
24, 1912. She was born at Cox's Creek, Nelson County, Ky., April 11, 
1832. George Harned and wife were the parents of four children: Wil- 
liam P. Hamed, living on the old home place in Kelly township; Benjamin 
Harned, who lives five miles east of Bunceton ; Edwin P. and Huldah, who 
married Walter Williams and is now deceased. 

Edwin P. Harned was reared on the farm on which he was born near 
Vermont and received his schooling in the Bunceton schools. As a young 
man he became engaged in mercantile business at Vermont and was thus 
engaged for nine years. In 1900 he began fanning two miles west of 
Bunceton on a farm which his father had given him and has thus occu- 
pied that place for nineteen years, making his home there during the 
summers and living at Bunceton during the winters. This is an excel- 
lent farm of 230 acres, well improved and profitably cultivated. In 1913 
Mr. Harned became one of the leading stockholders in the Bunceton Tele- 
phone Company and in 1915 was made manager of that concern, a position 
he has since occupied, his administration of the affairs of the company 
having done much to extend the service of the telephone plant through- 
out the territory it covers. Mr. Harned is also a member of the board 
of directors of the Bunceton High School. He is a democrat and he and 
his family are members of the Christian Church. 

Nov. 8, 1894, Edwin P. Harned was married to Harriet McDonald 
and to this union four children have been born: Virginia, Howard, Mc- 
Donald, Harriet H. and William S., all at home. Mrs. Harned was bom 
in Howard County, a daughter of Strother and Virginia (Turner) Mc- 
Donald, natives of Virginia, who came to Missouri many years ago. 
Strother McDonald died in 187R and his widow resides with her daughter, 
Mrs. Harned. 






HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 903 

John Leonard Spillers, former county collector for Cooper County and 
a well known business man of Otterville, is a native of Cooper County. 
He was born on a farm in Lebanon township, May 23, 1876, son of Henry 
T. and Nancy E. (Thomas) Spillers. Henry T. Spillers was born in Ran- 
dolph County, Ind., Aug. 6, 1850, and was but a boy when his parents, 
William and Mary (Harris) Spillers, came to Missouri with their family 
and settled on a farm in Lebanon township, where they spent the re- 
mainder of their active lives, moving to Otterville upon their retirement 
from the farm and there spending their last days. William Spillers was 
born in Ohio and his wife in Indiana. Henry T. Spillers grew to manhood 
in Lebanon township and followed farming until about 1906, when he 
moved to Otterville and there became engaged in the implements business. 
He died June 24, 1913. His wife died Jan. 18, 1901. She was born in 
Ken., March 27, 1848. To Henry T. Spillers and wife were born five chil- 
dren as follows: John L. ; William, Kansas City; Thomas 0., Otterville; 
Margaret, wife of Solomon Rothgeb, Lebanon township, and May, wife 
of Jesse Favorite, Blairstown. 

John L. Spillers was reared on the home farm in Lebanon township 
and completed his schooling in Otterville College. He married when 
21 years of age and thereafter continued farming until his election in 
1903 to the office of county collector. He was re-elected to that office and 
thus served for two years. In 1909, he moved to Otterville and engaged 
in the hardware business, buying a store which had already been estab- 
lished for some time. In 1915 he sold that store and opened a furniture 
store and undertaking establishment and has since been engaged in this 
business. In order properly to prepare himself for the exacting profession 
of funeral director, Mr. Spillers entered the Williams School of Embalming 
at Kansas City and after a full course at that institution was graduated 
and was then licensed under the laws of the state. Mr. Spillers has for 
years taken an earnest interest in the cause of education in that state 
and is a member of the board of regents of the Missouri State Normal 
School at Warrensburg. He is a Republican and is one of the leaders of 
that party in Cooper County. He is a York Rite Mason, affiliated with 
the Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, at Boonville, and the Commandery, 
Knights Templar, at Boonville; is a member of the Independent Order of 
Odd Fellows at Otterville and of the Knights of the Maccabees and the 
Woodmen of the World. He and his family are members of the Baptist 
Church and take a proper interest in church work. 

Oct. 12, 1897, John L. Spillers was married to Pauline Starke, who 



904 HISTORY OP COOPER COUNTY 

was bom in this county, a daughter of Judge Starke. Mr. and Mrs. Spill- 
ers have two children, Guy E., who is now a student in the Missouri State 
Normal School, and Agnes E., who is a member of the junior class of the 
Otterville High School. During the last registration in 1918 under the 
selective service law Mr. Spillers and his son, both of whom were eligible 
for service, registered together, this being the only such instance of father 
and son registering in Otterville, and they properly regarded it as quite a 
momentous occasion in their lives. In the Spillers family there is care- 
fully preserved a photograph of four living generations in the male line, 
the value of the picture being further enhanced by the fact that each of 
the persons thus pictured was the first born son in his respective genera- 
tion. This picture was taken of course during the childhood of Mr. Spill- 
er's son Guy, his father and his grandfather then both being alive, and 
represents William Spillers, the pioneer, Henry T. Spillers, John L. Spill- 
ers and Guy E. Spillers, a photograph certainly worthy of preservation 
as a most interesting memorial for future generations of the family. 

Ernest L. Hite, president of the Farmers Club in his home district, 
is one of the best known and most progressive young farmers in that sec- 
tion of the county. He was born on a farm in Page County, Va., July 15, 
1880, son of Isaac M. and Mary A. (Gander) Hite, both born in that county 
and the latter of whom is living with her son, Edward W. Hite, in Leb- 
anon township. 

Isaac M. Hite was born in 1835 and grew to manhood in Virginia, 
where he was living when the Civil War broke out. He at once enlisted 
in the Confederate army, serving four years, and for quite a period of 
this time serving as the personal body guard of Gen. Robert E. Lee. After 
the war he settled down in his home county, married and continued to 
reside there until in 1885, when he came with his family to Missouri and 
located on a farm in Lebanon township, this county, where he spent the 
remainder of his life. He died Sept., 1898. Mr. Hite was a substantial 
citizen and at the time of his death was the owner of 300 acres of land 
in this county. To Isaac M. Hite and wife five children were born. Of 
these the subject of this sketch was the last born; the first born died in 
infancy and the others are as follows: Edward W., a substantial farmer 
of Lebanon township ; Ella, wife of Charles C. Murray, Washington, D. C, 
and Dr. Henry Ashby Hite, a physician and surgeon now practicing at 
Greenridge, Mo. 

Ernest L. Hite was but five years of age when he came to this county 
with his parents in 1885 and he grew to manhood on the home farm in 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 905 

Lebanon township, attending the schools of that district. During the 
winter of 1898-99 he attended the State Normal School at Warrensburg 
and the following winter attended the State University at Columbia, where 
he served as a private in the cadet corps for five months. In 1904, he 
established his home on the farm on which he is now living. Mr. Hite 
has 230 acres which he has improved. Early in the present year (1919) 
he helped to organize the Farmers Club in his home district and upon 
the organization of the same was elected president. Mr. Hite is a demo- 
crat and for the past two years has been president of school district No. 
64. In addition to his farm he owns a good piece of business property in 
Pleasant Green. 

Dec. 28, 1904, Ernest L. Hite was married to Frances Connell, who 
was born in Saline County, and to this union two children have been born, 
Cecil C. and Earl Lee. Mrs. Hite is a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth 
(Smith) Connell, the latter of whom also was born in Howard County. 
The late Joseph Connell was born in Page County, Va., but had long been 
a resident of Missouri, a substantial cattle feeder in Saline County. He 
and his wife were the parents of 12 children. 

Judge Joseph Minter, vice-president of the Bank of Otterville, former 
judge of Cooper County now living at Otterville, was born in Harrison 
County, Va., June 22, 1844. He is a son of Jacob and Clarecy (Neely) 
Minter, both members of Colonial families and Revolutionary stock. Jacob 
Minter was born in Fairfax County in 1800 and died in 1868. His grand- 
father, Jacob Minter, was a Hollander who had been in this country but 
two years when the Revolutionary War broke out. He organized a com- 
pany to fight in defense of the cause of the colonists and served through- 
out the war as captain of that company. Clarecy (Neely) Minter, mother 
of Judge Minter, was born in 1803 and died in 1871. Her father, John 
Neely, also was a soldier of the Revolution, serving as a lieutenant. Dur- 
ing the war he was captured by Indians in the service of the British and 
for four years was held as a prisoner of war. At his death he was buried 
with military honors. Jacob and Clarecy (Neely) Minter were the par- 
ents of six children, three sons and three daughters, of whom Judge 
Minter is now the sole survivor. 

In 1870 Judge Minter came to Missouri. He had been engaged in 
the East in railway construction work and came here to help construct 
the dyke across the Missouri River at Boonville for the passage of the 
M. K. & T. railroad. Upon the completion of this job he continued his 
railway construction work and was for twelve years thus engaged, this 



906 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

service taking him into various states. In the meantime, however, he had 
become so much "taken" with Cooper County that in 1874, he bought a 
farm near Otterville and after his marriage here two years later estab- 
lished his home there. On that place, which he continued to improve and 
which contained 320 acres of fine land, Judge Minter continued farming 
and stock raising until 1909 when he sold the place, retired from farm 
life and moved to Otterville, where he since has made his home. For 
the past 17 years has served as vice-president of the Bank of Otterville. 
He is a republican and is one of the leaders of that party in Cooper County. 
In 1906 he was elected county judge from his district and served for four 
years. 

Judge Minter has been twice married. In 1876 he was married to 
Fannie Ross, who was born in Otterville and who died in June, 1907, with- 
out issue. In Nov., 1909, the Judge married Belle Starke, who was bora 
in Otterville, daughter of Squire Thomas J. Starke, Judge and Mrs. 
Minter are members of the Presbyterian Church. He is affiliated with 
the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. 

H. Roger Starke, a well-known live stock buyer at Otterville, is a 
native son of Cooper County. He was born on a farm in Lebanon town- 
ship, Oct. 24, 1881, son of the Hon. John D. and Mary A. (Stratton) 
Starke. The Hon. John D. Starke was for many years one of the leading 
men in this county. He was the first judge of the eastern district of 
Cooper County and in Nov., 1882, was elected county collector, an office to 
which he was re-elected, thus holding it for two terms. In 1886 he was 
elected to represent this district in the upper house of the Missouri Gen- 
eral Assembly and rendered conspicuous service in the State Senate. 
From 1897 to 1901 he occupied the position of warden of the Missouri 
State Penitentiary at Jefferson City and upon the completion of that term 
of public service returned to his old home in this county and here spent 
the remainder of his life. He and his wife were the parents of nine chil- 
dren, of whom the subject of this sketch was the last born. 

Reared on the home farm in Lebanon township, H. Roger Starke's 
early residence was divided between that place and Boonville and Jeffer- 
son City on account of his father's official residence in the cities during 
his public service, and his schooling was thus somewhat interrupted, be- 
ing completed by one term in the high school at Jefferson City, a year in 
Missouri Valley College at Marshall and a year in the Missouri State 
Normal School. As a young man he continued giving attention to the 
affairs of the home farm and after his marriage in 1908 he formed a part- 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 907 

nership with his father in the live stock business, maintaining his base 
of operations on the home farm until 1916, when, after his father's death, 
he moved to Otterville and has since carried on his operations from that 
point, making his home there. Mr. Starke is a democrat, as was his 
father, and has long given his attention to local civic affairs, at present 
serving as a member of the town council and as a member of the school 
board at Otterville. He owns a good little farm of 80 acres, is a stock- 
holder in the Bank of Otterville, and has other investments besides his 
extensive dealings in the live stock market. 

Nov. 28, 1908, H. Roger Starke was married to Gladys Lee Huff, who 
was born at Syracuse, Mo., daughter of J. T. and Bettie Lee (Johnson) 
Huff, who also were bom in this state, and to this union one child has 
been born, Jennie Lee. Mr. and Mrs. Starke have a pleasant home at 
Otterville. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
(South) and take their part in church work. Mr. Starke is a member of 
the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the Independent Order of 
Odd Fellows. 

James S. Bane, a well-known and progressive business man of Otter- 
ville, was born in Lewis County, Mo., Feb. 4, 1864, son of Robert and 
Martha (Goodwin) Bane. Robert Bane was born in that part of Virginia 
now comprised in West Virginia and was there married to Martha Good- 
win, who also was bom in that part of Virginia. In the days before the 
Civil War, he and his wife came to Missouri and settled in Lewis County, 
but in 1866 they disposed of their interests there and moved to Morgan 
County, settling on a farm, where Robert Bane died not many years later. 
His widow survived him until 1901. She was 75 years of age at the time 
of her death. They were the parents of five children, of whom the sub- 
ject of this sketch was the fourth in order of birth and all of whom are 
living, save one who died in infancy. 

Reared on the home farm in Morgan county, he having been but two 
years of age when his parents moved there, James S. Bane received his 
schooling in the district school and in a select school at Otterville. He 
remained on the home farm until after his marriage in 1886, when he be- 
gan farming on his own account, renting land for two or three years, 
when he bought a farm in Morgan County. In 1893 he sold that farm and 
came to Cooper County and bought a farm of 155 acres in Otterville town- 
ship, near Otterville. In 1918 he bought the garage at Otterville, which 
he is now conducting and at the same time engaged in the general sale 
of automobiles and accessories. Mr. Bane has a well-equipped and up- 



908 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

to-date place and is doing well in his new business. He still resides on 
his farm, although he rents the land. He is a stockholder in and a mem- 
ber of the board of directors of the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Ot- 
terville and gives his earnest attention to the general business conditions 
of his home town. He is a democrat, and is affiliated with the Knights 
and Ladies of Security and he and his family are members of the Pres- 
byterian Church. 

Dec. 1, 1886, James S. Bane was married to Rose L. Smith, a mem- 
ber of one of Cooper County's old families, and to this union three chil- 
dren have been born, namely: Loren Ardee, a soldier in the American 
Army ; Irma, wife of Thornton Ware, of Otterville, and Vivien Pearl, wife 
of Gus Ware, also of Otterville. Loren Ardee Bane, the soldier son, was 
born on Aug. 30, 1889, and completed his schooling in Otterville College. 
After his marriage he became engaged in farming in Arkansas and was 
living there when he was inducted into the National Army and after a 
period of training, sailed for Europe as a member of Company C, 156th 
Infantry, 89th Division, with which command he saw much active service 
and was engaged in some important battles before the armistice. In 
April, 1919, he was returned to this side with his command and was dis- 
charged at Louisville, Ky., April 21, 1919, at Camp Taylor. L. A. Bane 
married Nancy E. Monroe, of Otterville, who died, leaving a son, Loren 
Edwin, who is now being cared for by his paternal grandparents at 
Otterville. 

Alfred G. Hansberger, one of the substantial farmers and stockmen 
of Otterville township, was born on a farm in Bowling Green township, 
Pettis County, June 5, 1864, son of Emanuel and Cordelia (Stephens) 
Hansberger. Emanuel Hansberger was born in Rockingham County, Va., 
about 1825, and in 1853 came to Missouri and located near Bunceton. Later 
he moved to Pettis County, where he settled on a farm and became a sub- 
stantial farmer. He died in 1888 while in Texas. His widow died at Kan- 
sas City, Mo., at her daughter's home, Mrs. J. T. Crenshaw, in her 75th 
year. She was born on the old Stephens home place near Bunceton, a 
daughter of Judge Lawrence and Margaret (Moore) Stephens. Judge 
Stephens was a native of Tennessee and was a man of much influence in 
this community. His wife was a native of North Carolina. Emanuel 
lii'.nsberger and his wife were the parents of four children: The first 
born died in infancy; Margaret, widow of J. T. Crenshaw, Kansas City; 
Lawrence H. Hansberger, Philadelphia, Pa.; and Alfred G. 

Reared on the home farm over in Pettis County, Alfred G. Hans- 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 909 

berger received his schooling in the district schools and at Bunceton 
Academy, and in 1887 left the farm and engaged in the mercantile busi- 
ness at Lone Elm, until he sold his store in 1893 and entered upon the 
life of a traveling salesman, a vocation he followed for nine years, repre- 
senting the J. A. Lamy Company, of Sedalia, a part of that time and the 
remainder the Hammond Packing Company, of St. Joseph. In the mean- 
time he married and in 1903 wisely left "the road" and settled down on 
the farm owned by his wife in Otterville township and has since made 
that place his residence. Since taking possession of that place Mr. Hans- 
berger has made numerous improvements and is contemplating more. 
He carries on general farming and raises high grade live stock. 

Nov. 6, 1901, Alfred G. Hansberger was married to Jennie L. Harlan, 
who was born in this county, and to this union one child has been born, 
the little one dying, in infancy. Mrs. Hansberger was born in Otter- 
ville township, a daughter of George W. and Susan (Streit) Harlan, 
the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Virginia, who became 
residents of Cooper County in their youth, were married here and here 
spent their last days. Mrs. Hansberger's father died in 1891 and his 
widow died in the summer of 1916 at the home of Mrs. A. G. Hansberger, 
she then being nearly 87 years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Hansberger are 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church (South). Mr. Hansberger 
is a democrat. 

James William Walker, one of the well-known and substantial 
fanners and stockmen of Lebanon township, was born on that farm 
where he resides, Jan. 9, 1868. He is a son of William W. and Sarah 
(Boatman) Walker, the former of whom also was bom in Lebanon town- 
ship, in 1829, a son of Samuel and Nancy (Cockrell) Walker, who had 
come here from Kentucky and established their home on a pioneer farm 
in Lebanon township, where they spent the remainder of their lives. 
William W. Walker grew to manhood in that community and after his 
marriage to Sarah Boatman, also a member of one of the pioneer families 
of that section, settled on the farm now owned by his son James and there 
developed an excellent piece of property. He spent his last days on that 
farm, where he died in 1898, at the age of 70 years. Of the six children 
born to him and his wife, three are still living, the subject of this sketch 
having a brother, Lee Walker, of Sedalia, and a sister, Lela W., widow of 
the late H. L. Tutt, of Pocatello, Idaho. 

Reared on the farm on which he was bom and on which he is still 
living, James W. Walker received his schooling in the Otterville schools 



910 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

and in Central College at Fayette and upon returning from college, re- 
sumed his place on the farm, of which in time he became the owner, buy- 
ing from the other heirs their respective interests. After his marriage 
in the fall of 1898, he established his home there and has continued to 
reside on the place. He is one of the progressive farmers of the com- 
munity. He has long been a stockholder in the Pleasant Green Bank 
and is a member of the board of directors of the same. He is a democrat. 

Oct. 26, 1898, James W. Walker was married to Bessie R. Rissler, 
who was born on a farm in Clear Creek township, three miles northwest 
of where she now resides, March 16, 1874, daughter of William and Eliza- 
beth (Tavenner) Rissler, the latter of whom is living with her daugh- 
ter, Mrs. Walker. She was born in Loudoun County, Va., Sept. 17, 1832, 
and is now in her 87th year. William Rissler also was a Virginian, born 
on June 22, 1820, in Jefferson County, now W. Va., and came to Cooper 
County in 1873, settling on a farm in Clear Creek township, where he 
became a large landowner and spent the remainder of his life, one of the 
substantial and influential members of that community. He died Sept. 
13, 1914, being past 94 years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Walker are members 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church (South). 

Anton Beck, a well-known and substantial farmer and stockman of 
Otterville township, was born March 3, 1860, in the grand duchy of 
Baden. His parents, Jacob and Theresa (Swintch) Beck, also were na- 
tives of Baden and were there married in 1851. March 4, 1882, with five 
children, they left their native land and came to the United States, and 
located on a farm in Clear Creek township. Here Mrs. Theresa Beck 
died on Christmas Day, 1896. She was born in 1828. Her husband died 
Aug. 28, 1918. He was bom on May 9, 1819, thus lacked about nine 
months of being 100 years of age. To Jacob Beck and wife were born 
ten children, as follows: Joseph, deceased; Edward, deceased; Renie, 
deceased; Anton; Emma, wife of H. Young Camp, Clifton City; Anna, 
deceased; Clara, wife of E. Altermott, Lebanon township; Eugene, de- 
ceased; Elizabeth, wife of Leo Knedgen, and Rosa, deceased. 

Anton Beck came to America with his parents and upon his arrival 
in Cooper County, he worked as a farm hand, at five dollars a month, and 
for eight years thereafter, off and on, was engaged in farm labor. In his 
native land, he had been trained to the trade of stone cutter and he varied 
his work as a farm laborer by working at that trade, continuing thus 
engaged at varying periods of time for 12 years after coming here, his 
work as a stone cutter taking him into nearly all the principal cities of 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 911 

Missouri. In 1892, Mr. Beck bought 80 acres in Clear Creek township 
and after his marriage, two years later, established his home there, im- 
proving the place and continuing to reside on that farm until 1904, when 
he bought the farm of 283 acres on which he is now living in Otterville 
township. He owns a well-improved and valuable farm. For the past 
nine years he has been serving as overseer of roads in his home district 
and in that capacity has rendered effective service in behalf of the grow- 
ing demand for better roads. He and his family are members of the 
Catholic Church and he is a member of the Catholic Knights of America. 
Mi - . Becl\ ;■ a republican. 

Jan. 26, 1894, Anton Beck was united in marriage with Mary Anna 
Williams, who was born in Moniteau County in 1874, a daughter of David 
and Josephine (Heater) Williams, natives of Moniteau county, and the 
latter of whom is still living, now a resident of Kansas, and to this union 
13 children have been born, namely: Jacob, farming in Otterville town- 
ship; Emma, wife of Joseph Gramlich, same township; Robert, who is 
at home assisting her father; Clara, also at home; Lawrence, deceased, 
and Katherine, Henry, Eugene, Frank, Rosa (deceased), Anton, Jr., Mary 
Ann and Susan. 

Calvin Gehringer, a well-known and progressive farmer of Otterville 
township, was born in New York State, Nov. 23, 1856. He is a son of 
Christopher and Lena (Lindenholdt) Gehringer, natives of Germany, who 
were married in that country and who came to America in 1854 and 
located in New York State. Some years later they moved to Indiana, 
locating in Hamilton County, where they remained until 1865, when they 
came to Missouri and settled on a farm in Pettis County, where they 
spent the remainder of their lives, Mrs. Gehringer dying about 1905 and 
Mr. Gehringer eight or 10 years ago, he being 75 years of age. 

Calvin Gehringer was but a boy when he came to Missouri with his 
parents and he grew up in Pettis County, becoming engaged there in his 
young manhood in saw mill work, which he followed until 1879, when he 
became engaged in farming in the Pleasant Green neighborhood, re- 
maining here until 1884, when he bought a farm of 200 acres in Pettis 
County and returned to that county, where he prospered and from time 
to time bought other land. There he remained until 1911, when he dis- 
posed of his interests and returned to Cooper County, buying the farm on 
which he is now living in Otterville township, and has since resided here. 
Since taking possession of that farm, Mr. Gehringer has made numerous 
substantial improvements to the place and is contemplating more. In 



912 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

addition to his general farming, Mr. Gehringer gives considerable atten- 
tion to the raising of live stock, with particular reference to pure-bred 
Duroc Jersey hogs and mules. Mr. Gehringer is a democrat, but has not 
been a seeker after office. 

In 1877, Calvin Gehringer was married to Sarah M. DeWitt, who was 
born in Springfield, Mo., a daughter of Lafayette DeWitt, and to this 
union 11 children have been born, namely: Otto, deceased; Dudley, who 
is now farming in South Dakota ; Lafayette, South Dakota ; Zetta, wife of 
Jabe Potter, Clifton, Mo. ; Lulu, wife of Charles Knox, Pettis County ; 
Theodore, who is farming in this county; Blanche, wife of J. S. Phillips, 
of Pettis County; Gertrude, wife of Lewis J. Potter, Sedalia; James, who 
is at home, assisting in the management of the farm, and Dewey and 
Matilda, also at home. The Gehringers are members of the Lutheran 
Church. Mr. and Mrs. Gehringer have 16 grandchildren. 

John M. Stephens, a former teacher and formerly a merchant and 
postmaster at Bellaire, who has charge of the big Burwood farm in Clear 
Creek township, is a native Missourian. He was born on a farm in Moni- 
teau County Jan. 25, 1864, son of Kemp S. and Huldah (Renfrew) 
Stephens. Kemp S. Stephens was born in Moniteau County, June 7, 1837, 
son of Thomas Stephens and wife, the latter of whom was a daughter of 
Joseph Williams, the Missouri pioneer who was driven from this region 
by the Indians in 1815, but later returned, settled here and lived to be 
101 years of age. He was a Tennessean. Thomas Stephens was born 
near Pemberton Court House, N. C, Sept. 18, 1800, and was not yet 18 
years of age when in 1818 he came to Missouri. In 1827 he married and 
bought a claim in Moniteau County and spent the remainder of his life 
there. He died in Jan., 1892, aged 92 years. His wife had died many 
years before. Thomas Stephens got his start here as a young man by 
splitting rails. When he earned money enough to buy a horse he started 
out as a horse trader and it was not long until he was one of the best 
known horse dealers in central Missouri. For 21 years he made annual 
trips to New Orleans, going and returning horseback, with bunches of 
horses he had bought for the trade, this trade being chiefly confined to the 
cotton planters of the South. It was on that farm in Moniteau County 
that Kemp S. Stephens was reared and after his marriage he continued 
farming until his retirement from the farm and removal to Boonville, 
where he died in Oct., 1907. His wife had died many years before, in 
1866. She was born in 1837. They were the parents of four children: 
One died in infancy; James T. Stephens, now living at Sedalia; Ruth J., 
married J. W. Kenny and is deceased, and John M. 





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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 913 

John M. Stephens was but two years of age when his mother died 
and he was reared in the household of his paternal grandfather, Thomas 
Stephens. There he received all the advantages of schooling and rearing 
possible to the time and place, completing his schooling in the old Prairie 
Home College, and for some years, in connection with his farm labors 
as a young man taught school. He married before he was 21 years 
of age and after his marriage began farming on his own account and also 
for some years continued teaching during the winters. During the four 
years, 1902-1906, Mr. Stephens was engaged in the general merchandise 
business at Bellaire and during that period also was postmaster. He then 
resumed his farming operations and in 1916 moved from Boonville town- 
ship and took over the great Burwood farm of 635 acres in Clear Creek 
township, owned by Henry R. Walker, of Columbia, taking the same under 
a ten-year lease, and has since made his home there. Mr. Stephens is a 
democrat and he and his family are members of the Methodist Church. 

Dec. 18, 1884, John M. Stephens was married to Sophronia Stone, 
who was born in Livingston County, Mo., daughter of William and Ellen 
(Alexander) Stone, both natives of Tennessee who came to Missouri many 
years ago and both are now deceased, and to this union eight children 
have been bom, as follows : Eula, wife of Edward Solomon, of New Frank- 
lin; Ether, wife of Julius Stegner, of Palestine township; Inez, a Cooper 
County teacher, who resides with her parents ; James W., who was with 
the American Army of Occupation in Germany, is now at home; Ellen, 
wife of A. Hilden, of Boonville township; Willie B. (a daughter), at home, 
Cora L. and John H., both at home. James W. Stephens, the soldier son, 
was born in Boonville township, Feb. 23, 1892, and was engaged as a 
farmer and teacher in this county when he was inducted into the National 
Army for service in the World War. He sought service in the machine 
gun branch of the army and after a period of preliminary training in this 
country sailed with his command for France in June, 1918, attached to 
the 356th Machine Gun Corps, 89th Division. James W. Stephens mar- 
ried Mary Parrish, daughter of Doctor Parrish and wife, of Pleasant 
Green. Six of John M. Stephens children have been school teachers. 

Peter J. Devine, vice-president of the Clifton City Bank and a well- 
known and substantial farmer of Otterville township, was born on a farm 
in Otterville township, Oct. 4, 1870. He is a son of John and Ellen (Mc- 
Sheehy) Devine, both of whom were born in County Kerry Ireland, and 
the former is still living at the advanced age of 95 years. John Devine 
was born in 1824 and was 12 years of age when he came to this country 



914 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

with his parents, the family locating in Boston, where he grew to man- 
hood and where he early learned the care of horses, becoming a teamster. 
He married in Boston and remained there until he came to Missouri about 
Civil War times to take part in the railway construction work. .Upon the 
completion of his contract here, he located in Cooper County and bought 
a farm in Otterville township, where he was for years actively engaged 
in farming and where he is now living. His wife died there in 1896, at 
the age of 68 years. Mr. Devine is a member of the Catholic Church, as 
was his wife, and their children were reared in that faith. There were 
seven of these children, as follows : John, Ft. Scott, Kan. ; Michael C, of 
Hammond, Ind. ; one who died in infancy ; Mrs. Catherine Shea, deceased ; 
Daniel, deceased; Peter J., and Ellen, deceased. 

Reared on the home farm, Peter J. Devine attended the district 
schools and has ever stuck to the farm. In 1894 he bought 90 acres of 
land near Clifton City and has since made that his place of residence. As 
his affairs prospered, Mr. Devine bought adjoining land and now has a 
well-improved farm of 240 acres, on which he is engaged in general farm- 
ing and stock raising and on which he has done well. He is a stock- 
holder in the Clifton City Bank, a member of the board of directors and 
vice-president of the same. He is a republican and is a member of the 
local school board. 

Mr. Devine has been twice married. In 1895 he was married to 
Mary Griffin, who died in 1905 at the age of 33 years. To that union 
three children were born, all of whom died in infancy. In 1907 Mr. De- 
vine married Louisa Connor, who was born in Pettis County, daughter of 
Dennis Connor and wife, and to this union three children have been born, 
Peter J., Jr., and Llewellyn, both deceased ; one child, born May 2, 1919, 
Eleanor Mary, living. Mr. and Mrs. Devine are members of the Catholic 
Church. Mr. Devine is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus. 

John Sweeney, a well-known farmer of Otterville township, was born 
in County Limerick, Munster, Ireland, Oct. 4, 1848. He was less than 
three years of age when his parents, John and Ellen (Donohue) Sweeney, 
came to the United States in 1851, arriving at New Orleans. For some 
little time after his arrival here, the elder John Sweeney remained in New 
Orleans and then came up the river to St. Louis, in the neighborhood of 
which city he began to work as a farm hand. Not long afterward, about 
the middle of the '50s, he came over into Cooper County with his family 
and settled in Otterville township, where he bought a farm and estab- 
lished his home. He gradually increased his land holdings there until 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 915 

he became the owner of 700 acres and was accounted one of the well-to-do 
farmers of that neighborhood. On that farm he spent the remainder of 
his life, his death occurring in 1899, being 80 years of age. His widow 
died in 1901. When they came to America, their son John was their only 
child, but six more children were born to them after their arrival here. 
Of these seven children, five are living. John Sweeney and his wife were 
devout members of the Catholic Church and their children were reared in 
that faith. 

The junior John Sweeney was reared on the home farm, receiving 
his schooling at Clifton. From the days of his boyhood, he was required 
to give his attention to the farm, and as the eldest son, grew to be his 
father's "right hand man" in the operation of the place. After his mar- 
riage in 1881, he continued to make his home on the home place, of 
which, after his father's death, he inherited 80 acres. He has since 
bought an adjoining 40 acres and now has a farm of 120 acres, which he 
has improved in excellent fashion and on which he is engaged profitably 
in general farming and stock raising, being accounted one of the sub- 
stantial farmers of that community. 

In 1881, John Sweeney was united in marriage to Emma Temple- 
mire, who was born in Lebanon township, daughter of Fred Templemire 
and wife, natives of Germany who had become residents of this county 
upon coming to the United States, and to this union five children were 
born, namely: John R., Sedalia; Edward, deceased; Charles and Nellie, 
at home, and one who died in infancy. Mrs. Emma Sweeney, mother of 
these children, died in 1895, at the age of 40 years, and her daughter 
Nellie is mistress of the household. Charles Sweeney, who also still re- 
mains at home, has long been assisting his father in the direction of the 
farm and has helped to develop there a good piece of property. The 
Sweeneys are members of the Catholic Church. Mr. Sweeney and his 
son are republicans. 

George C. Jones, one of the extensive landowners of Cooper County 
is a son of the pioneer Caleb Jones who at the time of his death in 1883 
was said to be the wealthiest man in Cooper County. 

Caleb Jones was born in Baltimore, Md., March 11, 1805, a son of 
Capt. Joshua Jones, who during the time of the War of 1812 when Balti- 
more was bombarded by the British (the night of stress which inspired 
Francis Scott Key to write his immortal "Star Spangled Banner") helped 
in the defense of the city. About 1815 Capt. Joshua Jones moved with 
his family from Baltimore to Kentucky, the boy Caleb then being about 



916 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

ten years of age, and it was in that state that the latter grew to manhood, 
his education being received in the schools of Cynthiana, Ky. When he 
was 21 years of age, in 1826, Caleb Jones came here horseback, swimming 
his horse across the Missouri River at Franklin. With such meager re- 
sources as he could command, Caleb Jones put his credit to the test and 
was able to secure a small stock of merchandise with which he opened a 
store at the landing at Arrow Rock. This venture was the beginning of 
the successful career. From the very beginning his affairs prospered, 
his mercantile venture presently was expanded to include banking and 
he thus became one of the pioneer bankers of this section of Missouri, his 
operations necessitating the removal of his base of operations from Arrow 
Rock to Boonville. He invested largely in real estate and was at one time 
the owner of about 6,000 acres of land in this county, the greater part 
of his holdings lying in Blackwater township. He also gave much atten- 
tion to the live stock business and in all his ventures, whether as mer- 
chant, banker or stockman and farmer, he prospered, so that it probably 
is nothing amiss to say, that at the time of his death he was Cooper 
County's wealthiest citizen. Nov. 10, 1831, Caleb Jones married Nancy 
Chapman, who was born in April, 1814, in Howard County. She died 
about ten years before he did, his death occurring May 15, 1883. 

George C. Jones, son of Caleb and Nancy (Chapman) Jones, was born 
in Polk County Dec. 12, 1844, and grew up in this county, from the days 
of his boyhood his interests being more directly connected with his father's 
farming operations and he continued a farmer all his life, coming in time 
to be a large landowner. During the Civil War he went to Canada, but 
returned to Cooper County in 1865, and resumed farming with his father, 
later branching out for himself, and became successful, at one time own- 
ing as much as 1,400 acres of land in this county, mostly in Blackwater 
township. On March 5, 1868, George C. Jones was married to Ann E. 
Trent, who was born on March 16, 1844, in Cumberland County, Va., 
member of an old- Colonial family of English ancestry, the family name 
being derived from the ancient seat of the family on the banks of the river 
Trent. To that union were born six children, namely: Caleb C, a stock- 
man and auctioneer of Pilot Grove: Addie Muir, married George H. Mo- 
Elroy and is now deceased ; Dr. George C. Jones, a dentist at Pilot Grov 1 : 
Maria, wife of M. L. Jones, Blackwater township; Nancy Trent, wife of 
Archibald McGuire. Blackwater township and Woodson Trent Jones, 
Blackwater township. The mother of these children died Jan. 18, 1909. 
Of late years George C. Jones has disposed of some of his land interests, 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 917 

but still retains a life interest in 1,000 acres in Blackwater township which 
he has divided among his children, preferring to make disposition of his 
estate while he is living. 

William Manger and Julius Manger, now of New York City, owners 
of several hotels in the large cities of the country, are natives of Boon- 
ville. They are the sons of Casper Manger and Wilhelmina (Bell) Manger, 
who were early citizens of Boonville. 

William and Julius Manger left Boonville about 30 years ago. Wil- 
liam attended Valparaiso University and Julius graduated from Tulane 
University and was admitted to the bar. They founded the International 
Coffee Company and were importers and jobbers of coffee and spices. 
They engaged in the real estate business and have built more than a 1,000 
buildings and have dealt extensively in real estate. They are proprietors 
of the Hotel Netherland, Great Northern Hotel, Navarre Hotel, Endicott 
Hotel, Grand Hotel, and Bell Apartment Hotel, all in New York City; The 
Plaza Hotel, Chicago; The Continental Hotel, Philadelphia; and are inter- 
ested in many other large enterprises. 

Col. Charles C. Bell of Boonville, their uncle, has been their life long 
friend and adviser. 

William Manger is a bachelor. Julius Manger married Miss Lillian 
Weissenger, a noted Kentucky beauty, and daughter of the late Col. Harry 
Weissenger, of Louisville, one of the most prominent citizens of Ken- 
tucky. Mr. and Mrs. Julius Manger have three children. 

Dr. Porter E. Williams was born in Versailles, Mo.. March 25, 1867. 
Dr. Williams' father was also a physician and one of the most prominent 
in central Missouri, honored, esteemed and respected by all who knew 
him. He was born in Ohio, and with his father came to Versailles when 
two years of age. He practiced his profession for about 50 years and 
died in the spring of 1903, 70 years of age. Dr. Williams' paternal grand- 
father erected the first building, a blacksmith shop, in Versailles about 
1835. Here he manufactured all the plows, axes, horseshoes and nails 
that were used in that section for a number of years. He died in Ver- 
sailles when 84 years of age. 

The maiden name of Dr. Williams' grandmother on his father's side 
was Mary McGlothlin. She was born in Ohio and died in Morgan County 
when 86 years of age. Dr. Williams mother was Miss Alpha Davis, born 
in Morgan County, Mo. She was the daughter of Porter E. Davis who 
was born on the old homestead about four miles southeast of Bunceton, 
now occupied by his grandson, W. E. Davis. Porter E. Davis made the 



918 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

trip across the plains to the Pacific Coast in '49 in quest of gold and after 
three years returned to his home in Cooper County. 

Phillip Davis, father of Porter E. Davis and great-grandfather of the 
subject of this sketch, was one of the early settlers of this county, and 
located the old Davis homestead above referred to. He was a first cousin 
of Jefferson Davis, the president of the southern Confederacy. The Davis 
stock originally came from Mississippi. 

Dr. Porter E. Williams was married Nov. 20, 1890, to Miss Gussie 
Stephens, the daughter of John H. Stephens a brother of Joseph L. Steph- 
ens and belonged to one of the pioneer families of Cooper County. Dr. 
Williams has one daughter Adda, the wife of Roy D. Williams a promi- 
nent attorney of the Cooper County bar. 

Dr. Williams graduated at Beaumont Hospital, now the Washington, 
in 1887, served one year as interne at the hospital and May 6, 1888, located 
at Bunceton. Nov. 1, 1905, he was appointed superintendent of State 
Hospital, No. 1, at Fulton, and remained there until 1909, when he re- 
turned to Bunceton to practice his profession. In 1917 he was appointed 
to the superintendency of the St. Joseph Hospital No. 2, which position 
he holds at the present time. 

Dr. Williams is a physician of high standing throughout the state, a 
firm democrat, a loyal friend and an upright and good citizen. 

Curtis Earle Chrane, superintendent of public schools of Boonville, is 
a native Missourian. He was born Oct. 29, 1886, on a farm at Musselfork, 
Chariton County. He is a son of John Earley and Elizabeth (Stith) 
Chrane, natives of Missouri and Kentucky, respectively. 

John Earley Chrane, was born and reared on a farm which was 
entered from the government in the early twenties. He was a son of 
Harold Julius Chrane, who emigrated from Denmark with his family in 
the nineteenth century and settled in Chariton County, Mo. During the 
Civil War he served in the Confederate army under General Price. John 
Earley Chrane was reared to maturity in Chariton County and married 
Elizabeth Stith, a native of Breckenridge County, Ky., who accompanied 
her parents to Linn County, Mo., in 1870. John E. Chrane is a farmer 
and stockman and is now residing upon his farm in Chariton County. 

Prof. C. E. Chrane was reared on the home farm and attended the 
district school. He attended the Warrensburg State Normal School and 
graduated from this institution when 19 years of age. For three years 
following he was principal of Windsor High School and afterwards served 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 919 

for four years as superintendent of Windsor Public Schools, following 
which he became Superintendent of Boonville Public Schools, a position 
which he has held for the past six years. Professor Chrane's work as 
superintendent of Boonville Public Schools has been such as to place the 
schools in the front rank of Missouri public school system. He is a 
graduate of the Missouri State University and has attended summer school 
sessions at University of Colorado, University of Michigan, and Chicago 
University. 

May 29, 1910, Mr. Chrane was united in marriage with Miss Irmah 
Griffith, a daughter of Dr. and Mrs. C. E. Griffith, at Windsor, Mo. Dr. 
Griffith and family now reside at Gallitan, Mo., the birth place of Mrs. 
Griffith whose maiden name was Harriet Poague. Dr. Griffith's mother 
was Margaret Drake prior to her marriage and she was a member of one 
of the pioneer families of Howard County. His father was Dr. Edgar 
Griffith who at the time of the Civil War was one of the largest land own- 
ers and wealthiest men in Cass County. He cast his fortunes with the 
Confederate cause and was impoverished as a result of the ravages of the 
war. His family suffered severely from the effects of "Order No. 11". 
To C. E. and Irmah Chrane has been born two children, Barbara Jeanne, 
born March 22, 1915; and Jacqueline, born Sept. 26, 1916. The mother 
of these children was a graduate of the Sedalia College of Music, where 
she pursued a course in violin and elocution. She is also a graduate of 
the Chicago Conservatory of Music in the same subjects. Two years 
prior to her marriage she was engaged in Chautauqua work as a reader 
and violinist. 

Mr. Chrane is a member of the Cooper County Board of Education, 
receiving his appointment to the position from the State Superintendent 
of Schools. He was also appointed by the governor of Missouri as a mem- 
ber of the Missouri Library Commission. Mr. and Mrs. Chrane are both 
members of the Methodist Church, South, as have been all of their an- 
cestors for generations. They are both 'connected with the Order of the 
Eastern Star and Mr. Chrane is a member of the Ancient Free and Ac- 
cepted Masons, the Royal Arch Masons and the Knights of Pythias. 

Mr. Chrane's career as an educator has been marked with signal suc- 
cess; he is a man of more than ordinary ability; energetic, progressive. 
highly - >- :ated be is possessed of a strong and likable personality which 
has made him popular with all classes of the people. 

The six years of his incumbency as superintendent of the Boonville 



920 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Public Schools has been an era of progress and advancement which has 
seen the Boonville Schools take a leading place among the small city 
schools of Missouri. 

Dr. Arthur Wesley Nelson, president of the Bank of Bunceton, chair- 
man of the board of directors of the Boonville National Bank, member 
of the board of managers of the Missouri State Hospital at St. Joseph, one 
of the most extensive landowners and cattle breeders in central Missouri 
and proprietor of "Eastwood", the great stock farm in Kelly and Lebanon 
townships was born on that farm and has always regarded the place as 
his home, a continuous resident there since his return in the spring of 
1902 from New York City, where he rounded out his medical education. 
The Doctor was born Jan. 21, 1878, son and only child of Arthur W. and 
Lolla (Marmaduke) Nelson, both of whom also were born in this section 
of Missouri and the latter of whom, a member of one of the most dis- 
tinguished families in Missouri, is still living, now a resident of Kansas 
City. 

The senior Arthur W. Nelson was born on a pioneer farm two miles 
west of Boonville in 1854, son of James M. and Margaret (Wyan) Nelson, 
who had established their home there after their marriage in this county. 
The latter was one of the oldest living natives of Cooper County at time 
of her death, July 9, 1919, at the age of 98 years, she having been born 
in this county in 1821, a daughter of real pioneer parents, the Wyans hav- 
ing been among the earliest settlers of Cooper County. James M. Nelson 
was born in Fauquier County, Va., member of a well-established family 
there, and was self educated. As a young man he came to Missouri and 
located in Cooper County, where he married Margaret Wyan and estab- 
lished his home. He was a man of varied activities and was for many 
years one of the most prominent and influential men in Cooper County. 
In 1858, in association with W. W. Trigg, he started the first bank that 
was opened for business in Boonville and thus early became one of the 
most influential factors in the development of that city and of the region 
surrounding. He also became a large landowner and the possessor of 
other interests of a valuable character, the impress of his forceful per- 
sonality being manifest in many directions throughout the local business 
world. James M. Nelson died in Aug., 1902, being then at the age of 
86 years. His widow died July 9, 1919, she having lived to the great age 
of 98 years. She was bora at Crab Orchard, Ky. James M. Nelson and 
wife were the parents of four children, all of whom are living save Arthur 
W., father of Doctor Nelson and the third in order of birth, the others 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 921 

being Louis Cass Nelson, a retired banker and capitalist, St. Louis; Mrs. 
Charles E. Leonard, a widow and owner of the notable "Ravenswood" 
farm in Palestine township, who is now living at Boonville, and Margaret, 
wife of the Hon. Lon V. Stephens of St. Louis, former governor of the 
state of Missouri. Arthur W. Nelson was reared at Boonville and was 
early tx-ained and schooled in a way to fit him for the large responsibilities 
entailed upon him by reason of his father's estate. After his marriage 
to Lolla Marmaduke he established his home on the great ranch in Kelly 
township now owned by his son, the house in which he and his wife set 
up their establishment there having been a conventional "big house" of 
the period, erected by slave labor in 1854. On that place he gave par- 
ticular attention to the breeding of Shorthorn cattle and had developed 
one of the finest stock farms in this section when in 1880 his activities 
were untimely brought to an end, his death coming in a runaway acci- 
dent in that year. His widow later married Robert W. Cary and is now 
living at Kansas City. She was born in Saline County, a daughter of 
Col. Vincent Marmaduke, a gallant officer of the Confederate army dur- 
ing the Civil War, who was a son of the Hon. M. M. Marmaduke, one 
time lieutenant-governor of Missouri, and a brother of former Governor 
Marmaduke, of this state. 

Born on the farm on which he is now living, Dr. Arthur W. Nelson 
was reared at Kansas City, in the schools of which city he received his 
schooling preparatory to entrance at Wentworth Military Academy, from 
which institution he was graduated in 1897. He then entered the Uni- 
versity of the South at Sewanee, Tenn., and was graduated from that 
institution in 1900, with the degrees of M. D., A. B. and Ph. G. Thus 
equipped for the practice of his profession Doctor Nelson received the 
appointment to an internship in the Woman's Hospital at New York City 
and was there until the spring of 1902, when he returned to his old home 
in this county, foregoing his expectation of actively engaging in the prac- 
tice of his profession in order to assume the practical management of the 
great estate he had inherited in Cooper County and has since been thus 
engaged, having extended in many ways the operations for many years 
carried on there. In the spring following his return to Cooper County, 
Doctor Nelson married and established his home on the old home place, 
where he since has resided. In 1913, at a cost of $40,000 he rebuilt the 
historical old farm house which had stood as the dwelling place there for 
nearly 60 years and erected in its stead one of the finest farm houses in 
Missouri, the same equipped throughout with modern fittings. One of 



922 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

the features of this new house is the great reception hall which with true 
Southern hospitality the Doctor and his wife ever keep open for the social 
gatherings of the young people of the neighborhood, the Nelson house thus 
having long been most pleasantly noted as the center of social activities 
thereabout. Doctor Nelson is the proprietor of an estate exceeding 2,000 
acres in Kelly and Lebanon townships and gives his chief attention to 
the raising of cattle, hogs and sheep, the operations of the place being 
under the direction of his ranch manager, J. M. Putman, and the products 
of the Nelson stock farm are in wide demand among discriminating stock- 
men throughout this section of the West. Doctor Nelson is widely known 
in live-stock circles and during the years 1912-15 served as president of 
the Missouri Live Stock Producers Association, an organization in the 
affairs of which he has for years taken an active interest and of which 
he is still a member of the executive committee. In general business 
affairs the Doctor also has for years taken a proper interest and in 1903 
was elected president of the Bunceton Bank at Bunceton, this selection 
carrying with it the distinction of being the youngest bank president then 
in the state of Missouri. He also is chairman of the board of directors 
of the Boonville National Bank. In recognition of his attainments in the 
field of medical science he was appointed in 1918 a member of the board 
of managers of the Missouri State Hospital at St. Joseph and is still serv- 
ing on that important board. In his political views he is a democrat. 
He is a Mason of high degree, affiliated locally with the blue lodge at 
Bunceton and is a noble of the Ancient Arabic Order, Nobles of the Mystic 
Shrine, affiliated with the temple at Kansas City, his attainment to the 
shrine having been through the York Rite of the Ancient Free and Ac- 
cepted Masons, this latter affiliation being with the Commandery at Boon- 
ville. The Doctor is a member of the Episcopal Church at Kansas City. 

March 25, 1903, Dr. Arthur W. Nelson was united in marriage at Boon- 
ville with Rilye Stephens, of that city, and to this union two children have 
been born, Rilye S. and Arthur W., III. Mrs. Nelson was born at Boon- 
ville and is a daughter of W. Speed and Virginia (Thompson) Stephens, 
both of whom also were born in Cooper County, members of old families 
in this section of Missouri, and who are now living at St. Louis, where W. 
Speed Stephens is engaged in business as treasurer of a life insurance 
company. 

Thomas Smith Simral!, the vice-president and acting manager of the 
Cooper County Abstract Company of Boonville, was born Oct. 15, 1886, 
at Keytesville, Mo. His father was a distinguished Presbyterian Divine 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 923 

and was born in Shelbyville, Ky., in 1849. He was educated at Washing- 
ton Lee University and at the Louisville Theological Seminary at Louis- 
ville, Ky. Having received a finished education at the aforesaid institu- 
tions, he came to Missouri when yet a young man and preached first at St. 
Louis, filling a vacancy in a pulpit there, for a short time. He then located 
at Hannibal, Mo., having charge of the Presbyterian Church there for 
several years after which he preached in Keytesville, Mo., and finally 
located at Sweet Springs, Mo., where he had charge of the Presbyterian 
Church until his death, Nov. 24, 1899. 

Mr. Simrall's mother, now living, is Dollie (Ewing) Simrall who was 
born in Owensville, Ky., in 1860. She was married to Rev. Thomas Sim- 
rall in 1882 at Owensville. Both the Simralls and Ewings are of old Ken- 
tucky stock. 

The subject of this sketch belongs to the younger class of energetic, 
pushing business, men of the county and takes deep interest in all public 
enterprises, having formerly been secretary of the Boonville Commercial 
Club until his business made it impossible for him to devote the time 
necessary to the performance of the duties of that office. He was edu- 
cated in the public schools, graduated at the high school at Sweet Springs 
and completed his education at the University of Missouri. When he first 
started in business for himself he was a traveling salesman for a whole- 
sale jewelry company of St. Louis and traveled in Texas. 

He came to Boonville in July, 1915, and founded the Cooper County 
Abstract Company which he caused to be incorporated and is the vice- 
president and acting manager of the same. The corporation bought the 
"Book of Abstracts" known as the Chambers set. On this set of ab- 
stracts he spent considerable time, labor and pains verifying the same, 
making corrections and bringing them up-to-date, so that now the com- 
pany has a complete and thorough set of books. Mr. Simrall has been 
remarkably fortunate and successful in the management of this company 
and by his industry and tireless efforts has built up a flourishing business. 

He was married June 14, 1916 to Miss Edna Chalmers Williams the 
daughter of the late lamented Judge William M. Williams. There was 
born to that marriage, on March 19, 19J.8, one child, Ann Ewing. Mr. 
Simrall is a democrat, a Presbyterian and a Free Mason. 

B. M. Lester, president of the Boonville National Bank, was born 
Dec. 10, 1890, in Boonville, Mo. His father, Thomas P. Lester, was bom 
in Queen's County, Ireland, and came to Boonville in 1869, where he was 
a large and successful contractor until his death, Oct. 13, 1910. He was 



924 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

married in St. Louis to Theresa Creamer, who died June 7, 1901, at 
Boonville. 

B. M. Lester was educated at the parochial schools of Boonville and 
took a special commercial course. At the age of 15 he was employed as 
messenger boy in the old Central National Bank at a salary of $5 per 
month. His rise in that bank by reason of his industry was rapid, and 
he soon became head bookkeeper, which position he held until the liqui- 
dation of the bank. 

On the organization of the Boonville National Bank, which took over 
the assets of the Central National Bank, he, because of his especial fit- 
ness and reliability, was chosen cashier of the new institution, and upon 
the consolidation of the Boonville National Bank and the Farmer's Bank 
of Boonville, he was elected vice-president of the consolidated banks, 
which operated under the name and charter of the Boonville National 
Bank. 

Upon the retirement of E. E. Amick as president of the Boonville 
National Bank, Mr. Lester was again advanced and elected president of 
the institution in his stead, and is doubtless the youngest president of 
so large a financial banking institution, he being now but 28 years of age. 
He is thoroughly versed in banking, having come up from a messenger 
boy to his present responsible position. Mr. Lester is affable, courteous 
and quick to grasp a financial proposition. 

He was married Nov. 26, 1914, to Miss Loretta Bierck at the home 
of her parents in Shelbyville, Ind. 

Rolla D. Pealer, the present popular county clerk of Cooper County, 
was bora in this county in 1873, being the youngest of six children. His 
parents were John C. and Mary (Bittinger) Pealer, formerly of Ohio, 
who moved to Iowa from Cooper County in 1873 and purchased a farm 
eight miles northwest of California, where they lived until their demise. 

Mr. Pealer was married in 1894 to Miss Myrtle M., daughter of B. D. 
and Mary (Lawson) Wilson. They have four children, Erma W. ; Vera 
W. ; Don F. ; and Paul M. Mr. Pealer, until inducted into office, has been 
engaged in farming and merchandising. He established a store on the 
home farm in 1901, one mile north of Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church and 
one mile east of the New Zion Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The 
postoffice was located at his store, which was named Lakota. In the fall 
of 1908, he disposed of his store and was appointed the probation officer 
at the Missouri Training School in 1909, which position he held until the 
change of the State administration. He was appointed deputy county 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 925 

clerk in 1911 by County Clerk J. T. Hayes, which position he held until 
1914. In this year he became a candidate for and was elected to the office 
of county clerk and was re-elected in 1918, which office he now holds, his 
term expiring in 1922. At the election of 1918 he was elected county 
clerk by a large majority, being the only democrat elected in the county. 
During the World War he served as a member of the local Exemption 
Board for Cooper County. 

Mr. Pealer is affable in manner and has a pleasing personality which 
renders him popular, as is evidenced by the election of 1918. He is a 
careful, painstaking officer and has endeared many to him by reason of 
his continued courtesy and kindness in the performance of the duties of 
his office. Mr. Pealer is a democrat and a member of the Baptist Church, 
a Free Mason, Knight of Pythias, Odd Fellow, and a Woodman. 

Mr. and Mrs. Pealer were educated at Hooper Institute at Clarks- 
burg, Mo. They believe in education and are offering their children the 
best opportunity available. Erma W., who graduated at Laura Speed 
Elliott High School in 1918, the following year attended the Monticello 
Seminary at Godfrey, 111. Vera W. graduated from the above high school 
in 1919, and Don F. is a sophomore in the same institution and was page 
in the Senate of the 50th General Assembly. Paul M., the youngest, is 
attending the grade school of Boonville. 

George D. Brownfield, who is now serving as prosecuting attorney of 
Cooper County, was born March 9, 1879, in Cooper County, Mo. His 
father, Martin Brownfield, was born in Virginia, Oct. 15, 1835, and came 
to Pettis County when a small boy and afterwards located in Cooper 
County, near Pilot Grove, where he was a successful farmer. He died at 
his home in Cooper County, Dec. 26, 1883. His mother was Adeline 
(Lewis) Brownfield, who was born Aug. 6, 1836, in the State of Ohio. 
She came to Boonville with her parents when quite a small girl, and lived 
in Cooper County practically all of her life. She died in Pilot Grove, 
March 28, 1914, after having lived a noble and Christian life. Mrs. 
Brownfield, the mother of the subject of this sketch, was married twice, 
the first time to John Baker, and there were born to this union three 
children, Ida, Anna and Katie, all of whom are deceased. Her second 
marriage was to the father of George Brownfield, and to this union there 
were born four children, Minnie, Flora, Lewis and George D. 

George D. Brownfield attended the public schools at Pilot Grove, the 
Pilot Grove Academy, and graduated at the high school at Sedalia. He 
then completed the commercial course at Hill's Business College at Se- 



926 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

dalia, after which he entered the law department at the State University 
at Columbia, where he graduated in 1909, ranking first in his class. He 
also won the Rollin's scholarship of $50 in gold, for the highest rank in 
the junior class of the previous year. 

Mr. Brownfield was elected city attorney of Boonville in 1914-1916. 
He was also elected prosecuting attorney of Cooper County in 1914-1916- 
1918, which office he now holds. Mr. Brownfield is a hard worker and a 
close student. He is a fervent and earnest prosecutor and a forceful 
and pleasing speaker. 

Jesse Thomas Hays was born in Cooper County, Mo., Nov. 23, 1870. 
His parents, Hon. William G. and Mary E. (Hurley) Hays were natives 
of Hardin County, Ky. and were there reared and married. In 1864 they 
came to Missouri, settling on a farm in the river bottoms in Cooper County, 
eight miles east of Boonville. Subsequently they removed to a farm on 
a bluff, three miles from Overton, and it was on that place that Jesse 
Thomas Hays first saw the light of day. In 1892 the parents took up 
their abode on a farm four miles west of Bunceton which remained the 
home until the death of William G. Hays, who died at Hot Springs, Ark., 
in 1905. 

William G. Hays was prominent in democratic politics and repre- 
sented his district in the State Legislature three terms. His counsel was 
sought in all political matters and his opinion carried weight. He was a 
member of both the Masonic and Odd 'Fellows lodges and was one of 
Cooper County's most prosperous, substantial and esteemed citizens. 

Jesse Thomas Hays spent his youth upon the home farm, his experi- 
ences being those of the average lad in the multifarious duties upon the 
farm and the obligations of life. He attended the district school and 
afterwards entered the Hooper Institute at Clarksburg, Mo., where he 
continued through the school years of 1888-89 and 1889-90. In the fall 
of the latter year he entered the Missouri University at Columbia, where 
he spent the succeeding term, after which he returned to his home in 
Cooper County and engaged in farming in partnership with his father 
until the latter's death. For two years thereafter he lived in the country 
handling stock and grain and meeting with substantial success. In Nov., 
1906, he was elected to the office of county clerk and at the expiration of 
his first term in 1910, was re-elected to that office. The duties of this 
office he performed with painstaking care and fidelity. Mr. Hays ia a 
member of Cooper Lodge, No. 36 A. F. and A. M. ; of Boonville Chapter, 
No. 60, R. A. M. ; of Olivette Commandery, No. 53, K. T. ; Centralia Council, 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 927 

No. 34, R. & S. M. at Centralia, Mo.; of the Boonville Lodge K. P.; and 
the Modern Woodmen of America. He, like his father before him, takes 
an active interest in public matters and especially is he active. in demo- 
cratic politics and as well a student of public questions. Being pleasant 
and affable, his friends are legion. 

E. H. Rcdgers, for many years one of the largest and most prosper- 
ous farmers of Cooper County as well as one of the largest breeders of 
Atwood Merino sheep in central Missouri, is a native of Virginia and was 
bc>rn in Ohio County, Dec. 6, 1843. His parents, John G. and Margaret 
Rodgers, were natives of that county and their homestead upon which 
the subject of this sketch was born, was composed of land entered by the 
family several generations ago. His grandmother of the fourth genera- 
tion on the father's side was the first white woman that ever set foot 
in that county. Mr. Rodger's father was a large and prosperous farmer. 
In the Civil War, Mr. Rodgers still a youth, espoused the cause of the 
union and in his 19th year, in August, 1862, he enlisted in Company D, 
12th West Virginia Volunteer Infantry and served until the close of the 
war, witnessing personally the final surrender of Lee at Appomattox in 
1865. He was in the Battle of Winchester under General Milroy and 
numerous other hotly contested engagements. After peace was consum- 
mated he farmed for two years in his native county and in 1868 moved 
to Missouri and located in Pilot Grove township in this county where he 
lived for twelve years. In 1880 he sold his farm in Pilot Grove township 
and bought the farm of Judge Bennet C. Clark, in Palestine township, 
consisting of 970 acres of fertile land in a high state of cultivation and 
well improved. Besides general farming he made a specialty of breeding 
and raising the celebrated Atwood stock of Merino sheep. His flock 
frequently consisted of 2,500 and as high as 4,000 head. 

Mr. Rodgers was married in Ohio County, Va., to Miss Mary L., 
daughter of James Elliott of that county, August 18, 1870. He has but 
one child, a daughter, Margaret A., the wife of Charles W. Nixon, whose 
sketch appears in this volume. His wife departed this life in Boonville, 
in June, 1916, and was buried at Walnut Grove Cemetery at Boonville. 

In March of this year Mr. Rodgers sold that portion of his farm that 
he had not heretofore sold, about 600 acres, to his son-in-law, C. W. 
Ni v cn cf Boonville For several years, Mr. Rodgers has made his home 
with Mr. Nixon where he has enjoyed not only the companionship of 
his daughter and son-in-law, but the close attachment he feels to his 
grand-children. Mr. Rodgers has large property intei-ests in Virginia, 



928 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

especially in coal lands. He has retired from all public activities and 
spends a considerable portion of his time traveling in the east. He is a 
member of the Presbyterian Church, a Democrat, and a member of the 
John A. Hayn Post of the Grand Army of the Republic. Mr. Rodgers 
is an exemplary citizen and active in any cause he espouses. He was a 
generous contributor to all war activities in the World War. A thor- 
ough American, his heart has beat with a patriotism, in that great 
cataclysm, unaffected by age. 

Nathaniel Nelson Leonard, owner and proprietor of "Ravenswood 
Farm", which is located four miles northeast of Bunceton in Palestine 
township, has for years been a prominent factor in Cooper County affairs, 
as well as his father and grandfather before him. Nathaniel Nelson 
Leonard was born at Boonville, Mo., Dec. 6, 1876, and was the only child 
born to his parents, the late Capt. Charles E. Leonard and Nadine (Nel- 
son) Leonard. 

Capt. Charles E. Leonard was a native of Cooper County, born on 
"Ravenswood Farm" march 27, 1839, and died March 8, 1916. He was a 
son of Nathaniel and Margaret (Hutchinson) Leonard, who settled in 
Cooper County in 1825 from Vermont. Here Nathaniel Leonard purchased 
a large tract of land and settled on what has since been known as "Ravens- 
wood Farm", which is one of the notable stock farms in America, from 
the breeder's standpoint. Nathaniel Leonard engaged in breeding pure- 
bred Shorthorn cattle in 1839. At that time he went to Kentucky and 
purchased a white male Shorthorn, "Comet Star", for $600, and a red 
female, "Queen" for $500, from George Renick, a well known stock breeder 
in Kentucky. These animals were the first pure bred Shorthorn cattle 
west of the Mississippi River, and it is said that the "Ravenswood Farm" 
is the oldest stock farm in the world devoted to breeding Shorthorn cat- 
tle. Nathaniel Leonard successfully carried on farming and stock breed- 
ing on the "Ravenswood Farm" during his lifetime, and was succeeded 
by Capt. Charles E. Leonard, the father of Nathaniel Nelson Leonard, 
whose name introduces this review. 

Capt. Charles E. Leonard was reared to manhood on "Ravenswood 
Farm", and received his education in the Kemper Military School at Boon- 
ville and the Missouri University at Columbia, where he was graduated. 
After his educational career, he returned to "Ravenswood Farm" and was 
actively engaged in farming and stock breeding during the balance of his 
life. He became widely known throughout the country as a successful 
breeder of Shorthorn cattle, and was one of the best known men in 






r 




< f>//c t r\ , 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 929 

America as an advocate of the merits of that breed of cattle. His efforts 
were not limited merely to the commercial side of Shorthorn breeding, but 
as a member of the American Shorthorn Breeders Association, he was one 
of the leading factors in the financing of the American Herd Book, the 
rights to which were later purchased by the American Shorthorn Breeders 
Association in 1883. Captain Leonard was an active member of this 
association for a number of years, serving as a director from 1882 to 
1906, when, at his own request, he was relieved from further activity on 
that board. From 1889 until 1902 he was president of that organization, 
and for many years was a conspicuous figure at Royal and International 
stock shows, where his advice and co-operation were eagerly sought by 
stock breeders from various sections of the country. 

Captain Leonard was equally successful in other fields of enterprise, 
as he was as a breeder. He was interested in the banking business exten- 
sively and at the time of his death he was president of the Central National 
Bank of Boonville, one of Cooper County's substantial financial institutions. 
He was a man of keen perception and good judgment. He not only knew 
cattle, but he knew men as well. He was a liberal contributor to every 
worthy enterprise and gave generously to religious and other causes. He 
was a Methodist. 

Capt. Charles E. Leonard was united in marriage to Miss Nadine Nel- 
son, Oct. 27, 1872. She is a daughter of James M. and Margaret (Wyan) 
Nelson, Cooper County pioneers, a more extensive history of whom is 
given in connection with the sketch of Dr. Arthur W. Nelson. Mrs. Leon- 
ard now resides at Booneville. 

Nathaniel Nelson Leonard, whose name introduces this sketch, was 
educated in Kemper Military School, where he was graduated in the class 
of 1896. He then attended Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn., where 
he completed the law course in 1898, after which he traveled extensively 
in Europe. He then returned to Cooper County, and since that time has 
made his home at "Ravenswood Farm", where he has continued the breed- 
ing of Shorthorns which is being carried on on an extensive scale under 
the supervision of his superintendent, Ed Patterson, a man who thoroughly 
understands the stock business in the most minute detail, and a sketch of 
whom appears elsewhere in this volume. 

Ravenswood Stock Farm is one of the famous stock farms of America. 
It consists of 2,100 acres, and is devoted to breeding Shorthorn cattle. 
It was founded in 1825, as above stated, by the grandfather of the present 
(48) 



930 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

owner. A herd of 125 pure bred Shorthorns is maintained on this place, 
and upon this place some of the highest priced Shorthorn cattle in the 
world have been bred. One animal from this farm was sold for $40,000 
at the Royal Stock sale in Argentina. Stock from the "Ravenswood 
Farm" are well known and highly prized, not only in this country but in 
South America and other parts of the world. 

Nathaniel Nelson Leonard was united in marriage at Chicago, 111., 
Jan. 20, 1909, with Miss Roselia Willard, daughter of Henry G. and Anne 
(Rafferty) Willard. Henry G. Willard is a native of Pennsylvania, born 
at Newtown, Dec. 17, 1846, and his wife was a native of Pittsburgh, Pa. 
and died in Chicago, 111. Mr. Willard was formerly engaged in the manu- 
facture of gas and electric light fixtures, and is now retired and makes his 
home at the "Ravenswood Farm". To Mr. and Mrs. Leonard were born 
three children, as follows: Nathaniel N., Jr., born Feb. 5, 1910; Charles 
Willard, born Jan. 18, 1912, and Anne Nadine, born July 25, 1914. Mrs. 
Leonard was born in Chicago, 111., Feb. 5, 1885, and died at "Ravenswood 
Farm" Nov. 11, 1918. She was a woman of noble Christian character 
who made the world better by having lived in it. During her lifetime 
she was active in charitable and social work, and it is a noteworthy fact 
that during the World War her devotion to the cause of the Red Cross 
was the crowning event of her life. 

Mr. Leonard, in addition to his vast interest in the stock business, is 
active in other industrial and financial enterprises. He is a director of 
the Boonville National Bank, and also in the Bank of Bunceton. He is 
a Knights Templar Mason, being a member at Boonville, and he also holds 
membership in the Mystic Shrine, Ararat Temple, Kansas City, Mo. He 
takes a commendable interest in public affairs, and is a council member 
of Gov. Gardner's staff. 

Fleming H. Shannon, for most of his life a citizen of Cooper County, 
but now of Texas County, Mo., was born in Cooper County, Dec. 19, 1861. 
His father, Alexander Shannon, was born in Maryland about 1810, and 
came to Cooper County about 1825. He was a farmer, and first located 
in Boonville, then moved to Clarks Fork township, and again back to 
Boonville township. Here he spent the rest of his life as a prosperous 
and successful farmer. He died in June, 1893, and left as the fruits of 
his industry and skill, a large estate. He married Miss Julia Hurt, 
daughter of Peyton and Jennin (Coobe) Hurt. Five children were born 
of that marriage, G. W., E. B., F. H., J. B., and Nannie, all of whom are 
living except J. B. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 931 

F. H. Shannon was reared on a farm, attended the public schools of 
this county, and took a special business course at the Moore Business 
College of Sedalia, graduating in 1883. He was married in November, 
1884, to Katie J. Fray, daughter of John and Mary (Westerfield) Fray, 
to which union was born one child, George William, born March 12, 1886. 
He is at present located at Detroit, Mich., as the manager of the F. 
Joseph Lamb & Co., manufacturers, who during the World War were 
engaged solely in the manufacture of munitions. Mrs. Shannon died 
March 8, 1890. 

Nov. 1, 1893, the subject of this sketch was married to Miss Nannie 
F. Bankston, daughter of John and Bettie (Miller) Bankston, of which 
union three children were born: Clarence Miller, 21 years of age; Ida 
Belle, 19, and Eugene Monroe, 13. Mrs. Shannon died in March, 1917. 

Mr. Shannon was elected county judge of the Eastern District of 
Cooper County in 1902 and again in 1904. He served the people with 
fidelity and distinction and rendered himself popular by reason of his 
eminent fairness upon the bench. 

At the expiration of his second term of office he continued farming 
until he entered the service of the International Harvester Company in 
1908, with whom he remained three years. In 1911, the state of Missouri 
sought and secured his services as probation officer of the Missouri Train- 
ing School at Boonville, which position he held about four years, and 
then was advanced to the position of Assistant Superintendent of that 
institution. He resigned Nov. 1, 1917, and moved to Texas County where 
he had purchased a farm. 

Mr. Shannon is a member of the Christian Church, a Democrat, and 
a Free Mason. He is warm hearted, fervent and active in any cause that 
he espouses and is a true friend. He has always taken an active and 
prominent part in politics. 

Albert H. Myer, president and manager of the Palace Clothing Com- 
pany, Boonville, Mo., can truly be said to have been born and reared a 
merchant. He first saw the light of day at Rocheport, Mo., June 30, 
1872. His father, Charles Myer, was born at Illegen, Germany, Jan. 20, 
1845, and died at Fayette, Mo., March 17, 1911. When a small boy about 
nine years, he came from Germany to make America his home. He first 
engaged in business for himself at Rocheport, Mo., where for a number 
of years he conducted a general store. From there he went to Fayette, 
Mo., and engaged in the clothing business and conducted said business 
about 20 years, to the time of his death. He was married in 1868 to 



932 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Laura (Tumy) Myer. She was born in Rocheport, Mo., Dec. 25, 1847, 
and is now living at Fayette. She is the daughter of Henry and George 
Ann Tumy, both of whom were born in Louisville, Ky., and both de- 
scendents of old Kentucky families. 

The subject of this sketch was engaged in the mercantile business 
under the tuition of his fathers since old enough to wait upon customers. 
He was educated in the public schools at Rocheport and Fayette. Nov. 
6, 1901, he was married at Fayette to Estelle May Turner, the daughter 
of Robert and Adelia (Gibson) Turner, both of whom came from Vir- 
ginia to Howard County with their respective parents in the early days 
and were united in marriage in Howard County. Their forefathers on 
both sides were in the Revolutionary War. The grandfather of Mrs. 
Estelle, age about 16; Albert H., age about 12, and Dorothy Ross, about 
B. Gibson, a distinguished soldier and commander in the war of the 
Revolution. 

There was born to Albert H. Myer and wife, three children: Laura 
Estelle, age about 16; Albert H., age about 12, and Dorothy Rose, about 
nine. Mr. Myer was associated with his father for a number of years at 
Fayette in the clothing business and in connection with his brother 
established a branch clothing store at Franklin, Mo., where they did an 
extensive and prosperous business for five or six years. Seeking broader 
fields, in 1909 he moved to Boonville where he has conducted a successful 
and growing business ever since. He is the president and acting man- 
ager of the Palace Clothing Company of Boonville, which is incorporated 
and has an elegant and up-to-date stock of clothing and he prides himself 
on the quality of the goods he sells. The store is equipped with every 
modem convenience and will stand comparison with the best arranged 
and furnished clothing stores of the larger cities. The business of the 
Palace Clothing Company has grown from year to year. Mr. Myer is 
ever kind and courteous and is a most applicable and pleasing salesman. 
His friends are legion. He is an active and live wire in all public enter- 
prises that go to build up the city in which he lives. He is generous and 
willing to donate and pay his portion in every public movement. He is 
the vice-president of the Boonville Commercial Club, a member of the 
Board of Directors and active and enthusiastic in all its operations. In 
1917 he was president of the State Retail Clothiers of Missouri. He is 
a member of the Knights of Pythias, is past Chancellor of same, and is 
now one of the directors. 

W. G. Gilbreath is one of the prosperous and up-to-date farmers of 
Cooper County, and the owner of 200 fertile acres in Palestine township, 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 933 

about nine miles from Boonville. He was born in Cooper County, June 
6, 1869, the son of H. F. Gilbreath and Catherine Gilbreath. 

H. F. Gilbreath was born in Tennessee, Feb. 1, 1826, and died in 
Vernon County, Missouri, Jan. 26, 1888, and his remains were interred 
in New Salem Cemetery, in this county. His father, Hugh Gilbreath, 
the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in Virginia, 
March 10, 1781, and died in Cooper County, Jan. 21, 1852. The grand- 
mother, Flora (McDuffy) Gilbreath, the wife of Hugh Gilbreath, was 
born in Tennessee, and died in Cooper County in February, 1875. The 
remains of this couple were also interred in New Salem Cemetery. 

W. G. Gilbreath's mother was the daughter of Robert and Hannah 
Carpenter. Robert Carpenter was born in Kentucky in 1798, and died 
in Cooper County, March, 1830. Hannah was born in North Carolina, 
Oct. 11, 1802, and died in Cooper County, Feb. 19, 1865. Mr. Gilbreath's 
family on both sides were among the oldest and most respected citizens 
of Missouri, and among the early settlers of Cooper County. 

His grandparents, above mentioned, moved to Cooper County in 1827, 
and settled in Prairie Home township in what is known as the Newt 
Gilbreath farm. William M. Gilbreath and Newton A. Gilbreath, both 
deceased, were uncles of the subjects of this sketch. Mr. Gilbreath spent 
his early years upon a farm, and was educated in the public schools and 
at Brannock's College at Pleasant Hill, Mo. He was an officer at the 
Missouri Reform School in 1892, and served efficiently and satisfactorily 
in that capacity for two years under the superintendency of Colonel 
Drake. From 1897 he was deputy sheriff for four years under J. M. 
Rymel, and as such was active, vigilant, and competent, and it is safe 
to say that no former deputy or any succeeding one excelled him in the 
performance of his duties. He was married in 1900 to Miss Mary Waller, 
daughter of the late and lamented Judge John A. Waller, who was one 
of Cooper County's most esteemed citizens, having served the people of 
his county in responsible positions with credit and distinction. 

Judge Waller was born in Kentucky, Nov. 19, 1826, and died in 
Cooper County, Jan. 6, 1915. Judge Waller's father, Benjamin R. Waller, 
was born in Kentucky in 1802, and settled in Cooper County in 1840. He 
departed this life in Cooper County in January, 1891. The wife of Ben- 
jamin Waller was Lucy (Harris) Waller, who was born in 1810 in Clark 
County, Ky., and died in Cooper County. 

Mrs. W. G. Gilbreath's mother, the first wife of Judge Waller, he 
having been married twice, was Cordelia (Holladay) Waller, who was 



934 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

born in Clark County, Ky., Sept. 14, 1844, and died in Cooper County, 
Feb. 13, 1878. Cordelia's father was Waller Holladay, and was born in 
Clark County, Ky., March 17, 1797, and died in Cooper County, Oct. 11, 
1876. He was married in 1843. It will thus be seen that Mrs. Gilbreath 
is a descendant of one of our oldest and best families. 

W. G. Gilbreath was for a number of years the superintendent of 
the county infirmary, and rendered valuable service to the county in the 
building and establishment of the new infirmary ; and with the assistance 
of his competent wife, raised it to a standard unsurpassed by any insti- 
tution of its kind in the state. 

There were born to Mr. and Mrs. Gilbreath two children: Glen, 17 
years of age, and Martha Eee, age 12. 

Mr. Gilbreath is an active and enthusiastic Democrat, a member of 
the Presbyterian Church, and a Free Mason. He is a gentleman of posi- 
tive connection, a staunch friend, dependable and worthy of the high 
esteem in which he is held. 

Ray P. Cramer is one of Cooper County's progressive farmers and 
business men. He was born in Lamine township, Sept. 25, 1880, and is 
the son of G. A. Cramer, Jr., who was the son of G. A. Cramer. Ray 
Cramer's grandfather came from Holland to this country. The ship in 
which he came was wrecked and he was one of the few survivers. He 
located first in Pennsylvania, then moved to Kentucky, and from there 
came to Cooper County and settled here soon after the first Turleys, 
thought to be about 1814. 

The land upon which Ray P. Cramer now lives was a part of the 
tract on which his grandfather settled. Mr. Cramer's grandfather on 
his mother's side was Frank Hill, who came from Cincinnati, Ohio, and 
located in Cooper County soon after the Civil War. The subject of this 
sketch is the owner of 102 acres of highly improved and well cultivated 
land and is situated two miles west of Lamine station in Lamine town- 
ship. He has spent his entire life in Cooper County, except about one 
year which he spent in Oklahoma. He was educated in the public schools 
of the county, and took a special commercial course at another institution. 
He was the organizer of the Boonville Oil and Gas Company at Okmulgee, 
Okla., and the Gilmer Oil Company of the same place, both of which are 
now consolidated and known as the Gilmer Oil Company. Mr. Cramer 
has been successful in the oil fields and upon property aforesaid has 
seven producing oil wells and two productive gas wells. He is the man- 
ager of this company, and has the absolute confidence of those who have 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 935 

invested with him. They are mostly local men, and as a testimony of 
their confidence and esteem, they presented him a few months ago with 
a handsome $250 Victrola. 

Mr. Cramer was married to Lilly K. Wing, the daughter of D. W. 
Wing, one of the most substantial citizens of central Missouri. The 
father of D. W. Wing came to Missouri and settled in Cooper County 
about 1818. Three children were born of this marriage: David, age 14; 
W. Russell, age 13, and Catherine Lucile, age six. David has graduated 
from the eighth grade and next year is to enter the Kemper Military 
School of this city. 

Mr. Cramer is a Democrat of high degree, a member of the Christian 
Church, an estimable citizen, popular with all who know him, and suc- 
cessful in his ventures. 

Felix Victor, one of the leading clothiers of central Missouri, when a 
young man came to Mexico, Mo., in 1884, and clerked in the clothing store 
of Joseph and Victor Barth, under whose tutelage and training he learned 
thoroughly and in detail the clothing business. The Barths were exten- 
sive clothiers, having at the same time another store at Columbia, Mo. 
Mr. Victor served them for about nine years and came to Boonville, Sept. 
2, 1893, and engaged in the clothing business with his brother, Adolph 
Victor, who had served his apprenticeship in the Barth store in Colum- 
bia, under the firm name of F. & A. Victor. This firm for seven years 
conducted their business on Main Street in the building now occupied by 
the Tanner Studio. The firm moved to the corner of Spring and Main 
Streets in 1900 to secure larger quarters, occupying the building then 
known as the Windsor Building. A few years thereafter they purchased 
his building together with an adjoining building and wrecked the same 
and upon the lots erected a magnificent structure for their ever growing 
business. This building is a monument to the success and enterprise of 
the subject of this sketch. It is handsomely furnished and equipped, and 
has every convenient appointment required by the most up-to-date mer- 
cantile establishment. It is an honor and credit to Boonville and Cooper 
County, and doubtless has not its equal in the state outside of St. Louis 
and Kansas City. January, 1919, Adolph Victor retired from the firm 
and Felix, the subject of this sketch, became the sole proprietor. Mr. 
Victor has always prided himself upon the quality of his goods and 
completeness of his stock. 

Mr. Victor was married Jan. 1, 1902, to Miss Ida Barth. daughter of 
Joseph Barth, now deceased. Mrs. Victor has taken pleasure in active 
leadership in all civic and social matters in the city. 



936 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Clarence W. Atkinson, proprietor of an excellent farm in Palestine 
township and one of the best known farmers in that part of Cooper County, 
is a native of this county. He was born on a farm in Boonville township, 
Sept. 17, 1876, son of William and Sarah E. (Dickey) Atkinson, the former 
of whom is still living, now a resident of Boonville. 

William Atkinson was born in Ohio County, Virginia, now in that part 
of the Old Dominion comprised in West Virginia, May 14, 1837, a son of 
John and Margaret (Trimble) Atkinson, Pennsylvanians and both mem- 
bers of old Colonial families. The Atkinsons in this country are of 
Scottish origin and the family was founded on this side before the days of 
the Revolution. March 5, 1863, William Atkinson married Sarah E. 
Dickey, who was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, Oct. 21, 1836, 
and whom he had known since the days of their childhood when they 
were playmates, and in 1865 he and his wife came to Missouri and located 
in Cooper County, settling on a farm which he bought in Boonville town- 
ship. He later moved to a farm near Prairie Lick and in 1881 bought a 
farm in Palestine township, where he continued to reside until his retire- 
ment in 1910. His wife died on Feb. 28, 1917, and in 1918 he moved to 
Boonville, where he is now living. To William and Sarah E. (Dickey) 
Atkinson were born five children, of whom three are still living, the sub- 
ject of this sketch having two brothers, Miller T. Atkinson, of Palestine 
township, and Charles S. Atkinson, of Boonville. 

Reared on the farm, Clarence W. Atkinson has always followed agri- 
cultural pursuits and is now the owner of a well improved farm of 260 
acres in Palestine township, where he is quite successfully engaged in 
general farming and stock raising. He received his schooling in the 
local district schools and as a young man took a part in the operations of 
the home farm, continuing thus engaged until in 1901 when he rented 
a farm and began operations on his own account. By hard work and good 
management he was enabled in Jan., 1909, to buy the farm on which he 
is now living. Since taking possession of that place Mr. Atkinson has 
made numerous improvements on the same and now has an admirable 
farm plant and is doing well. Politically, he is an independent republican. 
He and his family are members of the Presbyterian Church. 

On April 14, 1904, Clarence W. Atkinson was united in marriage to 
Lydia H. Muntzel, who also was born in this county, and who died on July 
10, 1918. To that union were born three children, Ruth E., John F. and 
Clarence W., Jr. (deceased). The late Mrs. Lydia H. Atkinson was born 
in Clarks Fork township, this county, April 30, 1881, and was thus but a 
little past 37 years of age at the time of her death. She was a member 




MR. AND MRS. C. W. ATKINSON 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 937 

of one of the old families in Cooper County, the. Muntzels having been 
represented here since the days just following the close of the Civil War. 

Dr. T. H. Winterbower was born on the Ohio River in Hardin County, 
Ky., July 25, 1848. He was graduated in medicine from the University 
of Kentucky at Louisville in 1869. After graduating he immediately 
came to Missouri to locate and selected Overton, in Saline township of 
this county, to practice his profession. He followed his profession and 
had an extensive practice in that part of the county until he moved to 
Boonville in 1906. He then became deputy county clerk, retiring from 
the practice of medicine. In 1909 he was the nominee of the Democratic 
party for probate judge of Cooper County and was elected to that office. 
He was again, in 1813, the nominee of that party and was again elected, 
holding the same two full terms of eight years. Dr. Winterbower was 
married in 1876 to Miss Belle Wooldridge. There were born of this 
marriage two children, Stanley, who is in business at Sapulpa, Okla., 
and Nellie, who lives with her father. 

Dr. Winterbower's father came to Kentucky in the early days from 
Tennessee. His mother was born in Hardin County, Ky., and her maiden 
name was Nannie Hays. The Hays family were old settlers of Ken- 
tucky. Dr. Winterbower's wife was the daughter of Jesse Wooldridge 
and Susan Hays Wooldridge who were married in Kentucky and came 
to Missouri in the early days. Mrs. Winterbower died at Boonville in 
1912. 

Dr. Winterbower, in office, was known not only for his efficiency but 
for his universal affability and courtesy. As a physician he was capable 
and sympathetic. He has always taken a deep interest in politics and 
public affairs. 

Alexander H. Stephens, Jr., who is a prosperous traveling salesman, 
was born May 7, 1894, at Boonville, Mo. His father, A. H. Stephens, is 
a son of James L. Stephens and is also a brother of Speed and ex-Gov- 
ernor Lon V. Stephens. His mother, Adda (Edgar) Stephens, is a daugh- 
ter of Russell L. Edgar, her mother being a member of the Spahr family. 
The Stephens, Edgars, and Spahrs are among the oldest families of 
Cooper County. 

Alexander H. Stephens, Jr., was educated in the public schools of 
Boonville, attended the Kemper Military School two years and graduated 
in the academic course at Central College, Fayette, Mo. After grad- 
uating, he was for a short time associated with his father in the automo- 
bile business and in conducting a garage. In 1916 he accepted employ- 
ment from the Hine-Watt Manufacturing Company of Chicago as trav- 



938 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

eling salesman. His territory consists of the states of Missouri, Kansas 
and Oklahoma. He was married Jan. 6, 1919, to Miss Doris Eugenia 
Schmidt, the daughter of M. E. Schmidt, the son-in-law of the late la- 
mented ex-Lieutenant Governor James F. Gmelich. 

Mr. Stephens is a young man who is hewing out his own fortune and 
is making success of his efforts. He has a pleasant manner and a pleas- 
ing address. He is known among his trade as being entirely dependable 
and is meeting with marked success. 

Frank C. Brickey, one of the live wires among the young business 
men of Boonville, was born July 22, 1893, at Festus, Mo. His father, 
F. W. Brickey, was born at Brickeys Landing, Mo., 75 years ago, and 
the father of F. W. Brickey, grandfather of the subject of this sketch,, 
was also born in Missouri, the Brickey stock originally coming from 
Virginia. John S. Brickey, the first circuit attorney of the circuit in 
which Cooper County was a part and who lived in Franklin, Mo., was a 
great-uncle of the subject of this sketch. Mr. Brickey 's mother, Nettie 
E. (Davis) Brickey, was born in St. Louis, Mo., and is 58 years of age. 
She belongs to the old Davis family of Missouri. 

Mr. Brickey graduated from the high school at Festus and then 
attended the Western Military Academy, Alton, 111., and Central Col- 
lege, Fayette, Mo. After having spent about two years at Fayette, Mo., 
Mr. Brickey removed to Boonville in the fall of 1914, assumed charge of 
the agency for the sale of Ford cars in this section and conducted a sales 
and service station at the Viertel Garage. The following year he moved 
to the Stephen's Garage located in the Harriman building on Main Street, 
and in 1917, purchased the business of this garage. In 1919 he leased 
the Viertel Garage building above mentioned in order to give him more 
room for the rapidly expanding business. This building has 40,000 square 
feet and is by far the largest garage in central Missouri and on the first 
floor there is doubtless more floor space than in any other garage in the 
state. Here he handles the Ford cars and Ford tractors and reasonably 
anticipates, for the coming year, a business of $500,000. 

In 1919, Mr. Brickey purchased the "Elkins & Elkins Garage" at 
Bunceton, Mo., as a Ford Sales and Service Station in that section of 
the county and is known as the "Bunceton Auto Company." The building 
in which he conducts this business is about 60x90 feet, and the business 
there is a thriving one. In the spring of 1918 he sold a one-half interest 
in the Bunceton Auto Company to J. H. Schlotzhauer, who from that 
date became the active manager there. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 939 

In the first part of the year 1918 Mr. Brickey purchased from Jacob 
Deck, the Lyric Theater (picture show) and soon thereafter sold a one- 
half interest in the same to the late Dr. A. C. Jacobs. This enterprise 
is now conducted by Mr. Brickey in conjunction with Mark Jacobs, 
brother of Dr. A. C. Jacobs. In May, 1919, he purchased the building 
known as the Stephen's Opera House in connection with Mr. Mark Jacobs 
and is now arranging for various improvements of this building. At the 
beginning of the World War he offered his service to his country and was 
selected as civilian instructor at the vocational training school at Colum- 
bia, Mo., and was made head instructor of Motor Mechanics, which po- 
sition he held for seven months, until the closing of the school. Decem- 
ber 15, 1918, he was appointed by the government to take charge and 
dispose of the equipment and material of the school which duty he per- 
formed in a most satisfactory manner to the government. He is now at 
Boonville, energetically and successfully conducting his various enter- 
prises. 

Guy C. Million, associated with his father in the management of the 
Frederick Hotel of Boonville, was bom July 22, 1878, in Chariton County, 
Mo. He is the son of W. R. Million and Martha A. (McCampbell) Million. 
W. R. Million is a veteran hotel man, having operated some of the most 
popular hotels of the state and is favorably and well known to the travel- 
ing public. Though never a candidate for office he takes a deep interest 
in Democratic politics in state as well as county affairs. Martha (Mc- 
Campbell) Million was born and reared in Chariton County, Mo., and her 
parents, Robert S. and Mary (Willis) McCampbell, were born and reared 
in Shelby County, Ky. They came to Missouri in 1858, making the 
trip in emigrant wagons. 

Guy C. Million, the subject of the review, was educated in the public 
schools of Glasgow, and at Pritchett Institute. He spent five years in the 
drug business at Salisbury, Mo., and for four years was in the Hospital 
Department of the United States Navy and saw service in the Philippines, 
China and Japan. For the past 15 years, associated with his father, he 
has managed and conducted the famed Frederick Hotel at Boonville. As 
a host he has no superior in central Missouri, and is popular with the 
trading public. He is a Free Mason of high standing and rank, being a 
Past Master, Past High Priest, and Past Eminent Commander. He is a 
Stewart of the M. E. Church, South, and in politics, a Democrat. 

Sept. 28, 1903, Guy C. Million was married at Salisbury, Mo., 
to Miss Pensa Cola Dameron, who is the daughter of John T. and Josie 



940 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

(Lea) Dameron, and was born in Randolph County, Mo., and moved with 
her parents to Salisbury. She was educated in Salisbury Academy. Her 
grandfather, Judge A. G. Lea, was a prominent judge in north Missouri 
before the Civil War. Her father enlisted in the Civil War in the Confed- 
erate Army at the age of 15, who as well as her paternal grandfather, 
served through the Civil War, and was engaged in many important bat- 
tles. Her great-great-great-grandfather, Joseph Dameron, fought 
through the war of the Revolution, and was married to Sarah Ball, a 
first cousin of George Washington. 

Mr. and Mrs. Guy C. Million have one child, Guy C. Jr., who was 
born Aug. 2, 1913. 

C. H. Brokmeyer, who departed this life, aged 57, in Boonville, on 
Wednesday morning, July 23, 1902, was born in Hille, Westphalia, Ger- 
many, April 20, 1845. He came to the United States when about 20 years 
of age. After living in St. Louis and Jefferson City a short time, he 
moved to Bunceton and opened a tailor shop. Later he located at Boon- 
ville and in association with C. H. Heim engaged in the general merchan- 
dise business. This partnership continued two years when the interest 
of Heim was purchased by A. Schnedler. At the end of the year Mr. 
Brokmeyer became the sole owner and manager of the store and from 
this time he continued in the business until the date of his demise. Dur- 
ing his residence in Boonville, Mr. Brokmeyer built more than 60 dwell- 
ings. At the time of his death he was the owner of two store houses, 
the home property, and twelve residences. 

Mr. Brokmeyer and Miss Hannah Otten were united in marriage in 
Boonville on Dec. 6, 1870, and seven children were born to this union, one 
having died in infancy. He left surviving him the widow, and six chil- 
dren, John, who married Miss Stella Yeater of Sedalia; Mrs. Emma 
Schott; Frank, who depa'rted this life in his 40th year, Aug. 21, 1916, 
loved, respected, and honored, having a host of friends; William; Mrs. 
Sophia Page, and Henry, who married Miss Eva Cross of New Franklin, 
Mo. 

Mr. Brokmeyer was a valuable and highly respected citizen of Boon- 
ville and was an active factor in every public enterprise and in the up- 
building of the city. He had a most pleasing disposition, a kind word 
for everyone, and always wore a smile. No deal or trade was too big 
for him to handle. He bought anything and was always willing to sell. 
He built up an enormous business and seemed to handle and manage the 
same with astonishing ease. In his death Boonville, as well as his fam- 
ily, suffered an irretrievable loss. His business has been continued by 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 941 

his wife under the able management of her three sons, Frank, William, 
and Henry. Frank having died, the management has devolved upon 
William and Henry, who have been successful in the enterprise and have 
continued the prosperity built up by their father in the mercantile busi- 
ness. They are the fortunate possessors of happy, kind, and accommo- 
dating dispositions and number their friends by the legion. 

Dr. Paul Ashland Brickey is a brother of Frank C. Brickey whose 
sketch appears in this volume. He is therefore of the same parentage 
and genealogy. Dr. Brickey, the subject of this sketch, was born at 
Festus, Mo., where his father and mother now live, Feb. 17, 1895. He 
attended the public schools of Festus and took the high school course at 
that place after which he attended the Western Military Academy, Alton, 
111., for two years and graduated from the same. His father then sent 
him to Central College at Fayette where he spent two years in the pre- 
paratory medical course. Then he attended school at the St. Louis Uni- 
versity, School of Medicine, and was graduated from that institution 
in 1918. He served one year as intern at St. Mary's Hospital. 

June 17, 1918, Dr. Brickey entered the service of his country and 
was sent to France as a first lieutenant in the Medical Corps with Base 
Hospital No. 112. He was stationed at Camp Pontanezen, Napoleon 
Barracks, Brest, France. Here he rendered valuable services as a physi- 
cian in relieving the pain and suffering of our soldier boys. He returned 
to the United States Feb. 17, 1919, and was discharged April 15. He is 
now commissioned in the Medical Reserve Corps. 

Dr. Brickey was married Dec. 18, 1917, to Miss Grace Gildehaus 
whose father is a prosperous wholesale merchant of St. Louis. 

Soon after his discharge from the service he located in Boonville 
and is now engaged in the practice of medicine. He is examiner for life 
insurance companies and is rapidly building up a remunerative practice. 
Dr. Brickey is thoroughly educated and in every respect well equipped 
and qualified for his chosen profession of medicine. 

George H. Scholle, a merchant tailor of Boonville who also handles 
Victrolas and pianos, was born in Hanover, Germany, March 4, 1872. 
His parents were William and Mary (Schuerman) Scholle of the province 
of Hanover, who, as well as their parents before them were born in Han- 
over, Germany. William Scholle died in 1881. Mary Scholle, now about 
82 years of age is yet living. 

George H. Scholle came to the United States in 1890, when 18 years 
of age, and located at Sunmen, Ind., where he worked as a tailor for two 



942 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

years. Mr. Scholle learned the business of tailoring in Germany, serving 
an apprenticeship. From Indiana, Mr. Scholle went to Toledo, Ohio, 
where he remained until 1903 when he came to the Reform School for 
Boys at Boonville and for one year had charge of the tailoring depart- 
ment. From there he went to Versailles, Mo., where he remained four 
years. He then returned to the Reform School and under the superin- 
tendency of Col. Clark had charge of the tailoring department and in- 
structed the boys therein for three years. In 1915 Mr. Scholle opened 
his establishment in Boonville where he is now occupied as a merchant 
tailor and handles victrolas and musical instruments. His wife, Amanda 
(Unverferth) Scholle, was born in Pemberville, Ohio, in 1874. Her par- 
ents came from Germany. She and Mr. Scholle were married in Toledo, 
Ohio, where Mrs. Scholle's parents lived at that time. There were born 
of this union eight children: Albro, 23 years of age, is serving his coun- 
try in the Marines; Wilbur, 21, is assisting his father; Paul, 19, is also 
with his father ; Alma, 17 years of age ; Frederick, 13 ; Helen, 10 ; George, 
seven, and Bertha, four. 

Mr. Scholle is a conscientious, and painstaking workman. He is 
affable and accommodating and by his close attention to business and 
his effort to please, he has built up an extensive business. He is a loyal 
American citizen and has willingly and cheerfully responded to all calls 
made upon him in war activities. 

Theodore F. Lebing is a prosperous merchant at Clarks Fork. He 
conducts a general mercantile store in the center of a rich agricultural 
section of the county. He was born Aug. 21, 1878, at Clarks Fork and 
reared on a farm in Cooper County. When old enough he engaged in 
farming until 1917 when he formed a partnership with Charles Q. Mills. 
They conducted a general merchandise business at Clarks Fork under 
the firm name of Lebing & Mills. During this partnership they did a 
large business and handled large quantities of poultry and produce which 
they transported to Boonville and shipped to market. The firm of Lebing 
& Mills was successor in the business to 0. L. Letherman. May 7, 1919, 
Mr. Lebing purchased the interest of his partner and since then the 
business has been conducted by him. He was a successful farmer and 
is now a successful merchant. 

October 13, 1900, Mr. Lebing was married to Miss Delia Mills, daugh- 
ter of Charles T. and Ellen (Brusius) Mills. Charles T. Mills was son of 
Henry W. and Susan (Lewis) Mills. The Mills family is numerous in 
Cooper County, prosperous and of high standing. 

Theodore F. Lebing is the son of Lewis and Johanna (Brandes) 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 943 

Lebing, both deceased. Lewis Lebing was born in Hanover, Germany, 
in 1913, and came to this country in 1856 and located on a farm in Clarks 
Fork township. His wife, Johanna Brandes, was also born in Germany, 
in 1838, and came to Cooper County with her parents in 1855. Christine 
Brandes, the father of Johanna Brandes, settled first in Iowa and then 
came to Cooper County which became his home. The Brandes family 
with its numerous branches is well known in Cooper County for honesty, 
integrity and industry. 

Harry A. Creagan, president of the Farmer's Trust Company of 
Boonville, was born in Cooper County, July 30, 1882. His father was 
P. F. Creagan, who came to Missouri in 1859 and settled at St. Louis 
where he lived for seven years. He was largely engaged in railroading 
in different capacities on the Missouri, Kansas and Texas railroad and in 
1876 purchased a farm of 280 acres near Clifton City, Cooper County, 
where he located and where he died. He was a prominent Democrat, a 
member of the Catholic Church, and a highly esteemed citizen. His 
father, William Creagan, came from the county of Meath, Ireland, and 
was married in New York to Miss Elizabeth Scullin. P. F. Creagan was 
married in 1863 to Miss Fannie Keenan, of St. Louis, a daughter of Daniel 
Keenan of New York. 

Harry A Creagan, was the ninth child born to P. F. and Fannie 
(Keenan) Creagan. He was educated in the public schools of Cooper 
County and graduated from the high school of Sedalia. He then became 
telegraph operator at the M., K. & T. station at Boonville. For five 
years he was a trusted employee of W. H. Trigg & Co. Jan. 23, 1909, he 
move! to St. Louh and accepte i a responsible position with the Mer- 
cantile Trust Company, which he held for ten years. Aug. 9, 1918, he 
enlisted in the United States Navy and was mustered out Dec. 11, 1918. 
He has recently organized the Farmer's Trust Company of Boonville, of 
which he has been selected president. Mr. Creagan's career has been 
one of continued advancement. He has had a thorough training in fin- 
ance and is experienced in all banking matters. He is one of the promising 
young financiers of central Missouri. 

Homer McGuire, one of the successful and progressive young farm- 
ers of Cooper County, was born Dec. 6, 1886, in Pilot Grove township, 
Cooper County. His father, J. V. McGuire, 66 years of age, is also a 
native son of Cooper County. Thirty-six years ago he was married to 
Miss Mary Hurd a native of Illinois. J. V. McGuire is one of the sub- 
stantial citizens of Cooper County, known for his honesty and integrity. 

Homer McGuire was educated in the county schools of Cooper County. 



944 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

He was reared on a farm, and under the tutelage of his father, and by 
close attention to the study of agriculture and stock-raising, he has se- 
cured a success that may be envied. He was married Aug. 5, 1914, to Miss 
Brooksie Rush, at the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. R. 
Rush, Kansas City, Mo. There has been born to this union one child, a 
son, Wilbur V., Dec. 16, 1918. 

Homer McGuire is a Republican, but in casting his vote uses his own 
intelligence rather than the dictum of party. He was made a Master 
Mason in 1918, and is a member of Cooper Lodge, A. F. & A. M., Boon- 
ville, Mo. Associated with his father, he superintends and conducts a 
farm consisting of over 200 fertile acres in Pilot Grove township, which 
is in the highest state of cultivation and well improved. Here his ener- 
gies are devoted, not only to agriculture but in the breeding and raising 
of live-stock, of which he has made quite a success. He is respected and 
esteemed by all who know, and his friends are many. 

Peter Franklin Smith, a well known and substantial farmer and 
stockman of Lebanon township, proprietor (in joint ownership with his 
wife) of "Wayside Valley Farm", a well improved place of 180 acres in 
that township, is a native son of Cooper County. He was born on a farm 
at the edge of the village of Otterville in the township of that name on 
June 29, 1854, son of George W. and Nancy E. (Neal) Smith. 

George W. Smith, who died at his home in this county 25 years ago, 
was a Virginian and grew to manhood in the Old Dominion, remaining 
there until he was 27 years of age, when with his wife and four children 
(for he was twice married, his first wife dying about 10 years after they 
took up their residence here) he came to Missouri in 1837 and located at 
Otterville, where he opened a blacksmith shop and there became engaged 
working at the trade to which he had been trained in Virginia, proving in 
this capacity a valued factor in the life of the new community. When 
he came here the deer were very numerous hereabout and as he was an 
ardent sportsman he found much pleasure in the hunt. From the time he 
killed his first deer up to the time of the Civil War he kept tally of the deer 
he killed and the net bag totalled in excess of 60. Even after war times 
quite a few deer still lingered in the deeper portions of the woods in this 
section, affording further sport for this tireless Nimrod. The first sum- 
mer of his settlement at Otterville he planted five or six acres of corn on 
a tract some distance from the hamlet, but when the time came to gather 
the ripened ears the inconvenience of bringing the same in deterred him 
and he left the corn for the deer. During the Civil War Mr. Smith had a 
contract with the government to furnish beef for the army and became 




GEORGK W. SMITH 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 945 

well known over the county as a cattle buyer in that connection. He con- 
tinued to make his home in the Otterville neighborhood and there spent 
his last days, his death occurring on April 7, 1894. He was bom on May 
10, 1810, and was thus slightly under 84 years of age at the time of his 
death. As noted above, George W. Smith was twice married. His first 
wife, who was a Beard and whom he married in Virginia, died at her home 
in this county in 1843. Of the four children born to that union two are 
still living, Mrs. Virginia Ann Finley, of this county, and Mrs. Ellen Wagen- 
knecht, of the neighboring county of Morgan. In 1847 Mr. Smith mar- 
ried Nancy E. Neal, who was born on a pioneer farm in Lebanon town- 
ship, this county, Dec. 14, 1827, and who (as noted above) is still living, 
an honored nonogenarian of the Otterville community. To this second 
union eight children were born. Of these six grew to maturity and four 
are still living, those besides the subject of this biographical sketch (the 
eldest) being Nathan A. Smith, long a resident of Kansas; Mrs. Martha 
E. White, a widow, now living at Otterville with her aged mother, and 
Mrs. Rose L. Bane of Otterville township. 

Reared on the home farm on the edge of the village of Otterville, 
Peter F. Smith received his schooling in the Otterville schools and from 
the days of his boyhood his attention has been devoted to farming. In 
the fall of 1880 he married and in 1881 bought the farm on which he is 
now living, beautiful "Wayside Valley Farm", in Lebanon township, which 
he has improved in admirable fashion. In addition to his general farm- 
ing Mr. Smith has for years been quite extensively engaged in breeding 
Shorthorn cattle of the Scotch Top breed and has been a frequent ex- 
hibitor at stock shows hereabout. He has created a good market for the 
products of "Wayside Valley Farm", his cattle commanding good prices, 
and has done well in his operations, long having been recognized as one 
of the leading stockmen in that neighborhood. He is a member of the 
Bunceton Fair Association and has done well his share in promoting the 
interests of that useful organization. He also is a stockholder in the 
local bank and in the company controlling the grain elevator and in other 
ways exhibits his interest in the general business affairs of the com- 
munity. In his political views Mr. Smith is a democrat, as was his father. 
He and his family are members of the Presbyterian Church. 

Oct. 6, 1880, Peter F. Smith was united in marriage to Margaret Ida 
Cordry, who also was bom in this county, member of one of the pioneer 
families, and to this union eleven children have been born, namely: Harry 
A., deceased • Azelia Velma, wife of T. A. Nelson, Jr., of Kelly township ; 



946 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Margaret Naomi, wife of Dr. W. C. Lewis, of St. Louis; Hunter F., of 
Speed, this county, Homer W., who is at home assisting his father; Zula, 
wife of Benjamin N. Smith, of Clarks Fork township; Hubert L., of Pales- 
tine township; Mary (Gussie) Herschel and Harold V., at home, and Vera, 
who died in infancy. Mrs. Smith was born in Lebanon township on Dec. 
13, 1860, daughter of William L. and Mary (Ware) Cordry, both now de- 
ceased and both members of pioneer families in this section of Missouri. 
William L. Cordry was born in Todd County, Ky., and came to Missouri 
with his parents in pioneer days, the family locating in Cooper County. 
Here he married Mary Ware, who was born in the neighboring county of 
Howard, and to that union were born eight children, all of whom are liv- 
ing save one; the Cordry connection hereabout being a quite numerous 
one in the present generation. 

Woodson T. Jones, proprietor of an excellent farm in Blackwater 
township, and who formerly was engaged in the railway service as tele- 
graph operator, was born on a farm in Blackwater township March 19, 
1883, a son of George C. Jones and a grandson of the pioneer, Caleb Jones, 
who at the time of his death in the early '80's was said to have been the 
wealthiest man in Cooper County. 

Woodson T. Jones received his education in the district school and 
Pilot Grove Academy, from which he was graduated in 1901. In the 
meantime he had learned telegraphing at Pilot Grove and in 1902 was 
made station agent on the Sedalia division of the Missouri, Kansas and 
Texas Railroad. In the following year he transferred his services to the 
Santa Fe railroad and for seven or eight years thereafter continued as a 
telegraph operator, serving the Santa Fe and other western roads. He 
then returned home, having in the meantime shared in the division of his 
father's extensive estate, and engaged in farming. In addition to his 
general farming operations Mr. Jones has gone in somewhat extensively 
for live stock and is doing a good business in that line. He is the owner 
of a well improved farm of 160 acres. Mr. Jones is a democrat. 

June 30. 1913, Woodson T. Jones was united in marriage with Hulda 
Kirkman, of this county, and to this union one child has been born, Martha 
Sue. Mrs. Jones was born at Columbia, Boone County, but from the days 
of her girlhood has been a resident of this county. Her parents, John B. 
Kirkman and wife (the latter of whom was a Blanchard), came here years 
ago and located on a farm in Saline township, where they spent the 
remainder of their lives. In addition to his farming operations John B. 
Kirkman was a dealer in memorial monuments and was one of the well 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 947 

known men of the county. He and his wife were born in North Carolina 
and came to Missouri with their respective parents in pioneer days. 

Charles E. Roth, one of the well known farmers of Pilot Grove town- 
ship, was born in Cole County, Mo., March 1, 1859, son of Louis and Mary 
(Meyer) Roth, the former a veteran of the Civil War and both spent their 
last days in Cooper County. % 

Louis Roth was born in Germany and came t^ this country with his 
parents, Charles Roth and wife, in 1848, the family locating on a farm in 
Kentucky, where they were living when the Civil War broke out. Both 
father and son enlisted in the Union army, serving in the same company, 
in Gen. "Pap" Thomas' celebrated brigade. Charles Roth's first wife died 
after they came to this country and he married again and spent his last 
days in Kentucky. Shortly after the Civil War Louis Roth came to Mis- 
souri and entered on a soldier's homestead in Cole County, a tract of 80 
acres, but shortly afterward left Cole County and in 1866 came to Cooper 
County. For two yeai's after coming here he worked at Boonville and 
then bought a farm in Pilot Grove township, where he spent the remainder 
of his life. He died in 1899, being 72 years old. His wife survived him 
but five days. She also was born in Germany, in Aug., 1830. She was a 
member of the Evangelical Church and her husband was a member of 
the Catholic Church. Louis Roth and his wife were the parents of six 
children as follows: Charles E. ; Caroline, wife of C. G. Stanfield, Pilot 
Grove township ; Lucy, married C. W. Erhardt and is now deceased ; Martin 
is unmarried and lives in Pilot Grove township; Frank M., Kelly town- 
ship, and Fred, Pilot Grove. 

Charles E. Roth's first schooling was received in a Lutheran parochial 
school and he later attended school in the old Bluffton district in Boon- 
ville township and in Hail Ridge district. When seventeen years of age 
he began to "look out for himself", working as a farm hand, but soon 
resumed operations on the home farm and remained there until he was 
27 years of age. Fo^j three years he rented his father's farm and in 
1906 bought the same, buying the interests of the other heirs. Some 
time afterward he sold that place and bought the farm where he is now 
living and on which he has made substantial improvements. Mr. Roth 
is a republican. He and his family are members of the Catholic Church 
and he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. 

Feb. 12, 1895, Charles E. Roth was united in marriage to Mary 
Krumm, who was bom in this county, and to this union eight children 
have been born : Louis, Odessa, Helen, Cyril, Frank, Elf reda, Edward and 



948 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Mary G. The first of these children, Louis Roth, named in honor of his 
grandfather, was born on a farm in Lebanon township, this county, Feb. 
9, 1896. On June 11, 1917, he enlisted in the navy and is still serving, 
having during the period of this service had a quite interesting experi- 
ence, including several trips across the Atlantic and cruises to different 
points. Mrs. Mary Roth was born in Lebanon township, in 1875, daugh- 
ter of George and Anna (Zeller) Krumm, the latter of whom was born in 
Clear Creek township, and both of whom are now deceased. George 
Krumm was born in Germany and came to this country with his sister 
Zera (Larntz) about 1850, and later settled on a farm in Lebanon town- 
ship, where after his marriage Mr. Krumm continued to reside, he and 
his wife spending the remainder of their lives there. 

Captain Lee Thomas Sites was born in Lamine township, Cooper 
County, Oct. 13, 1856. His father, Chester P. Sites, was a native of 
Virginia, born about 1836. He came to Boonville with his father and 
mother about 1841 or 1842 and built a log house on the corner of Sixth 
and Morgan Streets, Boonville, where now stands the garage of Brown- 
field and Meyers. The grandfather of Captain Sites was J. P. Sites, who 
manufactured, in early days at Boonville, rifles and guns for the forty- 
niners who sought the gold fields of California. About ten years ago in 
the mountains of Colorado the barrel of a gun from which the stock had 
rotted away was found. Upon it was the name "J. P. Sites." The finding 
of this gun barrel attracted considerable attention and upon inquiry it 
was found to have been made in Boonville and was evidently lost by a 
forty-niner in his trip across the mountains. 

Captain Sites is the owner of 965 acres of the best land in Lamine 
township and has lived in his present residence about 28 years, and only 
about a quarter of a mile from where he was born. He owns a part of 
the land originally owned by his father. All his life has been spent in 
Lamine township. Captain Sites has never been a candidate for office and 
in answer to that question said "he never had s^nse enough" but his 
possessions demonstrate that he is abundantly able to take care of his 
interests — a trait that might well be emulated by office seekers. 

Captain Sites was married in 1878 to Victorine Kinchiloe, who departed 
this life Oct. 7, 1910. There were born of that marriage three girls, 
Jessie, Stella and Maude, and two sons, Lee and John Captain Sites was 
married the second time Jan. 14, 1918, to Mrs. Laura Farris whose 
maiden name was Laura Smith. Captain Sites has been engaged in the 
steamboat business off and on since '73. He has been the owner of sev- 









1 




\ 




1 






^H 





CAPT I. T SITES 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 949 

eral boats and the builder of many. He is one of the foremost citizens of 
the county and has been prominent in every progressive and civic move- 
ment in his section. One of the largest, most successful and prominent 
farmers of Cooper County, he is nevertheless modest and retiring. 

During the World War he was active in local war work and was a 
leader in Liberty Loan drives in his township. He is a member of the 
Christian church, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern 
Woodmen of America. He is a director in the Boonville National Bank. 

John C. Muntzel, a well-known and successful dealer in live stock at 
Boonville, was born in Cooper County, a member of one of the county's 
pioneer families, and has lived here all his life, having been successfully 
engaged in farming until his removal about 10 years ago to Boonville, 
where he has since been quite extensively engaged in the sale of live stock, 
giving particular attention to the buying and selling of mules. He was 
born on a farm in Clarks Fork township, Nov. 23, 1874, son of Daniel and 
Minnie (Kaune) Muntzel, the former of whom is still living on his farm 
in that township, the owner of more than two hundred acres of land. 

Daniel Muntzel was born in Hanover, Aug., 1834, and was but a boy 
when he came to this country with his parents, Peter Muntzel and wife, 
who settled in Missouri and became substantial members of the com- 
munity. Daniel Muntzel's wife died in Jan., 1912, at the age of 73 years. 
Of the eight children born to Daniel Muntzel and wife and of whom John 
C. was the youngest, all are living but two. 

Reared on the home farm in Clarks Fork township, John C. Muntzel 
received his schooling in the schools of that neighborhood and grew up to 
the life of the farm, early undertaking farming on his own account, and 
remained at home until 1906, when he moved to the old Earnhardt farm, 
which he had bought and there remained until 1909, when he sold out and 
moved to Boonville. While he was engaged in farming, Mr. Muntzel 
owned and improved two farms in this county, increasing their value and 
selling to advantage and has long been recognized as one of the pro- 
gressive citizens of the county. He is independent in his political views. 
He is a member of the Knights of Pythias at Boonville and his wife is a 
member of Baptist Church. 

Nov. 28, 1912, John C. Muntzel was united in marriage to Lavinia 
Steele, who also was born in Clarks Fork township, Feb. 22, 1884, daugh- 
ter of John and Jane Steele, well-known residents of that township. Mr. 
and Mrs. Muntzel reside at 743 Sixth street, Boonville, and have a very 
pleasant home. 



950 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

George Bail, proprietor of an excellent farm in Palestine township is 
one of the substantial farmers and stockmen in that section of Cooper 
County. He was born in Boonville Aug. 27, 1861, son of Meirad and 
Gertrude (Stegney) Bail, who in 1873 moved from that city to a farm in 
Palestine township, the place now owned and occupied by their son, George, 
and there established their home. 

Having been but 12 years of age when his parents moved from Boon- 
ville to the farm in Palestine township, George Bail completed his school- 
ing in the schools of that neighborhood and early became acquainted with 
the details of farm life. He continued farming there until he was 25 
years of age when, in 1886, he went to California, remaining there for 
two years. In 1888 he returned home and began farming with his brother, 
renting a farm in partnership, and in 1895, he bought the old home place 
and has since resided there. Since taking possession of the place Mr. 
Bail has made extensive improvements. He is the owner of 350 acres 
of land and in addition to his general farming gives considerable attention 
to the raising of high grade live stock. Mr. Bail is an independent re- 
publican. His parents were among the organizers of the Evangelical 
church in that neighborhood and he has ever remained a faithful sup- 
porter of the same. 

Sept. 23, 1896, George Bail was married to Mary Muller, who also 
was born in this county and who died Sept. 9, 1912. To that union were 
born six children, Edna, Erne, Lorine, Fred, Harry and Roy, all of whom 
are at home with their father. The late Mrs. Mary Bail was born in Clear 
Creek township Aug. 6, 1873, and was a daughter of Frederick and Mar- 
garet (Gardner) Muller, natives of Germany, who upon coming to Cooper 
County settled in Clear Creek township. 

Rev. F. J. Kalvelage, pastor of St. John's Catholic Church in Clear 
Creek township, this county, and one of the best known young clergymen 
in this section of the state, was born in New York City, March 18, 1881, 
son of Henry and Susan (Enzweiler) Kalvelage, both of whom are still 
living and have been making their home with their son, Father Kalvelage, 
ever since the latter became established as a resident priest in Missouri. 

Father Kalvelage, whose training and inclination early directed his 
ambition to be of service to the church, was but a lad when his parents 
moved from Chicago to Shannon, 111., and his early schooling was received 
in the schools of that place. This schooling was supplemented by a course 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 951 

in a private school at Freeport, 111., under the direction of his uncle, Rev. 
Clement Kalvelage, and it was there that he began to bend his studies 
toward preparation for the priesthood. Thus equipped by preliminary 
study he entered St. Bede's College at Peru, 111., and was graduated from 
that institution in 1901, having successfully completed the general and 
classical course. In that year he entered Kenrick Theological Seminary 
at St. Louis, where he was further grounded in theology and philosophy, 
and from that institution was graduated in 1906. Immediately following 
his graduation Father Kalvelage was ordained to the priesthood in June, 
1906, and was assigned by the bishop to be the assistant priest in St. 
John's parish in Kansas City. Sept. 8, 1906, he was transferred to Mary's 
Home, Mo., in pastoral charge of the parish at that place, and there re- 
mained, doing an excellent and effectual work, for nearly 10 years, or 
until July 1, 1916, when he was assigned to the pastorate of St. John's 
parish in Clear Creek township, Cooper County, where he has since been 
stationed and where he has been granted the gratification of seeing the 
work of the parish much enlarged during his incumbency. 

Thomas L. Fairfax, one of Cooper County's best known school teach- 
ers, for the past 10 years principal of the Clifton schools, and who also 
has for some years past been successfully engaged in the real estate and 
live stock business at Clifton City, is a native son of Cooper County. He 
was born on a farm in Lebanon township June 9, 1881, son of C. P. and 
Emma (Kemp) Fairfax, the former of whom is still living, very comfort- 
ably situated on his farm in Lebanon township. 

C. P. Fairfax was born in Fairfax County, Va., in 1853, and was but 
a boy when he came to Missouri with his parents, who settled in this 
county, where he grew to manhood and engaged in farming, a vocation 
which he ever since has followed. His wife was killed in 1890 by being 
thrown from a horse which she was riding, the animal becoming fright- 
ened and throwing her in such a way that her foot caught in the stirrup. 
Before she was released from her dreadful position she had received in- 
juries which terminated fatally. To C. P. Fairfax and wife were born 
seven children: Willard P., Versailles, Mo.; Leslie P., Kansas City; June, 
wife of T. G. Lavis, Kansas City; Thomas L. ; Foster H., Holcomb, Kan.; 
Elmer N., deceased, and Earl L., died in infancy. 

Thomas L. Fairfax was educated in the local schools and the State 
Normal School at Warrembnrg anl in 1001 began I aching a profession 



952 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

he has followed during season ever since, his work in the school room 
covering five districts. During the past 10 years he has been engaged 
as principal of the Clifton schools and in that capacity has done much to 
elevate the standard of education in the schools over which he has had 
charge. Mr. Fairfax also has for years been actively engaged in the real 
estate business and in the buying and selling of live stock at Clifton City. 
He is one of the town's progressive and wideawake business men. Politic- 
ally, he is a democrat, and is affiliated with the Otterville lodge of the 
Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the Modern Woodmen of America 
and Royal Neighbors. 

April 24, 1917, Thomas L. Fairfax was united in marriage with Mary 
L. Sweeney, also of this county, and to this union one child has been born, 
a son, Thomas L., Jr., born Feb. 8, 1918. Mrs. Fairfax was bom at Clif- 
ton City, Mo., a daughter of Dennis and Lucy (Mullens) Sweeney, who are 
now living on a farm north of Clifton City, where they have lived the 
past 36 years. 

Dryden L. Starke, one of Cooper County's prominent farmers and 
stockmen is a native son of this county. He was born on a farm in Leb- 
anon township on Dec. 1, 1867, son of John D. and Mary A. (Stratton) 
Starke, both now deceased and a sketch of whom appears in this volume. 

Dryden L. Starke was reared on the home farm in Lebanon township 
and received his schooling in the district schools and the Boonville High 
School from which he was graduated in 1887 under the preceptorship of 
Professor Haines. Upon leaving school he returned to the home farm 
and there remained until his marriage in 1891, in which year he took up 
his residence on the farm on which his wife was born, the old John Davis 
farm in Kelly township, a mile north of Bethlemen Church, and has since 
been very successfully engaged there in general farming and cattle rais- 
ing, long having been recognized as one of the most extensive cattle feed- 
ers in Cooper County. Mr. Starke and his wife are the owners of a fine, 
farm of 500 acres. Since taking charge there Mr. Starke has made many 
substantial improvements on the place. He is a democrat, as was his 
father, and has ever taken an interested part in civic affairs. He served 
in the capacity of inspector of meats at the state prison at Jefferson City, 
during which time he and his wife made their home at the state capital. 
Mr. Starke is affiliated with the Masonic lodge at Bunceton, with the 
Boonville lodge of Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and with the 



HISTORY OF COOPER COU.NTY 953 

Modern Woodmen of America. He and his wife are members of the 
Presbyterian Church. 

Oct. 23, 1891, Dryden L. Starke was married to Bertha May Davis, 
who was born on the place on which she is still living, May 19, 1871, 
daughter of John A. and Mary (Booth) Davis, the former of whom also 
was bom in this county, a member of one of Cooper County's pioneer 
families and the latter in Sardis, Miss. John A. Davis was reared in this 
county and in time became a substantial farmer in Kelly township, owner 
of the place on which the Starkes now reside, and was also for years ex- 
tensively engaged as a dealer in the mule market, one of the best known 
dealers in that line in central Missouri. He married in Mississippi and 
thereafter made his home in this county, where he and his wife spent 
their last days. They were the parents of four children, of whom Mrs. 
Starke was the third in order of birth. To Dryden L. and Bertha M. 
(Davis) Starke four children have been born, namely: Mary, who is at 
home; Maurice P., also at home, a valued assistant to his father; Dick 
D., who is now (spring of 1919) with the American Expeditionary Forces 
in France, and Virginia, deceased. Dick D. Starke, the soldier son, was 
born Nov. 22, 1898, had finished his studies in a school of civil engineering 
at Kansas City and was a student at Washington University, St. Louis, 
when this country declared war against Germany. He at once enlisted 
and served in a machine gun company attached to the 138th Infantry of 
the United States army, with which command he sailed for overseas 
service in April, 1918, and served in the rank of corporal. He was dis- 
charged in June, 1919, and is now at home. 

Oliver L. Cordry, who has a well-improved farm in Lebanon town- 
ship, was born within a half mile of the site of his present home, a son 
of William F. Cordry, who is still living on the old home place, and has 
lived thereabout all his life. He is a grandson of James Cordry, the 
pioneer, who came here with his family in 1830 and settled on a tract 
of government land he had entered here, becoming a useful and influential 
residents of that community. The little log cabin set up there in the 
clearing by James Cordry back in pioneer days is still standing and » 
treasured by the family. 

Reared on the home farm, within almost a stone's throw of where 
he is now living, Oliver L. Cordry, who was born on April 29, 1877, re- 
ceived his schooling in the local schools and remaining at home until his 



954 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

marriage, when he built a modern home on the farm where he is now liv- 
ing, having acquired the tract from his father in 1906. Mr. Cordry has 
improved his farm in admirable fashion and is doing well in his opera- 
tions, which he is carrying on in accordance with modern methods. 

Dec. 20, 1914, Oliver L. Cordry was united in marriage with Stella 
Sites, who also was born in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Cordry are mem- 
bers of the Presbyterian Church and take a proper part in the work of the 
church as well as in the general social activities of the community. 
Mrs. Cordry was born in East LaMine township, Dec. 5, 1880, a daughter 
of Capt. L. T. Sites and wife, prominent in the life of that community and 
of whom further mention is made in this work. 

Charles Lester Thomas, a former teacher of this county and who for 
some years was engaged in the mercantile business at Lebanon, is now a 
successful farmer and stock man in Lebanon township, where he was born 
Feb. 10, 1874. His parents, A. G. T. and Eliza (Steele) Thomas, are 
prominent residents of that community. 

A. G. T. Thomas also was born in Lebanon township, Oct. 11, 1848, son 
of Jonas and Izilla (Woolery) Thomas, the latter of whom was a member 
of one of the pioneer families in this section of Missouri. Jonas Thomas' 
father was born in Germany. Upon coming to this country he settled 
on a farm south of Boonville, where he spent the remainder of his life. 
On that farm A. G. T. Thomas grew to manhood. After his marriage 
in 1871 he settled on the farm where he is now living in Lebanon town- 
ship. He is owner of a fine farm of 190 acres. He is a republican and 
about the year 1886 was the nominee of that party for the office of county 
collector, but was defeated. He and his wife are members of the Baptist 
Church and their children were reared in that faith. Dec. 7, 1871, A. G. 
T. Thomas was married to Eliza Steele, who also was born in this county, 
Aug. 26, 1851, and to this union seven children have been born as follows: 
Ximena, deceased ; Charles Lester ; Carrie, deceased ; Ina, who is at home 
with her parents; Arthur, deceased; Ira, who is farming in Lebanon town- 
ship, and Robert, who is at home assisting his father. 

Reared on the home farm in Lebanon township, Charles L. Thomas 
completed his schooling in the Clarksburg schools and for six years was 
engaged in teaching school in this county, meantime continuing his labors 
on the home farm during the summers. In the summer of 1903 he mar- 
ried and not long thereafter became engaged in the mercantile business 
at Lebanon in partnership with George Vaughn. In 1905 this store was 
destroyed by fire and for three years Mr. Thomas was again engaged in 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 955 

teaching. In 1908 he rented a farm in Lebanon township and two years 
later, in 1910, bought the farm where he has since made his home, he 
and his family being very pleasantly situated. Mr. Thomas has a well 
kept farm of 120 acres and is carrying on his operations in accordance 
with modern methods. In addition to his general farming he gives con- 
siderable attention to the raising of live stock and on March 3, 1919, one 
of his cows, a pure bred six-year-old Jersey, gave birth to four calves, 
two males and two females, all of which are still (spring of 1919) living 
and thriving. This successful quadruple birth of calves has attracted 
much attention among stockmen and is said to be the first case of the 
kind on record where quadruple calves have lived. Mr. Thomas is a re- 
publican and is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. He and 
his family are members of the Baptist Church. 

June 3, 1903, Charles L. Thomas was united in marriage with Eliza- 
beth Kopp, also of this county, and to this union four children have been 
born, all of whom are living save the first born who died in infancy, the 
others being Farrel W., Charles B. and Marvin V. Mrs. Thomas was born 
and reared in Boonville. She was for a number of years one of the lead- 
ing teachers of the county. She was a teacher in the Boonville schools 
when she was married, having held this position for a number of years. 
She is a daughter of William and Melissa (Mills) Kopp, both know de- 
ceased, the former of whom was born in Germany and the latter in Ken- 
tucky. William Kopp was for years one of the best known barbers in 
Boonville. 

Richard Rothgeb, formerly and for years one of Cooper County's best 
known school teachers, a one time nominee of the republican party in this 
county for county clerk and for years one of the leading breeders of 
Duroc Jersey hogs in this section of Missouri, owner of a fine farm in 
Lebanon township, where he makes his home, was born in that township 
and has always regarded that as his home. He was born on Jan. 31, 
1880, son of Samuel B. and Elizabeth (Carr) Rothgeb, the latter of whom 
is still living, making her home with her children in this county, being 
now in the 82d year of her age. 

Samuel B. Rothgeb was born in Page County, Va., in 1830 and died 
at his home in Cooper County in 1890. He had been for many years a 
resident of this county and was long regarded as one of the influential 
farmers of Lebanon township. His wife was born in Cooper County, 
Mo. They were the parents of eight children, all of whom were given 



956 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

proper advantages in the way of securing an education and five of whom 
became school teachers. One of their sons, Daniel L. Rothgeb, was for 
some time superintendent of schools in Cooper county. 

Richard Rothgeb received his education in the public schools of this 
county and the State Normal School at Warrensburg, after which, in 1901, 
he began teaching and was, with the exception of one year, thus engaged 
until 1912. In the meantime he had been continuing his labors on the 
home farm during the summers and in 1912 he began farming on his own 
account and at the same time paying special attention to the breeding 
of pure bred Duroc Jersey hogs and has since been thus engaged. He 
is now one of the most successful Duroc breeders in this section. When 
Mr. Rothgeb began his breeding operations the stock sold at his sales 
brought an average of around $28 a head. He holds two or three sales 
annually on his farm and the products of his pens, sold at from six to 
11 months of age, bring an average of from $70 to $80 a head. At one of 
his recent sales one of his sows brought $300 and sold later for $800. Mr. 
Rothgeb has an excellent farm of 122 acres and now (spring of 1919) has 
in his pens more than 250 head of purebred Durocs, one of the finest droves 
in this section. For some seasons past he has been an exhibitor at the 
state fair and has created a growing market for his product throughout 
this part of the state. Mr. Rothgeb is a republican and has for years been 
regarded as one of the leaders of that party in this county. In 1907 he 
was the nominee of his party for the office of county clerk, but was de- 
feated in the ensuing election by the narrow margin of 77 votes. 

May 7, 1906, Richard Rothgeb was maried to Jessie Sites, who also 
was born in this county and who for three years prior to her marriage 
was engaged in teaching school here and to this union eight children have 
been born, namely: Mabel, bom on Oct. 30, 1907; Wilbur H., Dec. 18, 
1908; Thomas B., June 17, 1910; Orville L. and Opal L. (twins), Oct. 30, 
1911, the latter of whom died on Aug. 1, 1912; Alice M. and Alline M. 
(twins), Feb. 2, 1913, the former of whom died on March 22, 1913, and 
the latter July 8, 1914 ; and Eldon S., born on Sept. 29, 1915. Mrs. Roth- 
geb was born in Oct., 1880, in LaMine township, this county, and is a 
daughter of Capt. L. T. Sites, for many years one of the best known and 
influential residents of Cooper County. 

Elmer James Brubaker, one of Kelly township's well known farmers, 
is a native son of Cooper County and has lived in this county all his life. 
He was born on a farm in Lebanon township March 25, 1878, son of 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 957 

Daniel R. and Frances E. (Gander) Brubaker, both of whom were born 
in Page County, Va., who were married in that county in 1866 and who 
came to Missouri in 1873, locating on the farm on which they are still liv- 
ing in Lebanon township. Daniel R. Brubaker is a veteran of the Civil 
War, having served in the Confederate army and at the battle of Malvern 
Hill was several wounded. He and his wife celebrated their golden wed- 
ding anniversary three years ago. To them 10 children have been born, 
all of whom are living. 

Elmer J. Brubaker received his education in the local schools and the 
State Normal School at Warrensburg. He assisted in the operations of 
the home farm until after his marriage when 21 years of age, after 
which, early in 1900, he located on an "eighty" which his wife owned in 
Kelly township, a part of his present farm there, and has since resided 
there. As Mr. Brubaker prospered he added to his acreage and now has 
an excellent farm of 177 Vs acres, which is well improved. Mr. Brubaker 
is independent in his political views, but has ever given his thoughtful 
attention to local affairs and for some time served as director of district. 
No. 67. 

Dec. 25, 1899, Elmer J. Brubaker married Emma Gertrude Cordry, 
who also was born in this county, and to this union seven children have 
been born, namely: Wilbur N., born Aug. 25, 1902; Joseph W., Aug. 16, 
1904; Cyrus Eldon, June 28, 1907; Louise F., Jan. 13, 1910; David R., 
Dec. 16, 1911 ; Vincil L., Sept. 18, 1913, and Kenneth H., Jan. 25, 1919, 
who died March 17, following. Mrs. Brubaker was born Feb. 5, 1880, 
daughter of James Newton and Amanda L. (Woolery) Cordry, of whom 
also were born in this county, members of pioneer families and both of 
whom are living in Kelly township. James Newton Cordry was born in 
Lebanon township, June 4, 1844. During the Civil War he served as a 
member of the Missouri State Militia. May 13, 1868, he married Amanda 
L. Woolery, who also was born in Lebanon township, Nov. 24, 1848, and 
to that union three children were born, all of whom are living, Mrs. Bru- 
baker, the youngest, having two brothers, William H. and Joseph C. Cor- 
dry, both of Kelly township. Mrs. Brubaker received her early school- 
ing in the schools of her home township and supplemented the same by a 
course in the Baptist College at Lexington, Mo. 

Major Rea Alexander Johnston, assistant superintendent of the Mis- 
souri Training School, Boonville, Mo., is a worthy descendant of an old 
and prominent family in Cooper County. Major Johnston was born in 



958 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Boonville, Oct. 28, 1879 and is a son of Col. Thomas A. Johnston, superin- 
tendent of the famous Kemper Military School of Boonville. A genealogy 
of the Johnston family and a sketch of Colonel Johnston appears in this 
volume. 

Major Johnston was educated in the Kemper Military School and in 
1896 he entered the Virginia Military Institute of Lexington, Va., com- 
pleting the course of study in that institution in 1899. Upon his return 
home he served as an instructor in the Kemper School from 1899 to 1909. 
In 1909 he went to Illinois and engaged in farming until Oct., 1911. In 
October of 1911 he was appointed military instructor at the Missouri 
Training School and served as company captain until July 1, 1917. He 
was then appointed to the responsible position of assistant superintendent 
of the training school and has given evidence throughout his service that 
he is thoroughly competent, efficient, diplomatic and well versed in the 
handling of the youth committed to the institution. 

Major Johnston was married in Illinois Aug. 20, 1902 to Miss Grace 
E. Mosher, of Oneida, Knox County, 111., a daughter of William J. and 
Sarah E. (Wetmore) Mosher, both deceased. One child has blessed this 
union: William Alexander Johnston, born Jan. 3, 1905. 

Major Johnston is a democrat. He is a member of Presbyterian 
church. He has decidedly made good in his present position and has 
demonstrated a capability which has commended his work to his im- 
mediate superior. Major Johnston is not only a first class military in- 
structor and skilled in the handling of growing boys, but he is well in- 
formed, genial, and has a wide circle of friends and well wishers. 

James Madison Sparkman. — Over 20 years devoted by Maj. J. M. 
Sparkman of the Missouri Training School have capably fitted him for 
the duties of his present position in charge of a company of small boys 
at the school. Major Sparkman's first position was that of director of the 
horticultural department of the Missouri Training School which he held 
from 1897 to 1907. He then spent nine years as an officer of the Iowa 
Industrial School and returned to the Missouri Training School in 1916. 

J. M. Sparkman was born at Columbia, Tenn.. Dec. 7, 1862, and is a 
son of James M. and Minerva (Hill) Sparkman. Capt. James M. Spark- 
man, his father was a captain in the heavy artillery during the Civil War 
and was killed at the battle of Port Hudson in 1863 while serving with the 
Confederate forces. He was a son of William Andrews Sparkman of 
Tennessee, a member of an old southern family. Minerva (Hill) Spark- 
man, mother of J. M. Sparkman, of this review, was born in 1838 and 
died in 1908 in Calloway County, Ky. She was born in Tennessee and 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 959 

was a daughter of Andrew W. Hill of North Carolina. Mrs. Sparkman 
removed with her family to Kentucky in 1880. She had two sons: Wil- 
liam Andrews Sparkman, of Calloway County, Ky., and James Madison, 
of this review. 

Reared to maturity in Tennessee, J. M. Sparkman left home in 1881, 
and came to Cooper County in 1883 and engaged in farming near Choteau 
Springs. He followed farming until his appointment to a position in the 
Missouri Training School in 1897. 

Major Sparkman was married in 1886 to Miss Mary S. Meredith, who 
was born in Cooper County, a daughter of Joseph R. and Rachel (Leith) 
Meredith, the former of whom was a native of Tennessee and died in 
Cooper County in about 1908 at the age of 68 years. Mr. Meredith killed 
the last deer that was killed in Cooper County near Choteau Springs. To 
Major and Mrs. Sparkman have been born two children : Lois, wife of 
John Stephens, Lansing, Mich. ; and Eunice Lee, stenographer in the office 
of Col. A. G. Blakey, superintendent of the Missouri Training School. 

The democratic party has always had the allegiance of Major Spark- 
man. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and is affiliated 
with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Knights Templar, the 
Mystic Shrine of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and the Modern Woodmen of 
America. 

Armour and Company. — One of the most important commercial insti- 
tutions in Boonville and probably the largest and most extensive of its 
kind in central Missouri is the plant of Armour and Company, managed 
by Fred Renshaw. This concern was first established in 1908 by the 
Adams Produce Company and was purchased by Armour and Company in 
1916. It was then enlarged and converted into the extensive packing and 
produce concern. All of the old buildings were razed and new structures 
erected. A brick building 90x40 feet was built and the packing plant 
proper was built, 90x110 feet. From 50 to 60 people are employed in 
season. 

The concern handles poultry, eggs and butter. The Boonville branch 
of Armour and Company is the central depot for a number of smaller 
depots in Morgan, Pettis, Cooper, Howard Boone and Saline counties, and 
an immense volume of business is transacted through this office. Branch 
buying stations, tributary to the Boonville depot are conducted at Mar- 
shall, and Fayette. The payroll averages from $800 to $900 per week in 
the busy months, from April to January, each year. 

During all months of the year excepting February, March and April, 



/ 



960 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

the poultry handled at this plant is killed and packed for shipment. The 
concern has its own refrigerating plant and all poultry are given a feed 
of buttermilk for a period of 10 days before killing so as to whiten and 
render more tender and palatable the meat. The dressed poultry, eggs, 
and butter are loaded directly into refrigerator cars and every modern 
appliance for the quick handling of packing house products has been in- 
stalled in the large plant. 

Hon. John D. Starke, a veteran of the Civil War, former county judge, 
former state senator from this district, former warden of the Missouri 
state prison, president of the Otterville Bank and for many years one of 
the most prominent citizens of Cooper County, who died at his home in 
this county in 1917 and whose family is still substantially represented 
here, was a Virginian, but had been a resident of this county since the 
days of his boyhood, he having come here with his parents along in the 
latter '40s of the past century. 

Judge Starke was bom in Virginia in 1844 and was but a lad when 
his parents came to Missouri, a part of that numerous band of Virginians 
which had so much to do with the orderly development of this section of 
Missouri in the old days. Here he grew to manhood and was living here 
when the Civil War broke out. He enlisted his services in behalf of the 
Union and went to the front as a member of Company H, 45th Regiment, 
Missouri Volunteer Infantry, and upon the completion of his term of en- 
listment re-enlisted and was attached to the 48th Regiment, with which 
he was mustered out at the close of the war with the rank of corporal. 
Upon the completion of his military service he returned to Cooper County, 
here married Mary A. Stratton and settled down as a farmer, a vocation 
in which he was quite successful, but from which the calls of public duty 
soon withdrew him, although during the long period of his public service 
he continued to retain his interest in his agricultural operations and be- 
came one of Cooper County's most extensive landholders, owner of 900 
acres of land at the time of his death. He was an ardent democrat and 
always took an active interest in political affairs. The first public office 
of consequence to which he was called was that of judge for the eastern 
district of Cooper County and upon the completion of that judicial service 
he was elected county collector, and afterward was elected state senator 
from this senatorial district. In 1897 Judge Starke was appointed by 
Governor Stephens as warden of the Missouri state prison at Jefferson 
City and for four years thereafter served the state in that important 
capacity. Upon the completion of that service he returned to Cooper 
County, erected a fine new home on his farm in Lebanon township, as well 




Jl'l IGE JOHN' 1 1. STARK E 






HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 961 

as a house in Otterville, and thereafter divided his time between his farm 
and his business interests in the village. The Judge was president of the 
Otterville Bank and was otherwise actively identified with the commercial 
interests of the community in which he lived. He was a member of the 
Boonville lodge of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and during the 
time he resided at Boonville when serving as county collector was master 
of the lodge. Judge Starke died at his home in Otterville in 1917 and his 
wife died in that same year. She also was a Virginian, born in 1844, as 
was her husband, and thus the lines of the lives of this couple ran parallel 
to an unusual degree. Judge Starke and his wife were members of the 
Cumberland Presbyterian Church and their children were reared in that 
faith. There were nine of these children, of whom six are still living, 
namely : Dryden L. Starke, a well known farmer and stockman of Kelley 
township; Blanche, wife of James S. Funkhauser, of Lebanon township, 
of whom further mention also is made elsewhere; Mrs. Mary Reavis, of 
Kansas City ; Mrs. Nora Lee Tieman, now living at California, Mo. ; Mrs. 
Pauline Spillers, of Otterville, and H. Rodgers Starke, also of Otterville. 

Henry Gibson Hurt, assistant Captain of Company D, Missouri Train- 
ing School, Boonville, Mo., was born on a farm southeast of Boonville, 
Nov. 23, 1872. His father was Fleming Mitchell Hurt, who was born on 
a pioneer farm in Cooper County in 1826 and departed this life in 1908. 
Clayton Hurt, his grandfather, was a native of Virginia who settled in 
Cooper County in 1812 and assisted in the building of Fort Boone. He 
held the title of Colonel Hurt and had charge of the task of defending the 
pioneer settlement against the attacks of the Indians during the War of 
1812. From 1812 to 1815 the settlers of this section of Missouri lived 
in the forts and stockades on the north side of the Missouri River and 
were kept constantly on the alert to ward off attacks by the Indians who 
had been incited by British agents to attack the Americans. Colonel Hurt 
married Nancy Dillard of Kentucky and after the frontier had been made 
safe for the settlers, he pre-empted a large tract of government land in 
Cooper County on which his descendants are still living. 

Fleming Mitchell Hurt owned a fine farm of 240 acres and was a 
substantial citizen of Cooper County during his lifetime. He married 
Miss Flora Ann Davis of Macon County, a daughter of Jeremiah Davis 
who married a Miss Gilbreath and came from Virginia to Macon County 
and thence to Cooper County in pioneer days. Four children were born 
to Fleming Mitchell and Flora Ann Hurt, as follows: Mary Ann, deceased 
(49) 



962 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

wife of Albert Adair; Mrs. Leonora Byler, Clarks Fork township; Henry 
Gibson Hurt, of this review; Florence B., widow of Lee Davis, living east 
of Boonville. 

H. G. Hurt was reared on the home farm and in addition to his dis- 
trict school studies he attended the Pilot Grove Seminary and the Otter- 
ville Seminary. He pursued a business course at Chillicothe, Mo., in 1892 
and then engaged in farming. He improved a tract of 182 acres of land 
and was successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits for 20 yeai*s. In 
the spring of 1915 he disposed of his farm land and engaged in the auto- 
mobile business in partnership with G. A. Brownfield. In the spring of 
1918 he disposed of his interest in the business and took up the duties of 
his present position in the Missouri Training School for Boys. 

Oct. 21, 1896, Mr. Hurt was married to Miss Myrtle Rankin who was 
born in Cooper County, and is a daughter of Robert S. and Louisa (Dun- 
can) Rankin, pioneer settlers of Cooper County. William Rankin, grand- 
father of Mrs. Hurt erected the Rankin mill in the southeastern part of 
Cooper County. Mrs. Louisa Rankin is deceased and Robert S. Rankin 
makes his home with Mr. H. A. Jewett in Cooper county. Mr. and Mrs. 
H. G. Hurt are parents of four children: Ewing Rankin Hurt; Mabel 
Louise ; Holman G., a student in Boonville High School ; and William. 

Ewing Rankin Hurt, the soldier of the family, was born Sept. 21, 
1897, and is a volunteer in the National Army. He enlisted in the U. S. 
army, March 22, 1917, first as an infantryman and was then transferred 
to the aviation corps. He was trained at Ft. Sill, Okla. and holds the rank 
of first sergeant. 

Mr. Hurt is a democrat of the pronounced type. Mrs. Hurt is a mem- 
ber of the Presbyterian Church. He is a member of the Modern Wood- 
men of America and the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and is past 
master in the local lodge. 

Dr. William Peyton Harriman, late prominent physician and stock- 
man of Cooper County, was born in Louisiana, May 28, 1838, and died at 
his home in Boonville, Sept. 14. 1918. He was a son of Dr. William Harri- 
man who was born in New York City and accompanied his parents to Ken- 
tucky when he was a child. He was reared in Kentucky, married a Miss 
Mayo and came to Cooper County in 1846. Dr. William Harriman located 
at Pilot Grove and there reared his family. 

Dr. W. P. Harriman received his higher education in the University 
of Michigan and began the practice of medicine at Pilot Grove, Mo. He 
was successful as a physician but became more successful as a farmer and 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 963 

stockman. He accumulated a large acreage of land and built a flouring 
mill and hired a miller to operate the mill. Prior to this time he had 
lived on Lone Elm Prairie, and after establishing himself on the old Harri- 
man place near Pilot Grove he made a trip to Kentucky and returned with 
some blooded horses. He then engaged in the breeding and raising of 
thoroughbred horses and became widely known throughout the country 
as a result. Dr. Harriman produced some splendid animals which sold 
for very high prices. As age came upon him he relinquished much of 
his interests and sold out his stock and farming interests to his son and 
went south in 1900, purchasing a home in San Antonio, Texas. He re- 
turned to Boonville in 1912 and died here six years later. 

Dr. W. P. Harriman was married April 6, 1866 to Miss Elizabeth 
Russell, who was born on Lone Elm Prairie, Jan. 8, 1842. She was a 
daughter of Col. Thomas Russell of Virginia. Her mother was Elizabeth 
Eleanor Russell who was born in 1796 and died April 5, 1868. The Rus- 
sells came to Cooper County in 1838. Colonel Russell brought along 30 
slaves and purchased 1,300 acres of land. Col. Thomas Russell was born 
in 1796 and died in 1852. He was a scion of an old and prominent Vir- 
ginia family, which formerly owned a beautiful country seat in Virginia, 
now known as "Rannemead Farm" and owned by Sen. Charles A. Faulkner. 

Col. Thomas Russell was a son of Captain Russell, a soldier of the 
Revolution, who resided in Alexandria, Va. The history of the family 
begins with Lord John Russell, whose younger son, James Russell, emi- 
grated from England in 1700 and settled in York County, Va. Captain 
Russell married a Miss Throckmorton of Louisville, Ky. 

Out of seven children born to Col. Thomas and Elizabeth Eleanor 
Russell, only two are living: Mrs. Dr. W. P. Harriman of this review; 
and John N. Russell of Los Angeles, Cal., aged 84 years, who has a son, 
Dr. John N. Russell, president of the Pacific Mutual Life Insurance Co. 
of Los Angeles. 

Four children were born to Dr. W. P. and Elizabeth (Russell) Harri- 
man, as follows: William Mayo, died at the age of 16 years; Russell lives 
>n California; Albert C. Harriman, farmer and stockman at Pilot Grove, 
Mo. ; Bessie, deceased wife of Will Ross, left one child, Margaret E. Ross. 

Dr. Harriman was a democrat and was prominent in the affairs of 
his party. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church. 

Feodor Stegner, living comfortably on his farm of 89 acres near 
Billingsville, the old home place of the Stegner family, is one of the best 
known of the pioneer citizens of Cooper County. Mr. Stegner has lived 
all of the 64 years of his existence on his farm and has reared a fine 



964 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

family. The Stegner place is a pretty farmstead, the residence, a neat 
cottage home sets far back from the roadway and the land is fertile and 
protective. 

Feodor Stegner was born on the place which he now owns, Feb. 26, 
1855. His birth took place in a log house which was the first home of 
the Stegner family in Cooper County. He is a son of John Peter and 
Margaret Barbara Stegner who emigrated from Germany and settled in 
Cooper County in 1853. 

Mr. Stegner was married Nov. 24, 1887 to Miss Louise Back, who was 
born at Pleasant Green, Mo., July 3, 1866 and died June 6, 1905. She 
was a daughter of Daniel and Christina (Yost) Back, natives of Germany 
and old settlers of Cooper County. The children born of this union are: 
Daniel P., born in 1888, lives on a farm ; Bertha, born 1890, married Albert 
Gerhardt near Speed and is mother of four children, Louise, Ruth, Joseph 
and Frances ; Flora, born Nov. 9, 1893, wife of August Gerhardt, a farmer 
near Speed, is mother of two children, Elmer and Helen ; Edna, born March 
1, 1896, is her father's housekeeper; Rudolph, born Dec. 26, 1899, makes 
his home with his father; Herman, born Aug. 9, 1902, is at home with his 
father; and Louis was born June 6, 1905. 

While Mr. Stegner is generally a republican and supports republican 
party principles, he is an independent voter who refuses to wear a party 
yoke. He is a member of the Billingsville Evangelical Church. 

Henry F. Torbeck, prosperous farmer and stockman of Boonville 
township is owner of 153 acres of productive land which he is creating 
into a splendid farm. Mr. Torbeck has just completed the erection of a 
handsome 10 room house, with bath, water, electric light and furnace, at 
a cost of $5,250. Mr. Torbeck is a breeder of Duroc Jersey hogs, not as 
a specialist but because he favors this breed as being the most remunera- 
tive to raise on the farm. He was born in Germany, Jan. 17, 1870. His 
father, William H. Torbeck, now living retired in Boonville, was born in 
Germany, April 29, 1841, and is a son of Rudolph and Sophia Torbeck. He 
was married Aug. 10, 1866 to Sophia Loss who was born Nov. 7, 1839. 
He brought his family to America in 1882, landing in Boonville in Novem- 
ber of that year. He immediately went to the farming section and worked 
as farm laborers for the first six months in order to familiarize himself 
with American methods of tilling soil. He then rented land until 1892 
when he bought an 80 acres in Boonville township upon which he lived 
for 25 years, prior to his retirement to a home in Boonville. Mr. Torbeck 
has recently sold his farm to his son, Ernest W. Torbeck. Six children 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 965 

were born to William H. and Sophia Torbeck, as follows: Henry, of this 
review ; Ernest W., a farmer south of Boonville ; Anna, widow of J. C. Neff ,_ 
Boonville township ; Mrs. Bertha Winkler, Saline County, Mo. ; Mary Tor- 
beck died at the home of Senator Cockrell, Warrensburg, Mo., where she 
was serving as nurse ; Amelia died at the age of six years. 

When he attained young manhood, Henry Torbeck purchased land in 
partnership with his brother Ernest W. Torbeck. This partnership con- 
tinued amicably and profitably until his marriage. Then the brothers 
divided their holdings and Mr. Torbeck started to improve his property. 
He was married Feb. 23, 1910, to Annie C. Schwitzky, a daughter of Rob- 
ert Schwitzky, a prosperous farmer of Palestine township. Three chil- 
dren have been born to Henry and Annie C. Torbeck, as follows: Sophia 
Wilhelmina, aged seven years ; Agnes Marie, aged six years ; Henrietta 
Alma, deceased. 

Mr. Torbeck is a republican. He is a member of the Billingsville 
Evangelical Church. He is a progressive and enterprising citizen who 
takes an active and influential part in civic affairs and is highly respected 
in his neighborhood. He is a director of the Blackwater Telephone Com- 
pany. 

William L. Bryan. — For over fifty years, William L. Bryan has re- 
sided upon his pretty farm just south of Prairie Lick, Mo. He is owner 
of 134 acres which is nicely improved with a neat cottage home and 
attractive surroundings. Mr. Bryan was born in Kentucky, Jan. 1, 1850, 
and is a son of Benjamin B. and Mary (West) Bryan, the former of whom 
was a native of Virginia and the latter a native of England. 

Benjamin B. Bryan came to Missouri in 1869 and settled upon the 
place which W. L. Bryan now owns. Mr. Bryan erected a double log 
cabin which served as the family home for a number of years. A big 
brick chimney was built in one end of the house and a flue was built in 
the other end. Oxen were used in breaking up the Bryan land and it 
took much labor to gradually clear away the woods and create a farm. 
B. B. Bryan died in Nov., 1880, at the age of 65 years. Mrs. Mary Bryan 
died in 1873 at the age of 55 years. The children in the Bryan family 
were: Jennie, dead; William L., of this sketch; Mrs. Sarah Case, Belling- 
ham. Wash. ; B. F. Bryan, on a farm near Prairie Lick. 

Prior to purchasing the Bryan home place, W. L. Bryan rented land. 
He erected his present home in 1895. He was married in January, 1872, 
to Miss Julia Burns, born April 4, 1857 in Atlanta, Ga., a daughter of 
Samuel and Jane (Faris) Burns, who were natives of Georgia. The 



966 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Burns family went to Kentucky in 1864 and from there came to Cooper 
County in 1872. They settled near Boonville, on what is now known as 
the Barnhart farm. Later, Mr. Burns returned to Georgia and died there. 
His wife died in Tana County, Mo. There were eight children in the 
Burns family : Robert, deceased ; Mrs. Julia Bryan, of this review ; Mrs. 
Ellen Trammel, Okla. ; John, Tana County, Mo. ; Mrs. Margaret Trammel, 
Okla. ; Mrs. Emma Aubury, Cedar Creek, Tana Co., Mo. ; Mrs. Ida Claussen, 
deceased; Mrs. Georgia Williams, Tana County, Mo. 

Mr. and Mrs. Bryan have reared six children: Jennie, Robert, Wil- 
liam, Josephine, Riley and Mary Ellen, and Lloyd. Mrs. Jennie Case lives 
at Bellingham, Wash.; Robert is deceased; William lives on the home 
farm ; Mrs. Josephine Dwyer, lives near Speed, Mo. ; Riley, lives in Kan- 
sas. ; Mary Ellen Bryan is a teacher in the Speed school ; Lloyd Bryan was 
born Aug. 31, 1896 and was inducted into the National Army July 26, 
1918. He was trained at Camp Funston until he was honorably dis- 
charged from the service Jan. 22, 1919. 

Riley Bryan was born Oct. 25, 1885. He enlisted in Hospital Unit No. 
28 of the National Army in May, 1917. He was trained for service at 
Fort McPherson, Ga. He was honorably discharged after 14 months of 
service. He now is a traveling drug salesman and resides in Kansas. 

Mr. Bryan is a democrat and all of his sons are stanch democrats. 
He is also a Baptist — a fine combination of good qualities. He is a mem- 
ber of the Woodmen of the World. 

Fred Deuschle, prosperous farmer and stockman of Palestine town- 
ship, has one of the finest farm homes in Cooper County, consisting of 208 
acres and was purchased by the proprietor in 1898. The splendid appear- 
ing farm residence consists of six large rooms. Mr. Deuschle will har- 
vest 45 acres of wheat this season, 1919. Fred Deuschle was born Jan. 
3, 1869 on a farm three miles west of Pleasant Green, Cooper County, 
and is a son of Adam and Catherine (Schupp) Deuschle. 

Adam Deuschle was born in Wuertenburg, Germany, in 1824 and died 
in Cooper County, Mo., in 1897. He left his native country and came to 
America in 1845. During the great gold rush of 1849, he made the trip 
across the plains and mountains to the Pacific coast and spent two years 
in that region. When he returned to Cooper County in 1851, he built a 
home upon his 200 acre farm near Pleasant Green, becoming owner of 
the land at the close of the Civil War. He spent the remainder of his 
days upon his farm and died there. During the Civil War, Mr. DeuscWe 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 967 

served in the Missouri State Guards. His wife, Catherine Schupp 
Deuschle, was born in Germany in 1838 and now resides with her daugh- 
ter one mile east of Pleasant Green. The children born to Adam and 
Catherine Deuschle are: Mrs. J. Louis Staebler, Billingsville; Fred 
Deuschle, subject of this review; Mrs. Catherine Bergmann, living two 
and a half miles north of Pleasant Green; Mary, deceased wife of Daniel 
Schupp, left five children; Adam, J., living on the old homestead; Louisa 
resides with the Schupp family ; Bertha, wife of Frank Schupp lives near 
Pleasant Green. 

The early education of Fred Deuschle was obtained in the district 
school at Pleasant Green. When a boy he began to assist his father on 
the farm and learned to become a good farmer. When 28 years old he 
began to make his own way. In 1898 he made his first purchase of land 
and has made a success of his life work. 

April 17, 1901, Mr. Deuschle was married to Miss Anna Stegner, a 
daughter of August Stegner. The children born of this marriage are: 
Martin Oliver, born July 4, 1902 ; Clara Anna, born May 3, 1904 ; Rudolph 
Frederick, bora March 23, 1906; Frieda Catherine, born Jan. 3, 1910; 
Marie Augusta, born Aug. 30, 1916; Earl August, born Nov. 21, 1917. 

Mr. Deuschle is a republican and is a member of the school board 
of his district. He takes a commendable interest in educational and civic 
affairs and is one of the leading and influential citizens of his vicinity. 
He is a member and a trustee of the Billingsville Evangelical Church. 

Robert Snider, farmer and stockman, Boonville township, has resided 
on his fine farm of 110 acres just south of Boonville since 1886. His first 
home on this farm was a story and a half log house in which he and his 
wife lived for a few years. In 1906 he erected a pretty cottage which 
has an admirable setting with a sloping lawn and presents an attractive 
appearance. A large and substantial barn was built in 1901. 

Robert Snider was born in Boonville, Feb. 10, 1853. He is a son of 
William (b. 1822, d. 1899) and Malinda (Houx) (b. 1830, d. 1898) Snider. 
His mother was a daughter of Uncle Fritz Houx who was a pioneer in 
Cooper County, from Kentucky and a member of the old pioneer Houx 
family of Missouri. William Snider was born in Pennsylvania and came 
to Cooper County in the early 40's. He went to the gold fields of Cali- 
fornia, crossing the plains and remained for 18 months on the Pacific 
coast. He was married in Cooper County and lived all of his days in this 
county. The children of William and Malinda Snider were: Margaret, 



968 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

widow of John Jamieson, Okla. ; William, living in Cass County, Mo. ; 
Robert ; Charles, Coffeyville, Kan. ; Mrs. Fannie Johnson, Bloomfield, 111. ; 
Sallie Snider resides with her sister Fannie; Edward Snider lives in But- 
ler, Mo. 

Robert Snider attended the district schools and also studied under 
Professor Smiley. With the exception of three and a half years spent in 
the Rocky Mountain country from 1878 to 1881, he has always resided 
in Cooper County. 

March 2, 1882, Robert Snider and Mollie Scott were united in mar- 
riage. Mrs. Mollie (Scott) Snider was born in this county, March 30, 1860 
and is a daughter of Adam Scott, a Cooper County pioneer. Three sons 
were born to Robert and Mollie (Scott) Snider as follows: Harry Snider 
married Gertrude Toler and has one son, Eugene ; Ross, Spokane, Wash. ; 
and Ralph, aged 21 years, resides with his parents, married Miss Maude 
Wyland, daughter of Louis Weyland. 

Mr. Snider is an independent democrat. He is a member of the Bap- 
tist Church. 

Conrad M. Zollinger, mayor of Otterville and assistant cashier of the 
Bank of Otterville, was born at Otterville and is one of the most forceful 
factors in the general commercial life of the town. He was born on April 
20, 1885, son of Capt. Augustus L. and Louisa (Mayfield) Zollinger, both 
members of old families in Cooper County and both now deceased, their 
last days having been spent at Otterville, of which place they had been 
residents even in the days before the railroad entered there. 

The late Capt. Augustus L. Zollinger, an honored soldier of the Con- 
federacy during the Civil War and for many years one of the most con- 
spicuous figures in the commercial life of Otterville, an organizer of enter- 
prises and a leader of affairs, was a native of the state of Maryland, born 
on Aug. 30, 1825, and was reared and educated in that state, remaining 
there until he was 21 years of age when, in 1847, he came to Missouri with 
his parents, George Zollinger and wife (the latter of whom was a Meyers), 
the family locating on a farm in Boonville township, this county. Six 
months later, immediately following the cession of California to the United 
States, Augustus L. Zollinger left Missouri and crossed the plains with a 
company of other hardy adventurers, bent on seeking fortune in the then 
promising land on the western coast, the promise of gold in California 
just then beginning to attract general attention in the East. For seven 
years he remained in California and then, in 1854, returned to Cooper 
County and became engaged in the general mercantile business at Otter- 










CAPT AUGUSTUS I.. ZOLLINGER 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 969 

ville. That was in the days before the railroad and his goods were hauled 
from Boonville by ox-teams. Upon the outbreak of the Civil War he 
dropped his commercial affairs at Otterville, leaving his store in charge 
of Mr. Cannon, and helped in the organization of a troop of cavalry for 
the service of the Confederacy ; was elected captain of Company A, Second 
Missouri Cavalry, attached to the command of General Forrest, and with 
that gallant command served until the close of the war. Upon the com- 
pletion of his military service Captain Zollinger resumed his mercantile 
business at Otterville and was thus engaged until his retirement from the 
store in 1892. Two years later, in 1894, he organized the present Bank of 
Otterville, was elected president of the same and thereafter gave his 
whole attention to his banking business, continuing thus engaged until his 
retirement from business in 1908. Following his retirement the Captain 
continued to make his home in Otterville and there spent his last days, 
his death occurring on March 30, 1914. In addition to his business inter- 
ests he was the owner of a fine farm of 350 acres and had other sound 
investments. At the time of his death he was the oldest continuous mem- 
ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in the state of Missouri, 
having become a member of that order in Maryland when 18 years of age, 
affiliated with the lodge at Hagerstown, Md. He also was a member of 
the Pleasant Grove lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at Otter- 
ville. He was a democrat and was one of the leaders of that party in 
Cooper County. He and his wife were members of the Methodist Church 
and their children were reared in that faith. Captain Zollinger's wife 
died in 1901. She was born in Kentucky in 1845 and was but a girl when 
she came to Missouri with her parents, the Mayfields settling in the Pleas- 
ant Green neighborhood in this county. Captain Zollinger and his wife 
were the parents of six children, of whom the subject of this sketch was 
the last born, the others being as follows: George Zollinger, who is now 
engaged in general reporting work at St. Louis ; Stella, wife of H. M. Ames, 
a retired railroad man living at Otterville; Augustus L., a farmer and 
stockman of Warrensburg ; Elma L., wife of A. L. Ferguson, who is engaged 
in the drug business at Columbia, and John H., of Kansas City. 

Conrad M. Zollinger grew up at Otterville, was graduated from the 
Otterville College in 1904 and then took a course in a commercial college 
at Sedalia. In the meantime he had become familiar with the details of 
his father's banking business at Otterville and upon his return from col- 



970 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

lege was made assistant cashier of the Bank of Otterville, a position he 
since has occupied and to the duties of which he has given his most 
thoughtful attention, long having been recognized as one of the most 
progressive young bankers in Cooper County. Mr. Zollinger owns a fine 
farm of 160 acres of LaMine River bottom land one mile east of Otter- 
ville and has other investments of a valuable character. He is a demo- 
crat and has ever given his thoughtful attention to local civic affairs. 
In 1918 he was elected mayor of Otterville and his administration has 
been marked by the erection of the admirable municipal electric light plant 
there as well as in the advancement of other movements looking to the 
promotion of the town's best interests. 

July 9, 1916, Conrad M. Zollinger was united in marriage with Maud 
E. Varner, who also was born in this county, and he and his wife have a 
very pleasant home at Otterville. Mrs. Zollinger was born in Kelly town- 
ship, a daughter of Hiram B. and Lottie (Wyles) Varner, both members 
of pioneer families in this section of Missouri, the former born in Cooper 
County and the latter in Howard County, who are now living retired at 
Otterville. Mr. and Mrs. Zollinger are members of the Methodist Church 
and take a proper interest in church work, as well as in the general social 
activities of their home town. Mr. Zollinger is a member of Pleasant 
Grove Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at Otterville, to the 
affairs of which organization he has for years given his earnest attention, 
and is a past master of the lodge. 

Antcn Henry Schler, owner of 200 acres of good farm land in Boon- 
ville township, is not only a good farmer, but he is rearing a fine family of 
children. The Schler farm is well improved with good buildings and a 
large, well built, farm residence which sets far back on the farm and is 
reached by a winding roadway which runs through the farm. For a 
number of years he and his brother, Peter Schler, farmed a large tract 
of land in partnership until this partnership was dissolved in Aug., 1916. 
The brothers then divided their accumulations which were the result of 
years of good, hard work, and excellent management, and each took his 
rightful share of the farm land. Anton Henry Schler was born May 30, 
1865 in Clear Creek township. He is a son of Louis (b. 1817, d. 1871), a 
native of Germany who immigrated to America when a young man. He 
located in Clear Creek township. Cooper County, married Margaret Troes- 
ter (b. July 3, 1827, d. Oct. 3, 1912), the latter of whom resided with her 
sons after the father's death. The children of the Schler family are as 
follows : Two children died in infancy ; Charles, a farmer in Clear Creek 
township; Mrs. Josephine Troester lives in Clayton county, Iowa; Peter, of 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 971 

this review; Anton, subject of this sketch; and Paul, a farmer living near 
Choteau Springs. 

The Schler boys had little opportunity for schooling in their younger 
days; work was the rule in the Schler household because the head of the 
family had died early. The home farm of the family was in the timber 
and the hardest kind of work was necessary to clear the land of the trees, 
build fences and keep up the crops each season. The Schler brothers, 
Peter and Anton Henry purchased their large farm in 1892. At the time 
of purchase the farm was partly improved. The tract embraced a total 
of 430 acres of land after they added 30 acres to the original purchase. 
Peter Schler was actively engaged in tilling his land until an accident 
in 1907, when he was injured by the turning over of a wagon, incapaci- 
tated him for hard work. He then moved to Boonville, in 1909. 

Peter Schler was married June 2, 1897 to Sophia Schierholz, who was 
born in Boonville, Cooper County, June 5, 1858, a daughter of Charles and 
Mary (Holtgreve) Schierholz. Charles Schierholz was born in Prussia, in 
1823, and died July 27, 1891. Mrs. Mary Schierholz was born Jan. 24, 
1838 and came to America with her parents in 1845. Mr. Schierholz oper- 
ated a brick yard in Boonville until he settled on his farm south of Boon- 
ville in 1876. He was father of six children : Mrs. Ophia Schler of this 
review ; Henry, a farmer, Boonville township ; Charles, a farmer living 
with his mother; the three younger children died. Peter Schler is a re- 
publican. He is a member of the Evangelical Church. 

Anton Henry Schler was born and reared in Cooper County. He was 
married March 29, 1910 to Catherine Barbara Gerhardt, who was born in 
North Dakota, Jan. 31, 1887, and is a daughter of Joseph Gerhardt, retired 
farmer of Speed, Mo. The children born of this union are: Henry Her- 
man, born May 7, 1911; Margaret Paullina, born Aug. 24, 1912; Catherine 
Elizabeth, born March 7, 1914; Joseph, born Jan. 2, 1916; Lizzie Rosina, 
born July 16, 1917; George, born Feb. 22, 1919. 

Mr. Schler is a republican and is a member of the Evangelical Church. 

George K. Crawford, farmer, Bunceton, Mo., was born in Clarks Fork 
township about six miles northeast of Bunceton, Oct. 11, 1866. He is a 
son of John Crawford who was born March 5, 1816 and died Nov. 5, 1889. 

John Crawford was a native of Cumberland County, Ky. and was a 
son of George Crawford, who was born in Kentucky and was one of the 
early pioneers of Cooper County who came to this county and settled at 
what is now Crawford Bridge. Herman P. Muntzell now owns the first 
home of the Crawfords in this county. Mr. Crawford improved a farm 
and resided there the rest of his days. John Crawford was reared to 



972 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

manhood on this farm and after his marriage he resided on what is now 
known as the Clarence Hops place. In 1848 he settled on the place now- 
owned by George K. Crawford and improved it, erecting a large residence, 
and eventually became owner of over 1,000 acres of land. At the time 
of his death he owned 500 acres. In 1862 John Crawford married Miss 
Maria Kepner, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1840 and died Aug. 29, 

1916. Maria Kepner Crawford was a daughter of Solomon Kepner who 
came to Cooper County from Pennsylvania about 1860. 

Two children born to this second marriage are living: Mrs. Clara 
Shackleford, residing on the home place ; and George K. Crawford, of this 
review. By a former marriage with Miss Eliza Greenhalge, John Craw- 
ford had one son, Henry, now deceased. 

George K. Crawford resided for 50 years on the Crawford home place, 
engaged in farming and stock raising. He removed to Bunceton in 1917. 
In Feb., 1917, Mr. Crawford was married to Mrs. Frances (Hickman) 
Edwards widow of Dr. G. H. Edwards, and a daughter of Thomas Hick- 
man, a pioneer settler near Lone Elm who is deceased. By her first mar- 
riage Mrs. Crawford is mother of two children: John C, and Thomas H. 
Edwards. 

John C. Edwards died at Camp Mills, Mineola, L. I., May 3, 1918, at 
the age of 21 years. He was a corporal in the National Army, having 
volunteered for service in May, 1917, and became a member of Co. B, 140th 
Infantry, 35th Division. 

Thomas H. Edwards, aged 27 years, volunteered for service in May, 

1917. He spent one month at Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis, and then 
sailed for France, July 2, 1917. He was a member of the 12th Railway 
Engineers, organized at St. Louis, but he was later transferred to the 
Signal Corps of the A. E. F. 

Mr. Crawford is a democrat. He is a member of the Baptist Church 
and the Woodmen of the World and of Wallace Lodge No. 456, Ancient 
Free and Accepted Masons, of Bunceton. 

George F. Fluke, an honored pioneer of Cooper County, was born 
May 27, 1850, at Connor's Mill, a son of John and Louisa (Fisher) Fluke, 
the former, a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Illinois. Mr. Fluke 
is one of three children born to his parents: George F., the subject of this 
review;- John W., deceased; and Mary E., the wife of Z. R. Neal, of Saline 
township. 

John Fluke came to Missouri in 1838 and located at Connor's Mill. 
He was by trade a miller and he operated this mill for 15 years. He died 






HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 973 

Nov. 13, 1879 and interment was made in Clayton cemetery. Mrs. Fluke 
joined him in death, Dec. 8, 1883, and she, too, was laid to rest in Clayton 
cemetery. At the time of his death, John Fluke owned more than 500 
acres of some of the most valuable land in Saline township. 

George F. Fluke attended the public schools of Cooper County and, 
since 1875, he has resided on the farm where he now lives. Mr. Fluke 
is owner of 130 acres of land located 10 miles from Boonville and one- 
half mile from Overton. He is successfully engaged in general farming. 

March 13, 1872, George F. Fluke and Eliza Givens, a daughter of 
Walter and Mary (Vivian) Givens, were united in marriage. Eliza A. 
Givens Fluke was born Jan. 7, 1852. To George F. and Eliza Fluke were 
born the following children : Andrew J., of Shawnee, Okla., who married 
Etta Rogers and they are the parents of two children, George F. and 
Vivian Mayo; and Mary Lou, the wife of Aubrey Buell and the mother 
of two children, Orvill Allison and Vernal Leeann. Mrs. Fluke died 
June 3, 1897. 

Jan. 9, 1900, George F. Fluke and Lizzie Tucker, a daughter of Robert 
H. and Sarah Elizabeth (Parker) Tucker, were united in marriage. Rob- 
ert H. Tucker was born in Virginia, Aug. 14, 1824 and died May 25, 1893, 
in Cooper County, Mo. Mrs. Tucker was born near Clarks Fork in Cooper 
County, March 7, 1840. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Tucker are as fol- 
lows: Robert M., Silas E., Mrs. Kate Venable, Nathaniel and Mrs. Mattie 
Pollard, twins; Mrs. George F. Fluke, Mrs. Sophronia May Drennen, 
Charles W., James T., Mrs. Minnie E. Verts, Mrs. Sadie Ruth Smith, and 
Tyre T. Tucker. Mr. and Mrs. Fluke are valued members of the Cumber- 
land Presbyterian Church. 

Politically, George F. Fluke is affiliated with the democrat party. He 
is a member of Cooper Lodge No. 36, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. 
Mr. and Mrs. Fluke are well known in Cooper County and they are held 
in the highest respect in Saline township. The Fluke family has long 
been numbered among the first and best families of this section of the 
state. 

Harry J. Miller, a highly respected young citizen of Cooper County, 
is one of Boonville's boys of yesterday, men who have "made good," and 
of whom all are justly proud. Mr. Miller was born in Boonville, Aug. 31, 
1894, a son of James R. and Carrie Miller, the former, a native of Cooper 
County, Mo., ami the latter of Pennsylvania. James R. Miller is a son of 
one of the county's honored pioneers. He has resided in the county all 
his life, and is at the present time filling the position of chief of police 



974 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

of Boonville, a position he has most capably filled for the past eight years. 
Mr. Miller was formerly for many years engaged in the mercantile busi- 
ness in Boonville. The children of James R. and Carrie Miller are, as 
follow: Beatrice, at home; Earl, the bookkeeper at the Phoenix American 
Pipe Works; Roy F., who died in 1918, at the age of 21 years; and Harry 
J., the subject of this review. 

In the public schools of Boonville, Harry J. Miller obtained his ele- 
mentary education, which he supplemented with a course at Brown's 
Business College at St. Louis and at Dunkle's Business College at Boon- 
ville. After leaving school, Mr. Miller was for three years employed at 
the Hirsch Wholesale Grocery Company store in Boonville. In 1917, he 
was appointed storekeeper for the Boonville Training School, a position 
he at the time of this writing occupies. 

Fraternally, Harry J. Miller is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias 
fo Boonvlle. He is well known throughout the county and stands high 
in his own community, where he has a host of friends. 

Henry B. Kramer, a prominent citizen of Cooper County, was born 
Oct. 14, 1862 in Cooper County on the Clayton farm, a son of Jacob Anton 
and Francisco Kramer, the former, a native of Copenhagen, Denmark, 
and the latter, of Baden, Germany. Jacob Anton Kramer served three 
years in the Danish army, in 1849, 1850, and 1851, and he had a scalp 
wound caused by a minnie ball. He immigrated to America in 1854 and 
was married at Staten Island. 

Jacob Anton Kramer was born at Copenhagen in 1812. After com- 
ing to America, Mr. Kramer spent one year at St. Louis, Mo. From St. 
Louis, he came to Connor's Mill in Cooper County and for four years was 
engaged in gardening. In 1860, he purchased the farm now owned by 
Charles Clayton. This place was sold in 1910 to George Viertel. Jacob 
Anton Kramer died Oct. 9, 1874 and interment was made in Schmidt 
cemetery. Mrs. Kramer was born May 27, 1827 and died Dec. 6, 1907. 
She, too, was laid to rest in Schmidt cemetery. 

Henry B. Kramer is one of the following children born to Jacob Anton 
and Francisco Kramer: Mary Ann, the wife of George A. Back, to whom 
she was married in 1883, deceased since Jan. 1, 1896 ; Henry B., the sub- 
ject of this review; Herman, of Boonville; Jacob Anton, Jr., who resides 
in the state of Washington ; Fannie, the wife of Otto Schmidt and Charlie, 
who died in 1869 at the age of 10 years and is buried in Schmidt cemetery. 

At Highland school, Henry B. Kramer obtained his education. In 
early manhood, Mr. Kramer was engaged in farming extensively, but in 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 975 

recent years he has been employed in paper-hanging, carpentering and 
writing life insurance policies. Mr. Kramer is a specialist in horticulture. 
He has never married. He promised his mother that he would remain 
single as long as she lived and he kept his word. Mr. Kramer's mother 
survived her husband 33 years. 

Henry B. Kramer is an enthusiastic lodge worker. He is clerk of 
the Woodmen of the World and district deputy of the Woodmen of the 
World and of the B. O. W. The Woodmen of the World at Gooch's Mill 
has a membership of 160 and Mr. Kramer has been a member for 22 
years, clerk for four years, counsel commander for 13 years, assistant 
clerk for 19 years, and advertising lieutenant for four years. In the first 
10 years of his membership, Mr. Kramer missed but five meetings and he 
had a distance of four miles to walk. He has now a class of 68 boys and 
girls, ranging in ages from one to 16 years, for whom he looks after in- 
surance. The first member of the B. 0. W., the juvenile department of 
the Woodmen of the World, in the state of Missouri, holding Policy No. 
1, was Ben L. Givens and Mr. Kramer has the distinction of having writ- 
ten the policy. 

On the democrat ticket, Mr. Kramer was elected constable of Saline 
township. He is highly respected in his community and throughout the 
county and he numbers his friends by the score. 

Frederick H. Muntzel, a farmer and stockman, Boonville, Mo., was 
born in Cooper County and is owner of one of the best farms in Cooper 
County, consisting of 347 acres. Mr. Muntzel retired from active farm- 
ing in the spring of 1919, his farm being managed by J. W. Woolery. 
After completing the district school he attended the Chillicothe Normal 
College. He is a member of the M. E. Church. 

John George Hoflander, late well and favorably known resident of 
the Billingsville neighborhood, Cooper County, and veteran of the Civil 
W>', was a native of Saxony Coburg, Germany. Mr. Hoflander was born 
July 17, 1841 and died at his country home near Billingsville, March 6, 
1915. 

He was a son of John Ernst and Kunigunda (Stegner) Hoflander, 
natives of Germany, who immigrated to the United States and settled in 
Cooper County in 1853. 

John George Hoflander was reared to young manhood on the Hoflander 
home place and was enrolled as a member of the Missouri State Guards 
during the Civil War. He was detailed for guard duty to protect traffic 
along the Missouri River. 



976 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Mr. Hoflander was married at Pleasant Green, Mo., Jan. 15, 1880, to 
Elizabeth L. Back, born at Pleasant Green, Cooper County, Jan. 30, 1856. 
She was a daughter of Philip and Doreathe Fredericka Back. Mrs. Eliza- 
beth Hoflander is one of two children, as follows: Mrs. Elizabeth Hoflander; 
Mrs. Ernest Vbgelpohl, Pilot Grove. 

When George and Elizabeth Hoflander were married they settled on 
the old Hoflander home place, near Billingsville which Mr. Hoflander 
farmed successfully during his entire life. This is a fine farm of 128 
acres which is well improved and the soil of which is very productive. 

The Hoflander children are: Henry, born Oct. 28, 1880, and died 
Nov. 1, 1880; Marie Christine, born Sept. 11, 1881, at home; Caroline 
Henrietta was born March 2, 1885, at home; Marie Pauline, born March 
2, 1885, was wife of the late Frank Wallje, is now at Sedalia, Mo. ; Dorothea 
Elizabeth, born July 5, 1887, is wife of George Geiger, vicinity of Billings- 
ville, Mo. ; George Thomas, born Oct. 1 1889, at home ; Laura Amelia, born 
Jan. 11, 1892, is wife of Oliver Koenig, near Prairie Lick, Cooper County, 
Mo. ; Marie Magdaline, born Jan. 25, 1897, at home ; and Carl John, born 
Oct. 25, 1901, at home. 

The late George Hoflander was one of the sterling and energetic 
citizens of Cooper County and was highly regarded in the community 
where he was born and reared. He was one of the builders of the Bill- 
ingsville St. John's Evangelical Church and was a devout Christian, a 
kind husband and father. He was a republican but took little part in 
political affairs. It is such as he that assisted materially in upbuilding 
the Cooper County of today. 

George W. Harlan, fanner and stockman, proprietor of one of the 
best farms in Otterville township, his well improved place of 550 acres 
being situated a mile and a half northwest of the town of Otterville; a 
member of the board of directors of the Bank of Otterville and long re- 
garded as one of the most substantial citizens of that part of Cooper 
County, was born on the farm on which he is now living and has resided 
there all his life with the exception of seven years during the period of 
his childrens' educational course at Otterville when he and his family re- 
sided in town. The Harlan family is one of the families in Cooper County 
entitled to a service flag carying a gold star, the only son of this family 
having died in the service of his country in the fall of 1918. The young 
husband of the only daughter of the family also is in service being now 
(summer of 1919) with the naval arm of the American Expeditionary 
Forces in Europe. The Harlans are an old American family, the pro- 





§X£^e, 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 977 

genitor of the family in this country having come to this side from Eng- 
land in early CoLonial days. George W. Harlan was born on Nov. 22, 1869, 
son of George W. and Susan (Streit) Harlan, the former a native of Ken- 
tucky and the latter of Virginia, who became residents of Cooper County 
in the days of their youth and whose last days were spent here. 

The senior George W. Harlan was born in Shelby County, Ky., Sept. 
28, 1823, and was but 15 or 16 years of age when he came to Missouri auuut 
the year 1840 with his parents, George T. and Johanna (Helm) Harlan, 
also natives of KentucKy, the family locating in Otterville township, this 
county, where George T. Harlan and his wife, the pioneers, spent the re- 
mainder of their days. On the pioneer farm settled there by his parents 
the senior George W. Harlan grew to manhood and in time became a suc- 
cessful farmer and cattle breeder, a man of substance and influence in his 
community and in that township spent the remainder of his life, his death 
occurring on Jan. 13, 1891. His widow died Aug. 6, 1916. She was born 
near Salem, Va., Sept. 29, 1829. They were the parents of three children, 
the subject of this sketch, the last born, having two sisters, Anna, widow 
of J. W. Harlan, of Danville, Ky., and Jennie H., wife of A. G. Hansberger, 
of Otterville township. 

Reared on the home farm just northwest of Otterville, the junior 
George W. Harlan received his early schooling in the local schools and 
completed the same by a course in Central College at Fayette, after which, 
when 21 years age, he began farming on his own account on the home 
place. He married when 23 years of age, and after his marriage estab- 
lishing his home on the home place, of which in time he became the 
owner, and where he and his family are now very comfortably situated. 
In 1911, Mr. Harlan erected a handsome new and up-to-date farm house, 
said to be one of the best such dwellings in Cooper County, and the other 
improvements on his model farm are in keeping with the same. In addi- 
tion to his general farming he has for years given considerable attention 
to the raising of live stock. He also takes a proper interest in the gen- 
eral business affairs of the community, and is a member of the board of 
directors of the Bank of Otterville. He is a democrat, and a member of 
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Knights of the Macca- 
bees. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
(South). 

Feb. 22, 1893, George W. Harlan was manned to Birdie Clark, who 
was born in Morgan County, daughter of Thomas B, and Louise J. (Mey- 



978 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

ers) Clark, natives of Kentucky, and both now deceased, and to this union 
two children have been born, namely: Ennell, who is now (summer of 
1919) at home with her parents, pending the return of her husband, J. C. 
Miller, from service with the naval branch of the American Expedition- 
ary Forces in Europe, and George C, who, as noted above, is represented 
by a gold star in the Harlan family's service flag. George C. Harlan was 
born on the home farm, Oct. 19, 1896, and was graduated from the Otter- 
ville High School. On July 18, 1918, he enlisted in the United States 
Navy for service in the World War, and was sent for training to the Great 
Lakes Naval Training Station at Chicago, where, not long afterward, he 
was taken ill, and Sept. 30, died, being then under 22 years of age. J. C. 
Miller, husband of Mr. and Mrs. Harlan's daughter, enlisted in the navy 
on July 7, 1918, and after a period of preliminary training was assigned 
to active service, and is now serving in European waters. 

A. F. Nixon, the well-known cashier of the Bank of Wooldridge, was 
born Oct. 15, 1875, near Pilot Grove, Mo., a son of D. F. and Christina 
(Schlatzhauer) Nixon, the former, a native of Ross County, Ohio, and the 
latter, of Cooper County. D. F. Nixon was born near Chillicothe, Ohio. 
He prospered in farming and stockraising and he and his wife are now 
living in quiet retirement at Pilot Grove, Mo. The children of D. F. 
and Christina Nixon are: Charles, who is in the real estate business in 
Boonville; Catherine E., at home; A. F., the subject of this review; and 
Rudy, who died in West Virginia. 

Mr. Nixon, the subject of this sketch, attended the public schools, 
Pilot Grove College, and the Warrensburg State Normal School. He 
erected an elevator at Wooldridge and for three years was in the grain 
business there. He sold his business to G. H. Dooley Milling Company, 
which company still operates the mill, and in 1904, Mr. Nixon purchased 
the interest of M. A. Smith in the Bank of Wooldridge and has since 
been the cashier of that institution. 

May 22, 1904, A. F. Nixon and Elizabeth Wooldridge were united in 
marriage. Mrs. Nixon is a daughter of H. H. and Sallie E. (Eager) 
Wooldridge, of Saline township. H. H. Wooldridge died in 1917 and, on 
Dec. 31 he was laid to rest in the family cemetery. His widow now re- 
sides on the old home place. The town of Wooldridge is located on land 
formerly owned bv Mrs. Nixon's father. To A. F. Nixon and Mrs. Nixon 
have been born three children: Audrey, who is now a student in the 
Boonville High School ; Fletcher W. and Eager. 



HISTORY OF COOPEE COUNTY 979 

Recently, Mr. Nixon purchased 60 acres of land, on which was form- 
erly located the old tanyard known as the "Fox Hunters' Home" and 
owned by A. A. Walker, Dr. S. M. Teel, Mr. Draften, Dr. Hurt and others, 
whose names cannot be recalled. Fox hunting meets have been held here 
since the early days and a meeting is held semi-annually by the lovers of 
this sport and to this present time fox chases are frequently held. Mr. 
Nixon is planning improving his tract of land. He will construct a con- 
crete dam below the springs and make there one of the finest fishing 
ponds in the country. 

Fraternally, Mr. Nixon is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted 
Masons and the Woodmen of the World. He is an upright, respected 
citizen and among the business men of Cooper County, no man is valued 
more highly. 

Thomas R. Peyton & Sons, proprietors of "The Peyton Nurseries", 
at Boonville, Mo., are widely known and respected business men of Cooper 
County. "The Peyton Nurseries" was organized Jan. 1, 1913. Eight 
years previous to that date, Thomas R. Peyton and A. E. Barnes began 
operating the "Boonville Nurseries" and on the first of the year, 1913, the 
partnership was dissolved and "The Peyton Nurseries" established. A. 
E. Barnes has continued business under the old name of the firm. 

Mr. Peyton, Sr., served an apprenticeship of eight years with Stark 
Brothers' Nurseries in Louisiana, Mo. He discontinued his services at 
Stark Brothers' to accept the management of a nursery at Mexico, Mo., 
in which place he was for 10 years prior to coming to Boonville. "The 
Peyton Nurseries" has from 20 to 25 agents in the field, covering the 
states of Missouri, Illinois, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Kansas. Frequently, 
shipments are made to other states. 

"The Peyton Nurseries" specializes in fruit trees, in apple, peach, 
pear, apricot, quince and cherry trees. The first year the firm was in 
business the outlook was not encouraging. Since Jan. 1, 1913, with sales 
for the first year totaling but $6,000, the business has grown marvelously 
and the receipts for the year of 1918 amounted to $30,000. The firm plans 
putting out 200,000 trees annually, namely: 100,000 apple grafts; 50,000 
cherry and pear; and 50,000 peach trees. "The Peyton Nurseries" does a 
large retail business through salesmen and in addition does a flattering 
mail-order business. The firm's slogan is "Growers of Reliable Trees 
Since 1887". All orders are packed under cover in the packing house, a 
building, 40x60 feet, located at the junction of the Missouri Pacific and 



980 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Missouri, Kansas & Texas railroads, where the office is also located. The 
firm is a growing one and the citizens of Boonville point with pride to 
"The Peyton Nurseries" as an example of what western enterprise and 
industry can in a short time accomplish. 

Thomas R. Peyton was born in Rappahannock County, Va., Nov. 24, 
1872, a son of John II. and Sarah Martha (Wince) Peyton, both of whom 
were natives of Virginia. The Peytons moved to Pike County, Mo., in 
1885, and John H. Peyton was for several years with Stark Brothers' 
Nursery. He died while visiting his son, Thomas R., at Boonville, in 
February, 1917, and he is buried at Louisiana. Mrs. Peyton died in 1896 
at Louisiana and is buried there. The children of John H. and Sarah 
Peyton are as follows: Henry A., of Los Angeles, Calif.; Thomas R., the 
subject of this review; Joseph W., of Lincoln, 111.; Mrs. Luella Downing, 
deceased; John A., who has been with the Stark Brothers' Nurseries for 
the past 30 years; Dora May, the wife of Joseph Russell, of Spring- 
field, 111. 

In the public schools of Virginia, Thomas R. Peyton received his ele- 
mentary education, which was supplemented by a course at the academy 
at Louisiana, Mo. He was married in 1900 to Edith A. Barnes, a daughter 
of Noble and Mary (Bybee) Barnes, and a native of Audrain County, Mo. 
The mother is deceased, and the father resides in Audrain County. 

The children of Noble and Mary Barnes are as follows: M. C. and 
Theodore, of Audrain County, Mo.; Mrs. Thomas R. Peyton, the wife of 
the subject of this review; A. E., a well-known nurseryman of Boonville; 
Claude, a farmer and fruit-grower of Idaho ; Roy and Ray, who are farm- 
ing near Bradshaw, Neb. To Mr. and Mrs. Peyton have been born five 
children: Thomas B. and Genevieve, who are attending the Boonville 
High School ; James A., Edith J., and Charles W., at home with their 
parents. The Peytons reside at Shamrock Heights in Boonville. 

Thomas R. Peyton and Mrs. Peyton are worthy and consistent mem- 
bers of the Christian Church. They are held in the highest respect and 
esteem by all who know them, and they number their friends by the score. 
Mr. Peyton is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the 
Modem Woodmen of America. 

Hermann Frederick Herfurth, assistant engineer of the Missouri Re- 
formatory, Boonville, is one of Cooper County's most respected citizens. 
H. F. Herfurth was born in Germany in 1872, and came to this country in 
1882 with his parents, John Frederick and Wilhelmina Herfurth, who 
located in Cooper County, where the father died in 1892. The widowed 
mother resides in Moniteau County, Mo., now making her home with a 






HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 981 

son and a daughter. The children of John Frederick and Wilhelmina 
Herfurth are, as follow: John Frederick, Jr., of Moniteau County; Mar- 
tha, the wife of Charles Gropp, of Moniteau County; Herman Frederick, 
the subject of this sketch; and Selma, of Moniteau County. 

H. F. Herfurth attended school in Cooper County. He has practically 
made his own way in the world since he was a child 13 years of age. He 
began his business career in Moniteau County, but prior to that he had 
been employed in farm work, laboring for $7 a month and chopping cord- 
wood for 35 cents a cord. H. F. Herfurth was manager of a farm in 
Clark's Fork township for seven years, the owner of the farm being W. 
B. Windsor. H. F. Herfurth was in business in Moniteau County for 
seven years, and for three years was engaged in the manufacturing busi- 
ness in St. Louis, manufacturing raincoats and dealing in automobile ac- 
cessories. He received the appointment as assistant to the chief engineer 
under J. W. Bozarth, at present chief engineer at the Missouri Reforma- 
tory, Boonville. The engineering department furnishes electric light and 
power for all the buildings of the Reformatory. 

In September, 1917, Hermann Frederick Herfurth and Elizabeth Ott 
were united in marriage. Mrs. Herfurth is a daughter of L. C. Ott, of 
Franklin County, Mo. Mr. and Mrs. Ott now reside at Berger, Mo. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Herfurth has been born one child, a daughter, Frances 
Bessie. The Herfurths are valued members of the Evangelical Church 
and they are numbered among the best families of Boonville. 

H. F. Herfurth has surmounted countless obstacles to make the suc- 
cess in life which he has thus far achieved. He taught himself to read 
the English language by translating at home the German Bible into Eng- 
lish, and when he saw the value and necessity of reading English he 
tenaciously clung to his resolve to master the language, and he is now 
able to read well, and he is a constant reader. He is captain of the Honor 
Company, a squad of 75 boys of the Reformatory. It is the captain's duty 
to keep close watch upon the morals of the lads. Captain Herfurth takes 
much pride in his work, is a most efficient officer, and he is making good 
citizens of the boys under his charge. 

William R. Scott, teacher and gardener, one of Cooper County's best 
known citizens, was born in Boonville, Oct. 18, 1876, a son of William C. 
and Lucy (Moore) Scott. William C. Scott was born in 1837 in Cooper 
County. He is a member of one of the first families of Missouri, a son 
of an honored and brave pioneer, who settled in Boonville in 1815. Mr. 
Scott was in the early days a freighter from Boonville to southwestern 



982 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Missouri in the days of the steamboat. He is at the present time a resi- 
dent of Boonville. Mrs. Scott was a native of Cooper County. She died 
here about 1882. The children of William C. and Lucy Scott are; Mrs. 
J. P. Logan, of Boonville ; Dr. W. M., of Iberia, Mo. ; Dr. L. E., of Belle- 
ville, 111.; William R., the subject of this sketch; H. A., of Missoula, Mont.; 
and Mrs. L. Comstock, of Seattle, Wash., twins. 

W. R. Scott is a graduate of the Boonville High School, a member of 
the class of 1894. After completing the high school course, he was for 
12 years prospecting and mining in Washington, Montana and Oregon. 
In 1915, he returned to Boonville, and he has since then been employed in 
the capacity of teacher and gardener at the Boonville Training School, 
now the Missouri Refonnatory. He teaches during the winter seasons 
and is engaged in gardening in the summers. He is captain of Company 
F, about 65 boys being under his charge. Captain Scott enjoys his work 
and is giving his best efforts to advance the pupils of his classes. 

Feb. 11, 1918, William R. Scott and Ruth Tuttle were united in mar- 
riage. Mrs. Scott is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Tuttle, of Boon- 
ville. J. B. Tuttle is employed by the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway 
Company. Mrs. Scott was born, reared, and educated in Boonville. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Scott has been born one child, a son, William R., Jr., bom 
Jan. 20, 1919, the representative of the fourth generation of the Scott 
family in Cooper County. Mrs. Scott has one sister and two brothers 
living: Mrs. William Pieper, of St. Joseph, Mo.; Morton, of Boonville; 
and Chester, of Boonville. 

Mr. and Mrs. Scott are widely and favorably known in Cooper County, 
and in Boonville they are numbered among the city's best citizens and 
most respected families. 

Capt. C. S. Hanna, the competent blacksmith of the Boonville Train- 
ing School, now the Missouri Reformatory, is a native of Howard County. 
Captain Hanna was born July 3. 1857, a son of Frank and Sarah (Hall) 
Hanna, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of Indiana. 

Frank Hanna, with his three brothers, William, James, and Harvey, 
came from Virginia in 1812, and located first in Grundy County, and later 
settled on a farm in Howard County, near the present site of Fayette, 
Mo. With his brothers, Frank Hanna was first engaged in farming, and 
later entered a cabinet shop in Fayette, the shop owned by Samuel Majors. 
He died in Howard County in 1872, and his remains were interred in the 
cemetery at Fayette. Mrs. Hanna died in 1876 and she was laid to rest 
in the cemetery at Fayette. The children of Frank and Sarah (Hall) Hanna 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 983 

are, as follow : James, William, and Robert, deceased ; Capt. C. S., the 
subject of this sketch; Virginia, deceased; Rebecca, who married George 
Thurman and is now deceased; and Bessie. The Hanna family were 
Hanna family were among the first settlers of Missouri, and at the time 
of the coming of the three brothers to Howard County, deer were very 
plentiful, and Frank Hanna frequently went on deer chases on and near 
the present townsite of Fayette. 

Captain Hanna obtained his elementary education in the public 
schools of Howard County, Mo. Until he was about 30 years of age, he 
followed farming in Howard county, and he then learned the blacksmith's 
trade in Fayette, serving his apprenticeship under Mr. McClammer. 
Captain Hanna followed blacksmithing at Fayette until he moved to Boon- 
ville, six years ago, and he was thus employed in this city until he was 
appointed in March, 1918, blacksmith of the Training School. He in- 
structs the boys of the school, who are under his charge, in the trade of 
blacksmithing, and there could be found no more efficient mechanic and 
thorough teacher. Two lads, Bernard Lloyd and John Jewer, who were 
under Captain Hanna's supervision, left the school recently to take good 
position in St. Louis, Mo., and they are both "making good." Captain 
Hanna frequently receives letters from the boys, telling him how much 
they appreciate all he did for them. It is his desire and ambition to do 
all within his power to assist the boys under his care to become good 
citizens. 

In 1884, Capt. C. S. Hanna and Ida R. VVatkins were united in mar- 
riage. Mrs. Hanna is a daughter of John and Martha VVatkins, of New 
Franklin, honored pioneers of Howard County. Both father and mother 
are now deceased, and their remains rest in Walnut Ridge Cemetery in 
Howard County. The children of John and Martha Watkins are: Mrs. 
C. S. Hanna, the wife of the subject of this sketch ; John, of New Frank- 
lin ; Mrs. Emma Canole, of New Franklin ; Mrs. Claude Maupin, of Sedalia ; 
Mrs. Anna McGavoc, of New Franklin; Mrs. Eula Minor, of New Frank- 
lin; Mrs. Cliff Drake, of Fayette; Mrs. Martha Hams, of Moberly ; and 
James, a fanner, of New Franklin. Mr. and Mrs. Hanna are the parents 
of four children: Lela G., the wife of William Wells, of Boonville; C. W., 
clerk in H. T. Zugales' general merchandise stort of Boonville; Eula. a 
student in the Boonville High School; and Russell, grade school. Mr. 
and Mrs. William Wells are the parents of one child, a daughter, Louise. 

Captain Hanna is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and 
in politics he is a democrat. He and Mrs. Hanna are highly respected 



984 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

and valued in Boonville and Cooper County, and they have a host of friends 
in their community. 

Dr. Robert E. Howlett, a venerable retired physician, formerly sur- 
geon at Confederate Home at Higginsville, and during the Civil War a 
surgeon in the Confederate Army, for many years a practicing physician 
at Otterville, one of the best known men in Cooper County, is a native of 
Virginia. Doctor Howlett was born near Richmond, Va., March 19, 1836, 
son of James M. and Harriet (Hatcher) Howlett, the former of whom 
became a resident of Cooper County in 1843 and here spent the remainder 
of his life. 

The Howletts are one of the oldest families in America, the family 
having been founded on this side by three brothers of that name, who came 
over from Wales in the early days of the Jamestown settlement, and thus 
became established here among the first of the Virginia colonists. James 
M. Howlett was born at Chesterfield, Va., April 1, 1801, a son of John 
Howlett and wife, the latter of whom was a Goode, also natives of Vir- 
ginia, who spent all their lives in that State. He married Harriet Hatcher, 
who was born in Chesterfield County, Va., in 1806, and who died in 1842. 
Of the children born to that union seven grew to maturity. Of these 
Doctor Howlett is now the only survivor. The others were Thomas T., 
James A., Anna B., who was the wife of Rev. William Eustace; John M., 
Daniel and Martha. In 1845, the mother of these children then having 
been dead about three years, James M. Howlett married Anna Maria Pey- 
ton, who also was born in Virginia, and who died in 1860 at the age of 48 
years. That union was without issue. It was in 1843, the year follow- 
ing the death of his first wife, that James M. Howlett disposed of his 
interests in Virginia and with his family came to Cooper County and 
established himself on a farm in Lebanon township, where he spent the 
remainder of his life, his death occurring in 1873, he then being 72 years 
of age. 

It was on that pioneer farm in Lebanon township that Doctor How- 
lett grew to manhood. He was educated in the public schools and by the 
special instruction given him at home by his stepmother, who had been 
a school teacher in Virginia. He early became attracted to the study of 
medicine, and after some preliminary reading along that line, in 1858 
entered the St. Louis Medical College, from which institution he was 
graduated in 1861, the year of the breaking out of the Civil War. He 
straightway put aside his ambition for a medical career and at once en- 
listed as a private for service in the Confederate Army. Three months 




DR, ROBERT 10. HOWLETT 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 985 

:er he was raised from the ranks and commissioned assistant surgeon 
the army. In this important capacity, Doctor Howlett continued to 
rve the army until the close of the war. He then returned to his home 
this county and opened an office for the practice of his profession at 
terville. In 1867 he went to New York City for a post-graduate course 
the medical college there, returning to his office at Otterville in April, 
68. A year later he married, and two years after his marriage (in 
71) became attracted to the possibilities which seemed to offer in con- 
ction with a point for practice in Mississippi, and moved to that State, 
t 18 months later returned to Otterville and resumed his practice there, 
ntinuing thus actively engaged until his appointment in December, 
01, to the post of physician to the Confederate Soldiers Home at Hig- 
nsville, Mo. While thus officially stationed at the home the Doctor 
und his health beginning to break, and in 1903 he resigned his post and 
turned to Otterville, where he is now living retired from active practice, 
ing now in the 84th year of his age. Doctor Howlett has for many 
ars been recognized as one of the leading physicians in this part of the 
ate, and during his many years of practice in this county ever took an 
rnest interest in the deliberations of the local and State medical socie- 
!S, as well as the American Medical Association, of which societies he 
is an active member. The Doctor is a democrat, and formerly took an 
tive part in local and State political affairs, but was never a seeker after 
blis office. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the local lodges of the 
icient Free and Accepted Masons and the Independent Order of Odd 
illows, and is the oldest Mason as well as the oldest Odd Fellow in Otter- 
le. 

April 6, 1869, in Mississippi, Dr. Robert E. Howlett was united in 
irriage to Eliza Marian Howell, who was born in Alabama on Aug. 12, 
43, daughter of A. Y. and Phoebe D. (Ingram) Howell, natives of North 
irolina, whose last days were spent in Mississippi, and to this union 
ree children have been born, namely: Dr. Robert E. Howlett, Jr., a 
acticing physician at Richland, Mo.; Helen H., widow of the late Prof. 
A. Edwards, of Kansas City, and Addie Nolton, who has ever remained 
home, and whose comfortable home at the eastern edge of C terville 
now shared by his parents. A. N. Howlett is a well-to-do farmer and 
ackman, the owner of a fine farm of 170 acres just at the edge of town, 
lere he and his wife and his aged parents are pleasantly situated. His 
fe, before her marriage, was Clarice Weyand. Her parents were early 
ttlers in Vernon County, Mo. 



986 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

William A. Hoefer, a prominent citizen of Cooper County, is a native 
of Boonville. He was born July 17, 1874, a son of Henry L. and Mary A. 
(Krust) Hoefer, the former a native of Nassau, Germany. 

Henry L. Hoefer was born Aug. 22, 1823. He came to America in 
1846 and settled in Cooper County in 1847. He entered the mercantile 
business at Boonville, and followed his vocation of painter and interior 
decorator. He enlisted in the Civil War, Aug. 18, 1862, and served in 
the State Militia. He was promoted to first lieutenant, Company G, 52nd 
Regiment, and he served in the army until the war closed. Mary A. 
(Krust) Hoefer was born in 1838 at Hesse, Daunstadt. She immigrated 
to America in 1853 with the Hoffmeister family. They were located at 
Mendota, 111., for two years. She came to Cooper County in 1858, and is 
at the present time a resident of Boonville. 

Capt. Archie Burr Bates, of Kemper Military School, was born Jan. 
6, 1883, at Churdan, Iowa, a son of E. W. and Hattie (Easter) Bates, the 
former a native of Illinois, and the latter of Iowa, now residents of Persia, 
Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Bates are the parents of the following chil- 
dren: Orin E., a prosperous merchant of Pittsburg, Kan.; Capt. Archie 
Burr, the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Blanche Ferguson, of Nevada, 
Iowa; L. E. of Des Moines, Iowa; Forest E., of Corsicana, Texas; Miss 
Edith, and Mrs. Ethel Cox, twins, the former of Boonville, and the latter 
of Indianola, Iowa. 

Captain Bates attended Churdan High School three years and Ogden 
High School one year. He pursued the business course at Simpson Col- 
lege, Indianola, Iowa, and he is a graduate of this institution, a member 
of the class of 1904. After completing his college work, Captain Bates 
entered the teaching proftssion and taught school at Pendleton, Ore., one* 
year, and at Mount Vernon, Wash., one term. Thence he returned to 
Iowa, and at Des Moines entered Iowa Business College and studied short- 
hand and typewriting. Upon completing the course, he was engaged in 
teaching in the school for six months. Captain Bates came to Boonville 
as principal of the commercial department of Kemper Military School. 
When this school became a corporation in 1909, he was elected secretary, 
a position which he still retains at the time of this writing in 1919. Cap- 
tain Bates has been post adjutant for the past ten years. 

July 31, 1907, Capt. Archie Burr Bates and Martha Frances Breiner, 
a daughter of Mrs. Ida M. Breiner Harlow, of Churdan, Iowa, were mar- 
ried. The father of Mrs. Bates died when she was an infant, and her 
mother afterward married William F. Harlow, and they now reside at 






HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 987 

hurdan, Iowa. Mrs. Bates has three brothers, all residents of Churdan, 
)\va: Verle, Wilmer, and Elmore. Captain and Mrs. Bates are the 
arents of two daughters: Ida Frances and Martha Burr. They are 
alued members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Captain 
ates is a member of the Knights of Pythias of Boonville. 

Captain Bates is well known and respected in Cooper County as a 
entleman and a scholar. He and Mrs. Bates have innumerable friends 
1 this section of the State, and they have the highest regard of all who 
now them. 

Oscar F. Case, the widely-known and competent blacksmith, pro- 
rietor of the machine shop at Gooch's Mill in Cooper County, is a native 
f Illinois. Mr. Case was born in Kane County in 1849, a son of A. J. 
tid Julia A. (Morris) Case, the former a native of New York, and the 
iter of Long Island. Mr. and Mrs. Case moved from New York to 
linois, and from Illinois to Bremer County, Iowa, where they both died. 
scar F. Case is the only living member of his father's family, and he 
the eldest of four sons born to A. J. and Julia A. Case, the others being 
; follow: Prentice, Ernest, and Wirt, all deceased. 

Mr. Case, the subject of this sketch, attended school at Waverly, 
>wa. In May, 1864, he enlisted in Iowa with Company E. 44th Iowa 
lfantry, and served until October, 1864. He was active in service in 
ennessee and in Mississippi under the command of Gen. A. J. Smith, 
l 1867, Mr. Case came to Missouri and located at Connor's Mill, one of 
le pioneer mills of Cooper County. This was a steam and water mill, 
•ected by James F. Connor in the days long prior to the Civil war. The 
itlers from 40 and 50 miles distant came to the mill to have their grain 
round. Kiln-dried flour was made there, and this fact was widely 
Ivertised in 1849, at the time of the wild exodus from the East to the 
jld field newly discovered in California, and the fortune hunters, read- 
ig the advertisement in the St. Louis papers, crossed the Missouri River 
t Rocheport, on the ferry to obtain the flour, which was guaranteed to 
?ep for a long time. Wagon trains, three-fourths of a mile in length, 
isited the mill to be served with the far-famed flour. James F. Connor 
nployed 23 assistants at his mill, and, in addition, he operated a large 
irm, and had 13 yoke of cattle, besides horses and mules. 

In 1879, Oscar F. Case moved to Gooch's Mill, and built his black- 

nithing shop, and at this place he has ever since been located. His shop 

fitted for work of all kinds with up-to-date machinery. In 1897, Mr. 

ase added machinery, and one year later he began handling farm ma- 



988 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

chinery. He operates two forges and his work in his shop and the busi- 
ness of his store keeps him constantly "on the job." He is the owner 
of a trip hammer and power blower, there being but one other such 
blower in the county. 

In 1872, Mr. Case was united in marriage with Nancy R. Durnil, of 
Connor's Mill. To Mr. and Mrs. Oscar F. Case were born the following 
children : Mrs. Julia Shaf er, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa ; Wirt and Bert, twins, 
the former, now deceased, and the latter a machinist, who has been in 
the service of the United States for the past year ; and Andrew, at home. 
Mr. Case is very proud of his six grandchildren: Mamie Shafer; Oscar F., 
Jr., Catherine, Julia, Audra, and Elizabeth. Mrs. Case died in Novem- 
ber, 1918, and her remains were laid to rest in the cemetery at Gooch's 
Mill. 

Oscar F. Case is affiliated with the Ancient Order of United Work- 
men and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is highly respected 
in Cooper County. 

Louis Gantner, a prominent manufacturer of Boonville, is a native 
of Cooper County. Mr. Gantner was born in Boonville, Nov. 21, 1861, 
a son of Andy and Rosa Gantner. 

Andy Gantner was born in 1835 in Baden, Germany. He immigrated 
to America in 1854 and settled in Boonville. Mr. Gantner was, by trade, 
a brick and stone contractor. He erected many building in Boonville's 
business district, more than any other one builder in the county. He 
built the wings of the old public school on Sixth Street in Boonville ; a part 
of the Kemper Military School buildings; the Nelson residence; the Mc- 
Pherson residence; and the Triggs residence. During the Civil War, he 
enlisted with the Unon Army and served under Colonel Eppstein. Rosa 
(Diringer) Gantner was born in Alsace in 1836, and she came to America 
in 1849 with her parents, who settled in Boonville. Andy and Rosa Gant- 
ner were the parents of ten children. The father died Oct. 5, 1890, and 
the mother died Dec. 9, 1912. 

Andy and Rosa Gantner were married in Boonville in 1856, and Mr. 
Gantner built a sandstone house on Triggs' Hill in Boonville, where all 
the Gantner children were born. There the father died and Mrs. Gant- 
ner sold the residence to Ewing Roberts. The old homestead of the 
Gantners still stands in Boonville. Andy and Louis Gantner were part- 
ners for eight years, and father and son built the Catholic Church in 
Boonville. 

In the public schools and in the Catholic School in Boonville, Louis 
Gantner received his education. He was born, reared, and educated in 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 989 

this city, and he has thus far spent his life here. He has, since attaining 
maturity, been engaged in manufacturing and contracting, and is now a 
member and manager of the firm owning the Boonville Brick Company. 
This company, of which J. H. Stretz and Louis Gantner are the sole mem- 
bers, succeeded Claus Stammerjohn about 1905. The plant is located in 
west Boonville, near the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad. It has a 
daily capacity of 20,000 bricks. The firm is engaged in general contract- 
ing, and it has erected many hundred buildings in Cooper County, among 
them the County Home, the pipe factory in Boonville, and the St. Joseph 
Hospital. Mr. Gantner and Mr. Stretz are capable, energetic business 
men, and the marked success they have achieved reflects great credit 
upon themselves and brings much renown to Boonville. 

In 1889, Louis Gantner was united in marriage with Sophia Gart- 
hoffner, of Boonville, a daughter of George and Victoria Garthoffner. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Gantner have been born the following children: Helen, 
a graduate of the Boonville High School, and graduate of the Warrens- 
burg State Normal School, now a teacher in the Boonville schools ; Lenore, 
a graduate of the Boonville High School, now a stenographer in St. Louis, 
Mo. ; Ernest, who died in infancy ; Walter, who enlisted in the service of 
the United States in August, 1917, at Washington University, and is now, 
at the time of this writing, in France with Unit 21, Hospital Corp/; 
George, a law student at St. Louis University, of St. Louis, Mo. ; Bertram!, 
a student pharmacist in St. Louis, Mo. Mr. and Mrs. Gantner and their 
children are worthy members of the Catholic Church. Mr. Gantner is 
affiliated with the Knights of Columbus and the Modern Woodmen of 
America. The Gantners reside at 726 Spring street in Boonville. Mr. 
Gantner has served one term as member of the City Council. For more 
than 40 years, the Gantner name has been an honored and highly regarded 
name in Cooper County, the synonym of honest industry, efficiency, and 
integrity. 

W. E. Hooper, the present efficient postmaster of Wooldridge, Mo., 
and the well known engrossing clerk of the State Senate, is a native Mis- 
sourian. He was born at Clarksburg, Moniteau County, in 1876, the son 
of Prof. J. N. and Georgia (Amos) Hooper. Prof. J. N. Hooper estab- 
lished Hooper Institute and conducted that institution for many years. 
He died in 1894, and his widow now resides at Jefferson City, Mo. They 
were the parents of three children: W. E., the subject of this sketch; 
Mrs. W. J. Wooldridge, and Dr. D. E. Hooper, of Warsaw, Mo. 

W. E. Hooper settled in Cooper County about 20 years ago, and for 
the past 18 years has been postmaster at Wooldridge. Mr. Hooper was 



990 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

married in 1904 to Miss Ida Anderson, a daughter of Benjamin Frank 
and Emma S. Anderson, who now reside in Saline township, Cooper 
County. Mr. Anderson is a native of Cooper County, as is also his wife, 
who bore the maiden name of Emma Hopkins. They were the parents 
of two children, F. L. and Ida, the latter now the wife of W. E. Hooper, 
the subject of this sketch. To Mr. and Mrs. Hooper have been born two 
children: Marjorie E. and Hazel L. 

Mrs. Hooper was educated in the public schools and Howard Payne 
College, Fayette, Mo. H. B. Hopkins, the maternal grandfather of Mrs. 
Hoopgr, was a native of Mississippi, and a pioneer of Wooldridge, Mo. 
He married Rebecca Burcham, of Kentucky, and they came to Cooper 
County in 1858. They once owned the original townsite of Wooldridge. 
A more extensive history of the Hopkins family is given elsewhere in 
this volume, in connection with the sketch of Farris B. Hopkins. 

W. E. Hooper is a member of the Woodmen of the World and the 
W. C, and is one of the substantial and representative citizens of Cooper 
County. He and Mrs. Hooper are members of the Baptist Church at 
Wooldridge. 

Willis Hurt, a prominent citizen of Clarks Fork township, is a native 
of- Page County, Va., born Aug. 2, 1850. He is a son of Acrey and Ma- 
tilda (Rickard) Hurt, both natives of Virginia, and early settlers in 
Cooper County. Acrey Hurt was born in Virginia in 1820, and his wife 
was born in that State Dec. 20, 1827. They were married Sept. 23, 1847, 
and in 1855 came to Missouri, settling in Clarks Fork township, Cooper 
County. They located near Washington school house, which was then 
an old log building. Acrey Hurt was an industrious man and a good citi- 
zen. During the Civil War he was a member of the Home Guards. He 
died on his place in Clarks Fork township in February, 1883, and his wife 
died April 9, 1898. Their remains are interred in Green Ridge Cemetery. 
Acrey and Matilda were the parents of the following children: Mrs. 
Jeannette Arnold, Boonville; Willis, the subject of this sketch; Benjamin, 
resides in Henry County; Mrs. Arabella Albin, resides near Clarksburg, 
Mo.; Mrs. Eliza Copas, Jefferson City; Newton, died in Henry County; 
Acrey, a sketch of whom appears in this volume; Silas, Boonville; and 
William, Pilot Grove. 

Willis Hurt was reared to the age of manhood in Cooper County, his 
parents having settled here when he was about five years old. He re- 
ceived his education in the Washington School district, and recalled 
among the early teachers of that district, Dock Freyer, who lived near 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 991 

Lone Elm Prairie. Mr. Hurt remained on the home farm with his parents 
until he was about 27 years of age. In 1877, he moved to his present 
farm, having purchased it two years previously. This place was for- 
merly owned by the Berry heirs, their father having entered it from the 
Government. Mr. Hurt bought the place from Sylvanius Young. He 
has made many improvements, and while Mr. Hurt is not the owner of a 
large farm, it is one of the well improved and valuable places of the county, 
and here Mr. Hurt has successfully carried on farming and stock raising 
for over 40 years. 

March 4, 1877, A. W. Hurt was married to Miss Emma Bear, a 
daughter of Samuel K. and Susanna (Woods) Bear, both natives of Vir- 
ginia. Samuel Bear was born May 26, 1825, and died Dec. 30, 1882. 
Susanna (Woods) Bear was born in January, 1828, and died Dec. 9, 1887. 
The Bear family consisted of the following children: Mrs. Barbara J. 
Clawson, Barnard, Mo.; Charles, of Alva, Wy. ; Mrs. Mary C. Cox, Den- 
ver, Colo. ; Emma S., the wife of Willis Hurt ; Mrs. Sarah Moffitt, Barnard, 
Mo. ; Cornelia M., Morphew, N. M. ; Mrs. Martha Smith, Santa Ana, Calif. ; 
and Mrs. Laura Robinson, Spearfish, S. D. ; William Henry, died at the 
age of 16 years, and Benjamin Alfred, died in infancy. 

To Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Hurt have been born the following children: 
Minnie Bell, was born Aug. 3, 1879, married Harry Kirchner, Clarks Fork 
township, Nov. 28, 1900 ; Alva Willis, an attorney and counselor at law 
in St. Louis, Mo., was born March 30, 1882; Alvina, born Feb. 8, 1884, 
and was married to Frank Kalb, April 26, 1905; Clarence Lee, bora May 
8, 1888, married Luda Anna Blanck, May 22, 1912, now resides in Boon- 
ville. Mr. and Mrs. Hurt have six grandchildren : Richard Kirchner, born 
Nov. 16, 1905 ; Mary Josephine Kircher, bora Nov. 23, 1909 ; Emma Louise 
Kircher, born July 16, 1912; Wilbur Hurt Kalb, born Jan. 19, 1907; 
Charles Marvin Kalb, born Feb. 2, 1908, and Hazel Emma Kalb, bora 
Dec. 30, 1912. 

A historic landmark in the way of a hackberry tree adorns the front 
yard of the Hurt place. This tree is 42 years old, and came up from its 
own accord the year that the Hurt family settled on the place, 42 years 
ago. Mr. and Mrs. Hurt are members of the M. E. Church South, and 
the members of the Hurt family are well known and prominent in the 
community. 

Lewis B. Nelson, a well known and successful citizen of North Moni- 
teau township ,was bora in Page County, Iowa, Oct. 2, 1878. He is a son 
of John E. and Julia H. Nelson, natives of Sweden. John E. Nelson came 



992 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

to America when he was about 23 years of age. He is now deceased. 
His widow now resides in Coin, Page County, Iowa. They were the 
parents of the following children: Ellen A., married August S. Lind, and 
resides at College Springs, Iowa; Sophia J., married J. F. Johnson, Coin, 
Iowa ; Oscar, lives near Canton, Mo. ; and Lewis B. the subject of this 
sketch. 

Lewis B. Nelson was reared in his native State, and educated in the 
public schools and Amity College, College Springs, Iowa, and graduated 
from this institution in the class of 1896. He then engaged in farming 
in Iowa, until 1906 when he located in Nodaway County, Mo. He bought 
a farm there, and was engaged in general farming and stock raising until 
1918, when he came to Cooper County and purchased his present place 
in North Moniteau township, 41/2 miles south of Prairie Home. His farm 
consists of 120 acres of well improved land, located on the Prairie Home- 
California highway. 

Mr. Nelson was married Oct. 20, 1916, to Miss Nora A. Odneal, a 
daughter of G. C. Odneal. 

Peter P. McNeil, a former railroad foreman of construction, and now 
a substantial farmer and land-owner, who died at his farm home near 
Otterville in the spring of 1914, had been a resident of that neighborhood 
for 30 years, and during that period had done much for the general ad- 
vancement of the community. He was born at New Boston, N. H., Sept. 
13, 1833, a son of Peter and Mary McNeil, both of whom were of Scottish 
stock. He was reared in the East, and when the Missouri Pacific Rail- 
road was being constructed in Missouri, he became connected with that 
work as a foreman, his first work being in Cole County, where, in 1858, 
he married and established his home. He later lived in Bates County, 
and in 1884 came to Cooper County with his family and bought a farm 
near Otterville, being attracted to that location by the educational advan- 
tages thus offered his children at the Otterville Academy, which then was 
presided over by Professor Curlin. On that farm he spent the remainder 
of his life, one of the substantial factors in the community life. He died 
there, April 15, 1914, and his widow and two of her daughters are still 
living there. Mr. McNeil was particularly attentive to the work of the 
Baptist Church at Otterville, of which he was a devout member, and for 
20 years was superintendent of the Sunday School of the same, in that 
capacity rendering an effective service for good in the community to 
which he had become greatly attached, and his memory will long be cher- 
ished in that connection. 

Jan. 1, 1858, at Elston Station, in Cole County Mo., Peter P. McNeil 




PETER P. McNEIL 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 993 

was married to Sarah Jane Elston, who was born there Oct. 13, 1841, and 
to this union 12 children were born. Of these the following are still 
living: Mrs. Hattie M. Leach, of Otterville township; Arthur L. McNeil, 
of Sedalia ; Mrs. Jennie S. Evans, also of Sedalia ; Mrs. Lydia S. Kelby, 
of Cole County ; Margaret, who is at home with her mother ; Lulu J., also 
at home, and Dr. Charles A. McNeil, a practicing physician at Sedalia. 
As noted above, Mrs. McNeil has continued to make her home on the farm 
at the edge of Otterville, where she and her daughters are very comfort- 
ably and pleasantly situated. She owns 146 acres of well improved and 
profitably cultivated land, and takes a personal interest in directing the 
management of the same. Mrs. McNeil and her daughters are members 
of the Baptist Church, to the affairs of which the husband and father was 
so long and so earnestly devoted, and have ever taken a warm interest 
in church work, as well as in the general social affairs of the community 
in which they live, doing well their part in the promotion of all move- 
ments having to do with the advancement of the common weal there- 
about, and are held in high esteem in the community. 

Henry Jenry, a prosperous farmer and stockman of Prairie Home 
township, is a native of Cooper County. He was born in the township 
where he now lives, March 27, 1861, a son of John P. Jenry, who was a 
native of Germany, born in Darmstadt, and came to America, 1842. Hk 
parents came later and located in Buffalo, N. Y., where they spent the 
remainder of their lives. John P. Jenry came from New York State to 
Boonville about 1850. He was a bricklayer and worked at his trade 
here for a number of years. He built the Lohse building in Boonville, as 
well as many other structures in that locality. He spent the latter part 
of his life in Clarks Fork township, where he died June 14, 1905, and 
his widow, who is now 85 years of age, still survives him. She has been 
an invalid for 56 years. They were the parents of the following children : 
John, died in New York State; Mrs. Caroline Defress, Kansas City, Mo.; 
Mrs. Louise Smith, deceased ; Daniel, deceased ; Charles, resides near 
Gooch Mill, Mo. ; Henry, the subject of this sketch ; George, lives in Wyo- 
ming; Mrs. Kate Hundley, lives on the old home place in Cooper County; 
and Mrs. Mary Smith, Blue Springs, Mo. 

Hemy Jenry received his education in the public schools of Cooper 
County, attending the New Salem District School. Cooper County has 
always been his home, and he has made farming and stock raising his 
life occupation. He owns a valuable farm of 91 acres in Prairie Home 
township, which he purchased in 1892. His place is located on the Jef- 
(50) 



994 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

ferson State Highway, 11 miles southeast of Booneville, and is one of the 
valuable farms in that section of the county. 

Feb. 21, 1901, Henry Jenry was united in marriage with Miss Mary 
Allen Chappell, a daughter of Anderson and Sarah Morland, of La- 
Clede County, Mo. The father was a Civil War veteran, having 
served in the Union Army for four years. He settled in Cooper County, 
near Gooch Mill, and spent the remainder of his life in this vicinity. He 
died Feb. 21, 1897, aged 52 years, and his wife died at Raleigh, Mo., Sept. 
23, 1918, aged 71 years. Mrs. Jenry is one of the following children born 
to her parents : Maiy Ellen, wife of Henry Jenry, born July 20, 1869 ; 
Harriett, born April 25, 1871, married Louis Rhodes, and resides at Vida, 
Mo.; and Joseph, born Aug. 20, 1875, resides at Raleigh, Mo. 

Mr. and Mrs. Jenry are well known in Cooper County and rank among 
its leading people. 

Frank H. Deuel, a well known farmer and stockman of Prairie Home 
township, was born in Pottawatomie, Kan., Aug. 11, 1868. He is a son 
of L. W. and Nancy J. (Davis) Deuel. L. W. Deuel was born in New 
York State in 1836, and in 1849 started to the gold fields of California 
with his father, who died at Salisbury, Mo., and was buried there. L. W. 
then went on west to Kansas, remaining in that State until 1882 ; he then 
returned to Macon County, Mo., and five years later settled in Cooper 
County. Here he bought a farm in Saline township, where he resided 
until 1909, when he went to Sedalia, where he now lives. L. W. Deuel 
had an extensive experience as an early day plainsman. During and 
after the Civil War he crossed the plains 12 times, being employed in 
driving cattle. During some of these drives in the wild and unsettled 
West, hostile Indians were frequently encountered. Nancy J. (Davis) 
Deuel, wife of L. W. Deuel, was born in Macon County, Mo., in 1850. 
They were married at Manhattan, Kan., in 1867, and the following chil- 
dren were born of this union : Frank H., the subject of this sketch ; Mrs. 
Maggie Gupton, Sedalia; Charles, Sedalia; Deam, Sedalia; George, Sedalia; 
Mrs. Mattie Hoerl, Boonville; Oscar, now serving in U. S. Army in France; 
and Mrs. May Heckerdt, Sedalia. 

Frank H. Deuel was educated in the public schools of Kansas. After 
coming to Missouri with his parents, he was rural mail carrier on the 
first route that was established out of Prairie Home, for 16 years. He 
resigned this position in 1917, and bought his present farm of 61 acres 
in Prairie Home township. This place is located about l 1 /' miles south 
of Prairie Home, and is a well improved, productive and valuable place. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 995 

Mr. Deuel was married Feb. 20, 1889, to Miss Laura Dishion a 
daughter of James F. and Nancy J. (Adair) Dishion, the marriage cere- 
mony being performed by Rev. 0. P. Davis. James F. Dishion was a 
farmer and died in 1911 ; the widow now resides on the home place in 
Prairie Home township. To Mr. and Mrs. Deuel have been born the 
following children: Nellie, married Earl Ford, Bunceton; Mollie, married 
Charles Friday, Bunceton ; Ola, married Louis L. Blank, Prairie Home ; 
Icie, resides at home; Ira P., who served in U. S. Navy from May, 1918, 
to March, 1919, being connected with the medical department ; and Stella, 
who resides at home with her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Deuel have 10 
grandchildren: Margaret, Agnes, Nannie Laura, and Harold Ford; Sarah 
Frances, Charles Robert, and Harry Lee Friday ; Louis Hilton ; Kenneth 
and Randall Blank. 

Mr. Deuel is a well posted citizen, and takes a commendable interest 
in public affairs. While a resident of Prairie Home he served as mayor 
of that town for two terms, and was a member of the City Council for a 
number of terms. Mr. and Mrs. Deuel are members of the Christian 
Church at Walnut Grove, of which he is a deacon. 

G. C. Odneal, a Civil War veteran and a member of one of the pioneer 
families of Missouri, was born in Moniteau County, Sept. 22, 1846. He 
is a son of Valentine and Dicy (Gilbreath) Odneal, both natives of Ten- 
nessee, the former born in 1812, and the latter in 1816. Valentine Odneal 
came to Missouri with his father about 100 years ago; he died in 1852. 
Dicy Gilbreath was a daughter of Hugh Gilbreath, who was born in Ten- 
nessee in 1782, and came to Missouri about the same time that the Odneals 
came. He died in 1852. To Valentine Odneal and wife were born the 
following children: William, who was killed at Tipton, Mo., during the 
Civil War; Hugh G., died in 1912; Thomas B., died in 1873; John W., died 
in 1912; James M., died in 1916; G. C, the subject of this sketch; Mrs. 
Nancy Foster, deceased ; and Mrs. Dora Hannah, resides in North Moni- 
teau township. 

G. C. Odneal was educated in the public schools and Prairie Home 
College. He spent all his life in North Moniteau township, where he has 
been engaged in farming and stock raising, except two and one-half years 
when he was in Texas. During the Civil War Mr. Orneal served in the 
Confederate Army under Fighting Gen. Joe Shelby. He was with his 
command in Missouri, Arkansas and Texas, and when the war closed he 
was at Shreveport, La. Mr. Odneal had some narrow escapes during the 
course of his military career, and at one time was severely wounded by 



996 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

a piece of shell which entered his side and which remained there until 
about seven years ago when he had it removed. 

Mr. Odneal was married Sept. 30, 1875, to Martha J. Harris, a daugh- 
ter of William and Nancy (Martin) Harris, both of whom are now de- 
ceased. The mother died in 1895, and the father died in 1896. Mrs. 
Odneal was born in North Moniteau township Feb. 27, 1854. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Odneal have been born three children, as follows: Nora A., married 
Louis Nelson, North Moniteau township; Flora N., married William 
Schaaf, and lives in Moniteau County; and Thomas A., married Augusta 
Stuckfoden, and they have one child, Edna May. Mr. and Mrs. Odneal 
have the following grandchildren: Dorsey, Harold and Estella George; 
Floyd Nelson; Lucile, Floyd, George, and Curtis Schaaf; and Edna May 
Odneal. 

Mr. Odneal commands the respect of all who know him, and the 
Odneal family stand high in the community. 

Peter J. Strickfaden, who departed this life July 19, 1919, was a well 
known and successful farmer and stockman of North Moniteau township, 
a native son of Cooper County, and a descendent of pioneer parents. He 
was born on the plac»j where he now resides, April 16, 1854, a son of Am- 
brose and Gertrude (Henhover) Strickfaden. Ambrose Strickfaden was 
a native of Germany, and when a young man settled on the place where 
Peter J. now resides, in the early forties. At the time of his death, in 
1888, he owned over 525 acres of land. His wife preceded him in death 
several years. They were the parents of the following children: Vinse, 
deceased; Sebastian, deceased; Mrs. Mary Stembach, deceased; Frank, 
resides in California, Mo. ; John, deceased ; Mrs. Catherine Sheidt, deceased ; 
Peter J., the subject of this sketch; Ambrose, resides in North Moniteau 
township; Leap, Pilot Grove; and Josie, deceased. 

Peter J. Strickfaden was reared in Cooper County, and received his 
education in the public schools. He followed farming and stock raising 
all his life. He owned a valuable farm of 155 acres, six miles south of 
Prairie Home, where successfully carried on general farming and stock 
raising for many years. 

May 7, 1889, Peter J. Strickfaden was married to Miss Anne Schaber, 
a daughter of Andrew and Mary Schaber, both natives of Indiana. The 
father was born Oct. 18, 1846, and died in 1912, and the mother now 
resides at Pilot Grove. They were the parents of the following children: 
Annie, the wife of Peter J. Strickfaden ; Tony, deceased ; George, Bea- 
man, Mo. ; John, resides in Florida ; Mrs. Kate Mullet, Pilot Grove ; Tena, 






HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 997 

resides in Sedaiia; Mrs. Mary Hayes, deceased; Mrs. Lena Mullet, lives 
in Oklahoma, and Mrs. Lucy Alberts, Marshall, Mo. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Peter J. Strickfaden were born the following chil- 
dren : Mary, who resides at home ; Andy and George. Andy Strickfaden 
was born Jan. 3, 1893, and is now serving as road overseer of District 
No. 2, North Moniteau township. George W. Strickfaden was born March 
31, 1894. He was married Nov. 30, 1917, to Miss Wilhelmina Keil, a 
daughter of William and Louisa (Heernleben) Keil, the former now de- 
ceased, and the latter resides at Cedron, Mo. 

George W. Strickfaden enlisted in the U. S. Army, April 29, 1918, 
and for a time was trained at Camp Funston, Kan. Later, he was sent 
to Camp Mills, N. Y., and from there to Liverpool, England, where he 
arrived June 16, 1918. He was then taken sick with measles and sent 
to a hospital, where he remained until July 23, after which he was detailecl 
on special duty at an American rest camp at Liverpool, until March 20, 
1919. He was then returned to New York by way of Brest, arriving 
March 30, 1919. He was then sent to Camp Taylor, Ky., where he was 
discharged, April 21, 1919. While in the army he was a member of 
Company L, 356th Infantry, under Captain Wear, who was killed in France. 

The Strickfaden family are well known and highly respected in 
Cooper County. 

Dr. A. L. Meredith, a well known physician and surgeon of Prairie 
Home, is not only a leader in his profession, but is one of Cooper County's 
most progressive and enterprising citizens. Dr. Meredith was born at 
Lupus, Moniteau County, March 30, 1879, and is a son of J. F. and Mal- 
vina (Clay) Meredith, natives of Kentucky. Malvina Clay is a daughter 
of Green Clay, who was a second cousin of Henry Clay. J. F. Meredith 
and his wife now reside at Lupus. 

Dr. A. L. Meredith was reared in Moniteau County, and educated in 
Hooper Institute and Washington and Lee University at Lexington, Va. 
He then entered Beaumont Medical College at St. Louis, where he was 
graduated with a degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1901. He then engaged 
in the practice of his profession at Lupus, Mo., where he remained but a 
short time, when he located at Wooldridge, where he practiced for nine 
years. In the meantime, he took a post graduate course at the Post 
Graduate Medical College at New York City. He practiced at James- 
town, Mo., for 18 months, and in 1912 located at Prairie Home, where he 
has since been successfully engaged in the practice of his profession, 
except during the period of service in the medical department of U. S. 



998 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Army. On Sept. 30, 1918, he entered the medical department of the 
army with the rank of first lieutenant, and immediately proceeded to 
Camp Zachary Taylor, Ky., where he served until Dec. 28, 1918, when he 
received his discharge. 

Dr. Meredith was united in marriage June 10, 1908, with Miss Agnes 
Teel, a daughter of Dr. S. M. and Nettie P. (Williams) Teel. Dr. S. M. 
Teel was a native of Virginia. He was a graduate of the University of 
Virginia, and after completing his medical course located at Prairie Home, 
Mo., and for 30 years was successfully engaged in the practice of his pro- 
fession there. He died Feb. 28, 1912, and his remains are buried in the 
New Salem Cemetery. His wife is a native of Cooper County, and a 
daughter of John R. Williams, a pioneer of Saline township. She now 
resides at Prairie Home. Dr. Teel and wife were the parents of the fol- 
lowing children: Garth, resides in Prairie Home; Burke, now serving in 
the U. S. Navy on the transport Huron, having entered the service in 
August, 1917; Samuel, died at the age of 3 years; Pearl, bookkeeper in 
the Bank of Prairie Home ; Newell, a teacher in the Cooper County School ; 
Eva, married Homer Wear, Prairie Home; Polly, married L. A. George, 
Prairie Home ; Willie married Dr. Dorsey Hooper, Warsaw, Mo. ; Kelly, 
married Roy Hadley; and Logan, married C. Reid Spahr, Oakland, Cal. 
To Dr. and Mrs. Meredith have been born two children: A. L., Jr., and 
Virginia Teel. 

Dr. Meredith is an able physician and a constant student of the devel- 
opments in the great science of medicine and surgery, and, notwithstand- 
ing the requirements of a large practice, he has found time to devote to 
public improvements and local progressive enterprises. He has served as 
president of Consolidated School District No. 3 for five years. He was 
one of the organizers of the Prairie Home Fair, one of the successful 
institutions of its kind in the country, and for four years he has been 
president of this organization. He is also the present mayor of Prairie 
Home, which is one of the most progressive little towns of its size in the 
State. 

Dr. Meredith is a member of the Masonic Lodge, Woodmen of the 
World, Modern Woodmen of America, and the Mystic Workers. 

Louis M. Meredith, the capable and efficient superintendent of the 
State Reformatory Farm of Boonville, is a native of Missouri, and belongs 
to one of the early pioneer families of this State. Mr. Meredith was born 
in Polk County, Oct. 25, 1860, a son of Joseph R, and Rachel (Leith) 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 999 

Meredith. Joseph R. Meredith was born in Cooper County in 1832, and 
died at the age of 70 years. He was a son of Thomas Meredith, who set- 
tled near Pilot .Grove in the early twenties, and entered 200 acres of land 
from the Government, and spent the remainder of his life in that vicin- 
ity. Rachel (Leith) Meredith died in 1892, aged 70 years. Louis M. 
Meredith was one of the following children born to his parents: Fannie, 
married S. M. Whitlow; Louis M., the subject of this sketch; R. A., lives 
at Pilot Grove; Susan, married J. M. Sparkman, and William Henry, Ver- 
milion, Kan. 

Louis M. Meredith was reared on a farm and educated in the public 
schools. He was engaged in farming and stock raising in the vicinity of 
Pilot Grove for a number of years. In 1897, he accepted a position as 
night-watchman at the Reform School, and for four years served in that 
capacity. He then became captain of Company H, and held that position 
for two years, after which he was superintendent of the brickyard of the 
institution for a time. In 1915 he was appointed superintendent of the 
institutional farm and has held that position to the present time. While 
Mr. Meredith is a modest and unassuming man, it is a fact that he holds 
one of the important positions in the State. The work that he is able to 
accomplish in training the boys under his charge in the proper channel 
means much to the future citizenship of Missouri. Mr. Meredith realizes 
this, and has given much thought and study to plans and methods of 
building up the characters and making good citizens of those boys who 
are legally delegated to his charge. The State Farm under Mr. Meredith's 
charge consists of 485 acres, besides another farm of 400 acres, which 
the State rents. There are a number of departments of the institution, 
including a blacksmith shop, brickyard, stone quarry, carpenter shop, 
greenhouse, etc. The 600 boys in the institution are kept busily engaged 
in beneficial and helpful work in connection with these various depart- 
ments, in addition to their mental and moral training. 

Aug. 1, 1885, Louis M. Meredith was united in marriage with Miss 
Addie Kirkman, of Cooper County, a daughter of Samuel and Susan 
(Shoemaker) Kirkman, both natives of Cooper County, and now deceased. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Meredith have been born seven children, as follows : 
Oscar L., Waterman, Calif., married Katherine Williams, of Versailles, 
Mo. ; Joseph Ross, married Jennie Oslander, served in the World War with 
144th Field Artillery in France, from August, 1918, to February, 1919, 
having enlisted in June 24, 1918, at San Francisco, Calif.: Mary Susan, 



1000 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

a stenographer, resides at home ; James Madison, now serving in U. S. 
Navy, and is stationed at Anapolis, Md. ; William Ralph, a student in the 
Boonville High School ; Louis M., Jr., and Alice Virginia, at home. 

Abraham Potter, a well-to-do land-owner of Cooper County, now liv- 
ing retired, is one of the oldest native-born sons of Cooper County now 
living, he now being in his 94th year. He was born on a pioneer farm 
near Boonville, Nov. 12, 1825, a son of John and Martha (Edgar) Potter, 
who were among the pioneers of that vicinity. John Potter was a native 
of Virginia, born in Rockinghham County, in 1774, and came to Missouri 
in territorial days, and located at the landing at Boonville. In the early 
days he was widely known as a hunter, and he and his old flint-lock gun 
were inseparable companions This was frontier country when he came 
here, and there were no limits to the boundaries of the territory over 
which he the could range in quest of game. As the country settled he 
became a substantial farmer, a well-to-do land-owner in this county, and 
here spent his last days, his death occurring about 1860. His wife also 
spent her last days here. She was born in Kentucky, and also was of the 
real pioneer stock. John Potter and his wife were the parents of 12 
children, six sons and six daughters, all of whom are now dead, save the 
venerable subject of this sketch. 

Reared on the old Potter farm in this county, Abraham Potter re- 
ceived his schooling in the somewhat primitive schools of the time and 
place, and as a young man devoted himself to farming, a vocation at 
which he was working, when in 1849 the discovery of gold in California 
started the stampede of hardy and adventurous souls in that direction. 
He then was 23 years of age, and of the temperament eager to seize upon 
the prospect of so promising an adventure, and in 1849 he joined a band 
of "Argonauts" and started across the plains for the gold fields, arriving 
there without serious mishap in 1850. For four years he remained in 
the gold country, and then came back to Cooper County, returning by 
way of Panama and the East, and in the spring of 1855 became engaged 
again in farming in this county. Upon his return here he bought 222 
acres, and in the years since has added to his holdings until now he has 
720 acres of fine land, a part of which has been under cultivation more 
than 90 years. During the time of the Civil War, Mr. Potter served as 
a member of the Home Guards, but was not called into active service. 
In the fall of 1865 he married and established his home in a log cabin 
on his farm, but it was not long until he had a better home, and as the 
years passed he brought his farm up to a high standard, which is being 




Al'.KAHAM POTTER 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1001 

maintained by his son, John J. Potter, who, since his father's retirement, 
has been directing the affairs of the home farm. Abraham Potter is a 
stanch democrat,, and has ever stoutly maintained the principles of that 
party. He is a stockholder in the Bank of Clifton City, and has other 
good investments besides his broad acres. He attends the Presbyterian 
Church, but is not a professed member of the same. 

In October, 1865, Abraham Potter was married to Sarah Erwin, who 
was bom in Pettis County in 1845, member of one of the pioneer families 
of that county, and who died in 1914, she then being 69 years of age. To 
that union were born 10 children, namely: Lura, wife of J. W. Neal, of 
Sedaila; Ella, who is living with her father; Granville, of Sedalia; John 
J., who is farming the old home place ; Clayton, deceased ; Flora, wife of 
A. M. Harlan, of Sedalia ; Eva, wife of F. B. Richards, now living in Flor- 
ida; Hettie, at home; Ethel, wife of F. Griffin, of Pettis County, and 
Brookie, wife of T. A. Huffine, of Napton. Mr. Potter has 14 grandchil- 
dren, and in his old age takes much pride and interest in watching their 
growth and development. John J. Potter, who has charge of the old 
home farm, is carrying on operations there in progressive fashion and 
in accordance with up-to-date methods, which offer an amazing contrast 
to the methods which his father perforce had to employ in the days when 
he entered upon the development of that fine farm, and is doing well. 
He married Jennie Phillips, of Pleasant Green, and has a very pleasant 
home. Mrs. Potter also is a member of one of Coopeer County's pioneer 
families. 

Hon. Henry Lee Myers, United States senator from the state of Mon- 
tana, is a native son of Cooper County, in whose preferment her citizens 
take a just measure of pride, and it is but proper that, though he long has 
been an honored citizen of another State, there should here be set out in 
this record of his old home county some brief record of his life and 
achievements. Cooper County has been singularly favored in the char- 
acter of her citizenship and in the number of her sons who have achieved 
distinction in the various fields of lofty human endeavor. 

Senator Myers is a representative of one of Cooper County's real 
"old families," his mother's family having settled here in territorial days, 
and in his parental inheritance he partakes of the pioneer qualities of 
sturdy and self-reliant Virginia and Kentucky stock. The senator's 
father, Henry M. Myers, was a Virginian, born of Colonial stock in 1814. 
He grew to manhood in Virginia, receiving his schooling there and becom- 
ing a substantial citizen, remaining there until the year 1840, when he 



1002 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

disposed of his interests there and came to Missouri, settling on a farm 
on the Jefferson City road, one mile east of Boonville, where he spent the 
rest of his active life, becoming a useful and influential citizen of the 
community. In his old age, and upon his retirement he joined his son, 
Henry L., at Hamilton, Mont., where he spent his last days. He died 
there in 1899, being 85 years of age, and his body lies in the cemetery at 
that place. Henry M. Myers was twice married, his first wife, who was 
a Hickox, and whom he married in Missouri, having died after about 14 
years of married life. To that union were born four children, namely: 
Helen, widow of F. P. Bronaugh, of St. Louis ; Martha, who married the 
Rev. G. W. Horn, and is now deceased ; Kate, who died in the days of her 
girlhood, and Laura, wife of C. A. Patton, of Fulton, Mo. The second 
wife, mother of Senator Myers, was Maria Moss Adams, who was born 
on a pioneer farm, four miles east of Boonville, in 1831, a daughter of 
David and Margaret Adams, pioneers who had come here from Kentucky 
in the territorial days. To Henry M. and Maria (Adams) Myers were 
born two sons, Senator Myers having a younger brother, Dr. Ernest 
Adams Myers, a dental surgeon, now practicing at Portland, Ore. The 
mother of these sons died at Hamilton, Mont., in 1897, and is buried there 
beside the body of her husband. 

It was on the Myers farm, a mile east of Boonville, that Henry Lee 
Myers was born, Oct. 9, 1862, and his boyhood was spent there. His 
schooling was received in private schools at Boonville under the preceptor- 
ship of Anthony Haynes and M. M. Singleton, who directed his studies, 
and under whose instructions he cultivated an inclination to adopt the 
law as his profession. Thus equipped by preparatory study he entered 
the law office of Draffen & Williams at Boonville, and under the preceptor- 
ship of this firm, teaching school at intervals, he made such advancement 
that in 1884 he passed the examination and was admitted to the bar. 
After admission, he continued to teach for a time, and also engaged in 
newspaper work. Later, he went to West Plains, Howell County, and 
opened an office for the practice of law, but conditions there not proving 
satisfactory, he yielded to an inclination to do a bit of pioneering, to go 
West and "grow up with the country," and in 1893 he went to Hamilton, 
in Ravalli County, on the very western border of Montana, and in the 
new county seat engaged in the practice of law. He arrived at singu- 
larly opportune moment, and it was not long until he was becoming widely 
recognized as one of the coming factors of Western Montana. Reared a 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1003 

democrat of the true Jeffersonian type, and with a lawyer's aptitude for 
such activities, it was but natural that he should early take his place in 
the rapidly expanding political arena of the community, and it was not 
long until he found himself elected to office, his first public service being 
rendered as county attorney of Ravalli county. He served two terms in 
this office, and in 1898 was elected to represent his senatorial district in 
the State Senate, the term being for four years. It was while thus serv- 
ing that Senator Myers acquired the initial legislative experience that 
later was to prove so valuable an acquisition in the greatest deliberative 
body in the world, the United States Senate. During his service in the 
Montana General Assembly the Senator extended his acquaintance pretty 
widely throughout the State, and became recognized by leaders generally 
as a State figure in politics. In the meantime he was not neglecting his 
practice, the modest law office which he had opened at Hamilton upon 
his arrival having early acquired a profitable clientele, and he also became 
recognized as one of the leading lawyers of his judicial district, a fit can- 
didate for judicial honors. A vacancy occurring, he was appointed dis- 
trict judge by the governor. At the next election his party presented 
him as its nominee for district judge of the Fourth Judicial District. He 
was elected, and was on the bench when elected by the General Assembly 
of his State to serve as a United States senator from Montana for the 
six-year term, beginning March 4, 1911. So satisfactory was Senator 
Myers' service in the United States Senate prove during his first term 
that in 1916 he was, without opposition, made the nominee of his party 
in Montana for re-election (the law relating to the selection of United 
States senators meanwhile having been revised), and in the following 
election was chosen by the vote of the people to succeed himself, and is 
now thus serving his second term in the United States Senate. 

Senator Myers is married. In July, 1896, at Hamilton, Mont., he 
was united in marriage with Nora S. Dora, of that place, whose parents, 
T. M. Doran and wife, still live there, and to this union one child has been 
born, Mary Annetta. The senator and his wife are Presbyterians, and 
he is affiliated with the Masons, the Knights of Pythias and the Benevo- 
lent and Protective Order of Elks. 

William A. Smith, a well-to-do retired farmer of Prairie Home town- 
ship, is a native son of Cooper County. He was born on a farm in Prairie 
Home township, April 24, 1860, son of Jeremiah and Letitia (George) 
Smith. Thomas Smith, father of Jeremiah Smith, entered from the Gov- 



1004 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

ernment a tract of land in Prairie Home township upon coming here, and 
the west half of the plat of the town of Prairie Home covers a part of 
that land. 

William A. Smith received his schooling in the local public schools, 
his attendance at school, as he recalls it, being pretty largely confined to 
rainy days. He stuck to the home farm when he grew up, and after his 
marriage at the age of 23, his father gave him 80 acres on which he 
established his home. As his affairs prospered he bought adjoining land 
until he became the owner of a fine farm of 210 acres a mile west of town, 
where he continued his operations until his retirement from the farm and 
removal to Prairie Home in 1914, since which time his farm has been 
under the management of his son, Elmer Smith. Prior to moving to 
Prairie Home in September, 1914, Mr. Smith had bought a four-acre tract 
within the corporate limits, erected a five-room house, and he and his 
wife have since resided there, their chief domestic concern being the care 
of their poultry yard, where they have a fine flock of White Wyandot 
chickens. Mr. and Mi\s. Smith are members of the Baptist Chui-ch at 
Prairie Home, and Mr. Smith is clerk of the congregation. He also gives 
close attention to local civic affairs, and is a member of the Town Council, 
serving as clerk of the same, and is secretary-treasurer of the local light 
plant. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. 

Nov. 29, 1883, William A. Smith was married to Bettie Muir, who 
was born in this county, and to this union two children have been born, 
namely: Mamie Levens, born on Oct. 7, 1884, married Harold Mills, Dec. 
27, 1905, of Clarks Fork township, and has two children, Jerome and Vir- 
ginia; and Elmer K. Smith, born June 15, 1888, who, on Feb. 11, 1914, 
married Melvina Milner, who was born at Medill, Okla., and has two chil- 
dren, Harry Milner and Mildred Elizabeth. Elmer K. Smith is now farm- 
ing the home place, where he and his familv live. Mrs. Bettie Smith was 
born at Bunceton, daughter of Thomas J. and Rhoda (Levens) Muir, both 
members of old families in this part of Missouri. Dr. B. W. Levens, 
maternal grandfather of Mrs. Smith, was one of the pioneer physicians 
of Cooper County, he having practiced in what is now the Bunceton neigh- 
borhood long before the town of Bunceton was laid out. He married 
Rhoda Stevens in 1818. Henry Levens, an uncle of Mrs. Smith, wrote in 
collaboration with his partner, N. M. Drake, an attorney of Boonville, a 
history of Cooper County in 1876. William Basil Muir. paternal grand- 
father of Mrs. Smith, was a pioneer of Howard County, locating there 
unon coming from Tennessee in the early days. His son, Thomas J. Muir, 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1005 

father of Mrs. Smith, was born in Howard County, Sept. 21, 1828, and 
died at his home in Cass County on Feb. 18, 1875. His remains rest in 
the family cemetery in Howard County. His widow, who was born on 
April 29, 1834, died Jan. 18, 1889, and she was buried at Bunceton. 
Thomas J. and Rhoda (Levens) Muir were the parents of seven children, 
namely : Thomas H., born Nov. 1, 1854, Gridley, Kan. ; William B., Jan. 
20, 1857, Hammond Ind. ; Bettie, wife of William A. Smith, Feb. 4, 1861 ; 
Margaret L., June 17, 1863, married Charles Stemmons, and died July 6, 
1902, and is buried at Bunceton; Cora, March 15, 1870, wife of J. A. 
Geary, deceased, of Kansas City ; Minnie, July 6, 1872, married George A. 
Barker, and was killed in a street railway accident at St. Louis, Sept. 22, 
1900, and was buried in the family plot at Bunceton, and George Wash- 
ington, the first born, died an infant in 1854. 

Herman F. Kuhn, member of the firm of Kuhn Bros. & Co., general 
merchandise, at Prairie Home, was born on the farm now owned by Nich- 
olas Meyer in Prairie Home township, July 19, 1893, son of H. G. and 
Margaret A. (Schilb) Kuhn, who are now living on their farm near Prairie 
Home. 

H. G. Kuhn was born in Moniteau County, May 15, 1869, son of 
Christian Kuhn, who came to the United States from Germany when a 
boy, grew up in Missouri and in time became a substantial land-owned in 
Moniteau County, where he is still living, being now 86 years of age. 
Christian Kuhn's wife. Laura, died in 1917, and is buried in the Evangeli- 
cal Churchyard in her home county. Margaret wife of H. G. Kuhn, was 
born in Clarks Fork township, this county, Aug. 31, 1869, a daughter of 
Frederick Schilb, who also is now a resident of Prairie Home township. 
To H. G. Kuhn and wife have been born seven children, as follows: Viola 
May, deceased; Herman F.; William McKinley, born on Nov. 3, 1896, 
married Blanche Griesbach, of Moniteau County, and is farming near 
Jacksonville ; Leslie Christian, is now serving in the United States navy ; 
Emil Wilbur, is at home assisting his father; Henry Howard, Jackson- 
ville, and Theodore R., at home. Leslie Christian Kuhn, the sailor son, 
enlisted in the U. S. Navy in August, 1918, and was sent to the Great 
Lakes Naval Training Station at Chicago for preliminary training, and 
from there to the Naval Station at Norfolk, and was assigned to service 
on a United States submarine chaser, and is still (spring of 1919) in 
service. 

Herman F. Kuhn was reared on the farm and received his early 
schooling in the schools of Prairie Home. He early decided upon a busi- 



1006 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

ness career, and upon completing the course in the home schools entered 
Central Business College at Kansas City, from which institution he was 
graduated in 1913. For three years thereafter he was engaged as book- 
keeper and stenographer in the office of the Hadley Milling Company, at 
Olathe, Kan., and then returned to Prairie Home, and bought the interest 
held by E. M. Kirschman in the mercantile firm of Kuhn Bros. & Co., at 
that place, of which firm he since has been a member, devoting his earnest 
attention to the growing business of that firm, the other members of 
which are H. G. Kuhn and W. H. Kuhn. The building in which Kuhn 
Bros. & Co. are doing business is a sightly brick building erected in 1912, 
and the mezxantile firm occupies the first and second floors and basement 
of the same, carrying a complete line of general merchandise. This firm 
also has a similar stock of goods at Lupus, and is known as an enterpris- 
ing and energetic firm of merchants, enjoying a constantly growing trade. 
In connection with its mercantile enterprise the firm publishes a neat 
little monthly paper, the title of which is "Over the Top," and which car- 
ries prominently displayed the firm's motto: "Good service means good 
will ; good will means good business." The paper properly enough is 
devoted to the company's trade announcements, but carries in addition a 
lot of entertaining reading matter, which makes it a welcome visitor in 
the homes of the community. 

Nov. 17, 1915, Herman F. Kuhn was married to Olive G. Meek, 
daughter of M. B. and Frances Meek, of Ochiltree, Kan., and to this 
union two children have been born, Edgar Milton, born on Nov. 29, 1916, 
and Loyal Margaret, Nov. 10, 1918. Mr. and Mrs. Kuhn are members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church (South) and take a proper interest in 
church work. 

Joseph Hurt Groom, proprietor of "Sunny Crest Stock Farm," near 
Overton, in Saline township, is one of the leading young stock breeders 
in Cooper County. He was born on a farm in Saline township, Aug. 18, 
1884, son of Colby C. and Emma Davis (Kickashear) Groom, the latter 
of whom is living at her fine home on the outskirts of Overton. 

Joseph H. Groom received his schooling in the Highland School, and 
from his boyhood has devoted his attention to farming and stock raising. 
He remained on the home farm until his marriage, when he moved to 
LaMine township, and was there engaged in farming near Blackwater 
until 1913, when he bought 70 acres of his present farm southeast of 
Overton, and has since made his home there. Not long afterward he 
bought 87 acres adjoining, and now has a well improved place of 157 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1007 

acres, which he has developed with special reference to his stock breeding, 
"Sunny Crest Stock Farm" being widely known for its high grade of 
stock. The original patent for "Sunny Crest" was made out to one 
James M. Farris, who filed on this land over 100 years ago, he having 
come here from the section of Missouri that was devastated by an earth- 
quake. During the past century there have been numerous transfers 
made of this tract, and by a somewhat singular coincidence of names it 
was owned by James W. Farris at the time Mr. Groom bought it, this latter 
Farris being of no known kinship to the original owner. But speaking of 
"original" owners, there are evidences on the farm of a much prior own- 
ership, these mute testimonials of prehistoric proprietorship being five 
mounds, typical of the work of the Mound Builders. "Sunny Crest" is 
branch bottom and upland, and about half of it is now in pasture, it being 
Mr. Groom's intention eventually to devote the whole place to pasture 
in extension of his stock-breeding operations. He is a breeder of Per- 
cheron horses, Shorthorn cattle, jacks and jennets, Duroc-Jersey hogs and 
Shropshire sheep, all eligible to registry, and is doing a constantly in- 
creasing business in that line. "Black Coco," the Percheron stallion he 
has owned for the past three or four years, has won 16 blue ribbons in 
this State. He also has two registered Kentucky bred jacks, "Governor 
Glenn 7250" and "Tom Mace," the former of which won a second premium 
at the Missouri State Fair and sweepstakes at the Moniteau and Cooper 
County fair. In his stable are also 16 good brood mares, and his flock of 
Shropshires now numbers about 40. 

Joseph H. Groom has been twice married. In 1909 he was united in 
marriage to Edith May Hill, of LaMine township, who died on May 4, 
1916, and on June 3, 1918, he married Mrs. Arminda (Bell) Hyatt, widow 
of Paul Z. Hyatt, and the mother of two sons, Paul Z. and Manlies Chap- 
man Hyatt. Paul Z. Hyatt, first husband of Mrs. Groom, died Oct. 29, 
1915. To Mr. and Mrs. Groom has been born a son, Joseph Hurt Groom, 
born June 24, 1919. Mr. and Mrs. Groom are members of the Highland 
Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and Mr. Groom has been ordained both 
a deacon and an elder in the church, in which the Groom family for many 
years have been among the most active workers. 

Samuel T. Fulton, a well known citizen of Kelly township and owner 
and proprietor of the "Green Ridge" farm, is a native of Kentucky. He 
was born at Carlisle, Oct. 5, 1848. the son of James and Sallie (Alexander) 
Fulton, both natives of Kentucky. They were the parents of two chil- 
dren: Samuel T.. the subject of this sketch, and Mary Jane Berry, who 



1008 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

died at Pilot Grove. The father died in 1850 in Kentucky and the mother 
afterwards married Singleton Paxton and to this union two daughters 
were born: Hattie, who resides at Bunceton and Mrs. James Hall, Butler, 
Mo. In 1864, shortly after her second marriage, the mother and her 
second husband and other members of the family came to Cooper County, 
Mo., and settled at Pilot Grove, where she died March 6, 1898. 

Samuel T. Fulton was educated in the schools of Kentucky and Illi- 
nois, and after coming to Cooper County attended Simpson's private 
school, which was located near Nebo. He lived for a few years in Illinois 
and for a time in Cass County, Mo., and has resided on his present place 
since 1892. He owns 160 acres, which he bought from T. J. Wallace for 
$30.00 per acre. At that time it was unimproved land. Mr. Fulton has 
added valuable improvements and has a very good farm. He raises 
Scotch Top cattle, eligible to registration and he also raises Poland China 
hogs, and formerly was an extensive cattle feeder. 

Mr. Fulton is unmarried and spends a part of his time on his farm, 
but practically makes his home with his sister in Bunceton. Mr. Fulton 
is a member of the Masonic Lodge at Bunceton and one of Cooper County's 
substantial and highly respected citizens. 

Hiram D. Case, president of the Farmers and Mercants Bank of 
Otterville, was born on a farm in Lafayette County, Wis., Jan. 18, 1867, 
son of Samuel S. and Elizabeth (Miller) Case, natives of Ohio, whose last 
days were spent in Missouri. 

Samuel S. Case was born in Ohio, Aug. 4, 1815, and some time after 
his marriage in that State became a resident of Lafayette County, Wis., 
remaining there until 1868, when he moved with his family to Missouri, 
driving through in a covered wagon, and became engaged in farming near 
Boonville, later establishing his home on a farm in Blackwater township. 
During the '70s he moved to Bates County, but after four years of resi- 
dence there returned to Cooper County. Upon his retirement from the 
farm he went to Marshall, and there spent his last days. He died Dec. 
15, 1895. His wife died Nov. 8, 1883. She was born in Ohio in 1820. 
During the Civil War, Samuel S. Case served for nine months as a soldier 
of the Union, and his eldest son, Jacob M. Case, served throughout the 
war as a soldier of the Union. Samuel S. Case and wife were the parents 
of eight children, of whom six are still living. Of these, three are resi- 
dents of Cooper County, the subject of this sketch having two brothers 
here, E. A. Case, of Blackwater township, and J. T. Case, of Clarks Fork 
township. 

Hiram D. Case was but a babe in arms, not yet a year old, when his 




II EARL CAS 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1009 

parents came to Cooper County in 1868, and he was reared in this county, 
receiving his schooling- in this county and in Bates County. When 17 
years of age, in association with his brother, J. T. Case, Mr. Case began 
farming on his own account, and in 1892 he rented a farm in Clarks Fork 
township. Two years later he married and then continued to make his 
home on that farm until in 1900, when he bought a place of 90 acres in 
Lebanon township, where he remained until 1905, when he sold that place 
and bought his present excellent farm of 271 acres near Otterville, where 
he and his family have since resided. Mr. Case has made numerous sub- 
stantial improvements on the place, and is contemplating more. He gives 
considerable attention to the raising of cattle and hogs, and his operations 
have been profitable. In 1914, he was elected president of the Farms 
and Merchants Bank of Otterville, a position which he still occupies. 
Mr. Case also has ever taken a close interest in educational affairs, and 
for the past 14 years has been serving very effectively as president of 
the Otterville School Board. 

Oct. 24, 1894, Hiram D. Case was married to Ida Rennison, who was 
born in this county, and to this union seven children have been born, 
namely: H. Earl, who died in 1918 while serving as principal of the high 
school at Smithton, Missouri ; Florence Beatrice, who was graduated 
from the Otterville High School, and is at home; James Eugene now a 
student in the high school; Alma Annabel and Amy Frances (twins), and 
Roy E. and Mabel B. H. Earl Case the eldest child of Mr. and Mrs. Case 
aforementioned, was born Nov. 1, 1897, in Clarks Fork township, Cooper 
County. He was reared on the farm and attended the public schools, and 
was graduated from the Otterville High School in the class of 1915. He 
then taught in LaMine School, near Clifton City, one term. He then 
attended the State Normal School at Warrensburg. In 1917, he accepted 
a position as teacher in the public schools at Smithton, Mo. That same 
fall he took charge of the Smithton Schools, being elected principal, to 
fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of the former principal. He 
was serving in this capacity when he died, April 17, 1918. He was a capa- 
ble young man, whose untimely death was a severe loss. 

Mrs. Case was born on a farm in Clarks Fork township, daughter of 
J. H. and Sarah (Cartner) Rennison, both of whom also were born in this 
county, members of pioneer families, and the former of whom is still liv- 
ing now making his home with his daughter, Mrs. Lewis, of Lebanon 
township. Mr. and Mrs. Case and their elder children are members of 
the Presbyterian Church at Otterville, and take a proper part in church 



1010 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

work, as well as in the general social activities of their home community. 
Mr. Case is a republican, and is one of the leaders of that party in the 
Otterville neighborhood. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the local lodges 
of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of 
America. 

Fred L. Schilb, who for nearly 20 years past has served as postmas- 
ter at Prairie Home, is a native son of Cooper County, born in Clarks 
Fork township, Aug. 3, 1874, son of Fred and Mary (Meyer) Schilb. 
Reared on the home farm in Clarks Fork township, Fred L. Schilb received 
his early schooling in the public schools and completed the same by a 
course in the old Prairie Home Institute. He remained on the home 
farm until he was 21 years of age, or until his appointment on Sept. 1, 
1897, to the position of deputy postmaster at Prairie Home. May 11, 
1900, having then served for more than two years as deputy postmaster, 
Mr. Schilb received his commission as postmaster at Prairie Home and 
has ever since occupied that position. Upon taking charge of the post- 
office at Prairie Home, Mr. Schilb bought from Robert Hornbeck the lat- 
ter's stock of confectioneries and has since conducted a confectionery 
store. Since taking over the store he has added a stock of groceries 
and is doing a nice business, one of the leading merchants of the town. 
During the Government's War Savings Stamp "drive" in the summer of 
1918, Mr. Schilb sold about $12,000 worth of savings stamps, and was 
also otherwise active in promoting the various war-work activities of the 
community. He owns his home and business property, and is one of the 
active factors in the business and social life of the community. He is 
affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the Modern 
Woodmen of America. He and his family are connected with the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church at Prairie Home, and for the past 20 years Mr. 
Schilb has served as superintendent of the Sunday School, during the past 
five years not having missed attendance a single Sunday. This Sunday 
School is a standard Sunday School, meeting all the requirements of the 
Sunday School Association, and during Mr. Schilb's incumbency as super- 
intendent he has had the gratification of seeing it grow from an average 
attendance of about 25 to its present average attendance of 125, a record 
in which all connected with the school take pride. 

Oct. 5, 1898, Fred L. Schilb was united in marriage to Leta Kicka- 
shear, who was born in Saline township, a daughter of Joseph Patesta 
(Chicazolla) and Margaret (Rymer) Kickashear, the latter of whom is 
living. Mr. and Mrs. Schilb have seven children, Patesta J., now in the 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1011 

service of the United States navy and Lewis F., Lorena E., Opal, Mary 
Margaret, Huston B. and Myra V., at home. Patesta J. Schilb, the sailor 
son, was born- at Prairie Home Aug. 29, 1899, and was named in honor 
of his maternal grandfather. Feb., 1918, he enlisted in the United States 
navv in connection with this country's participation in the World War 
and was sent to the Great Lakes Naval Training Station at Chicago for 
preliminary training. In August he was assigned for service and was 
sent to England, the vessel to which he was assigned being attached to 
the base station at Eastleigh, and he was serving on that station when the 
armistice was signed. In December he was returned to New York and 
was assigned to the U. S. S. "Nasemond", with which vessel he still 
(spring of 1919) is connected and on which he has taken several trips 
across the Atlantic. 

W. A. Farris, representative of the Gates Halfsoie Tires at Boon- 
ville, Mo., is a native son of Cooper County and a descendant of one of 
the pioneer families of this section of Missouri. He is a son of William 
P. and Almeda (Grubbs) Farris. William P. Farris was born near Elliott, 
Cooper County, in 1842. He was a successful farmer and stockman and 
became well-to-do. During the course of his career he accumulated about 
300 acres of land. He was one of the early members of the Baptist 
church at Big Lick. He died in 1914. His wife departed this life in 
1901, and their remains are buried in the Clayton cemetery. They were 
the parents of the following children : Emmett, deceased ; Lydia, de- 
ceased; James Eri, deceased; A. L. resides in Saline township; W. A. the 
subject of this sketch ; Nellie married A. W. Finley ; Edna E., married L. 
T. Mills, Clarks Fork township ; Anna M. married George Bruckner, Jr., 
Boonville, and two died in infancy. 

W. A. Farris was educated in the public schools of Cooper County, 
and the high school at Jefferson City, Mo. He followed farming for a 
number of years and for the past eight years was engaged in the insurance 
business. In Jan., 1919, he became the representative of the Gates Rub- 
ber Co., of Denver, Col., and opened a branch for this company at Boon- 
ville. They manufacture what is known as the Gates Halfsoie for auto- 
mobile tire casings, which is recognized as the only successful tire saver 
on the market. Mr. Farris has taken a special course of training in ap- 
plying these halfsoles to automobile tires, and since engaging in this busi- 
ness at Boonville, he has met with marked success. 

Mr. Farris was married Oct. 18, 1915 to Miss Matilda S. Renken, a 
daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Schnuck) Renken, more extensive men- 



1012 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

tion of whom are made elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. Farris is also a 
native of Cooper County, born in Clarks Fork township March 3, 1883. 

Mr. and Mrs. Farris are well known in Cooper County and have many 
friends. 

Henry S. Stephens, a successful farmer and stockman of North Moni- 
teau township, was born in Cooper County, March 7, 1876. He is a son 
of J. D. and Melinda (Arnold) Stephens. J. D. Stephens was also a native 
of Cooper County, born in South Moniteau township in 1843, and when he 
was an infant his parents moved to St. Clair County, Mo., where he was 
reared. When the Civil War broke out he entered the Confederate ser- 
vice and served under Gen. Sterling Price in the 16th Missouri Infantry, 
General Parson's Brigade and was with the army which surrendered at 
Shreveport, La. At the close of the war he returned to Missouri, coming 
up the river to St. Louis by steamboat, and from there to Tipton by rail. 
After living at Tipton for a few years he moved to North Moniteau town- 
ship, where he was engaged in farming. He died suddenly at Bunceton, 
Mo., from heart failure while attending a show there, and his remains 
are buried at Pisgah, Mo. Melinda (Arnold) Stephens, mother of Henry 
S. Stephens, was born in Kelly township, this county in 1844, and died 
June 20, 1906, and her remains are buried in Pisgah, Mo. She was a 
daughter of Lee Arnold, a native of Kentucky, born in 1813. He came to 
Missouri when a small boy making the trip on horseback. He was reared 
by Hartley White, who brought him from Kentucky to Cooper County and 
who settled about four miles north of Tipton. Lee Arnold married Nancy 
Morris, a daughter of Shadrach Morris of Kelly township, and they were 
the parents of the following children : Martha ; John ; Hugh ; Ann ; Ham- 
mond ; Jael ; Melinda, who married J. D. Stephens ; Peter and Ira, all of 
whom are now deceased except Jael who now resides in South Moniteau 
township. Lee Arnold died in South Moniteau township about 1885 and 
is buried in the Shadrach, Morris private cemetery. His wife preceded 
him in death about three years. 

To J. D. and Melinda (Arnold) Stephens were born the following 
children: Dora, who died when about four years of age; Henry S., the 
subject of this sketch, and Eme Lee, who married C. E. Scott and now 
resides in South Moniteau township. To C. E. and Effie Lee (Stephens) 
Scott have been born the following children: Lola Lee; Louis Leslie; 
Edgar D. ; Willie ; John Henry and Edith Myrtle. 

Henry S. Stephens was reared in North Moniteau township and re- 
ceived his education in the public schools, attending school in the Lee dis- 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1013 

trict. He has spent his life since he reached the age of li in North Moni- 
teau township where he has been engaged in farming. Mr. Stephens is 
unmarried. 

William Lynn Spahr, a well known and successful farmer and stock- 
man of Kelly township, was born in Boonville, Nov. 3, 1890. He is a son 
of William Lynn and Sarah Paulina (Stark) Spahr, the former also a 
native of Cooper County, where he spent his life and where he died April 
17, 1896. The mother was born near Otterville, Mo., and died Aug. 22, 
1914. William Lynn Spahr, the father, was engaged in the undertaking 
business at Boonville, the greater part of his life. To William Lynn and 
Sarah Paulina (Stark) Spahr were born the following children : Lawrence, 
a farmer in Kelly township; William L., the subject of this sketch, and 
David, Tulsa, Okla. 

William L. Spahr was educated in the district schools of Cooper 
County and the Bunceton High School. He has been engaged in farming 
and stock raising since boyhood. He purchased his present place in Kelly 
township from Frank Smith in 1912. His farm consists of 80 acres of 
well improved land, located three miles southwest of Bunceton. He has 
a pretty home and the other improvements on the place are of a corre- 
spondingly high type. He feeds cattle quite extensively and has met with 
success in this line of endeavor. 

Mr. Spahr was married in 1910 to Miss Anna Lee Palmer, a daughter 
of James and Ella (Collins) Palmer, both now residing in Lebanon town- 
ship. To James and Ella (Collins) Palmer have been born the following 
children: Clarence, Sedalia, Mo.; Henry, Bunceton; Russell, Bunceton; 
Mrs. Kate Schlotzhauer, Bunceton; Mrs. Mattie Cole, Otterville, Mo. and 
Frank Lillian ; Louise ; Pauline ; Stanley and Jack, residing at home with 
their parents. 

Mr. Spahr is one of Cooper County's substantial representative 
citizens and the Spahr family stand high in the community. 

M. J. Fassler, proprietor of "Fassler Prairie View Farm", is one of 
the successful farmers and progressive citizens of Kelly township. He 
was born in Switzerland, July 21, 1876, a son of Louis and Catherine 
(Holdenner) Fassler, both natives of Switzerland. Louis Fassler immi- 
grated to America in 1880, leaving his family in Switzerland until he 
became established sufficiently in this country to send for them, which 
he did two years later. They first located in Elk County, Pa., and in 
1885 the family came to Missouri and settled in Lamine township, Cooper 
County. About 1890 they removed to Kelly township, where the father 



1014 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

bought 160 acres of land. Later he sold 40 acres, and in 1917 the father 
sold the remainder of the home farm, which consisted of 120 acres, to 
M. J. Fassler the subject of this sketch, when he and his wife removed 
to Tipton, Mo., where they now reside. They were the parents of the 
following children: Dora, resides at home with her parents in Tipton; 
Joseph J. lives in Henry County; Mary, married W. H. Woolfolk, Alta- 
mont, Kan.; M. J., the subject of this sketch; and Lizzie who died at the 
age of 30 years. 

M. J. Fassler was educated in the public schools at Speed, Mo., and 
when a young man learned the blacksmith trade. He followed this voca- 
tion for seven years at Bellingsville, Mo., and one year at Speed. He then 
engaged in farming, buying a farm in Kelly township, which he operated 
from 1904 until 1917, when he sold it and bought the old homestead from 
his father, as above stated. This place is located on the Southern State 
Highway, northwest of Tipton and about seven miles south of Bunceton. 
It is a pretty place and kept in fine condition. The water for the place 
is supplied from a well 305 feet deep, which is pumped by a gas engine. 

M. J. Fassler was married in 1904 to Miss Fannie Erhardt, a daughter 
of H. L. and Sophia (Hobrecht) Erhardt, both of whom are now living. 
Mrs. Fassler is one of the following children born to her parents: Mrs. 
J. J. Fassler, Henry County, Mo. ; Mrs. Oscar Lauer, Boonville, Mo. ; Mrs. 
Wm. Simmons, Boonville, Mo. ; Mrs. Emmet Reynolds, Boonville, Mo. ; 
Henry of Meadsville. Mo. ; Frank, Memphis, Tenn. ; and Mrs. M. J. Fassler, 
Tipton, of this review. To M. J. Fassler and wife have been born the fol- 
lowing children : Catherine, Frances, Margaret, John, Charles, Mary and 
William, all residing at home with their parents. 

Mr. and Mrs. Fassler are members of the Catholic Church at Tipton 
and are of Cooper County's most progressive and substantial citizens. 

John G. Wolfrum, proprietor of "Prairie Lawn Farm", is one of the 
progressive and public spirited farmers and breeders of Kelly township. 
He was horn at Jamestown, Mo., Sept. 20, 1858, a son of John and Louisa 
Wolfrum the former a native of Germany and the latter of Cole County, 
Mo., born Oct. 23, 1837, and died Nov. 10, 1897. John Wolfrum came to 
America with his parents, who settled in Cole County, when he was eight 
years old. He was born Oct. 22, 1834 and died Jan. 24, 1913. The Wolf- 
rum family came to Moniteau County, Mo., after residing in Cole County 
for a few years. During the Civil War John Wolfrum served in the Mis- 
souri State militia. 

John G. Wolfrum was one of seven children born to his parents, the 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1015 

others being as follows: Nicholas, Knob Noster, Mo.; Earhardt, died in 
infancy; Margaret, married Henry Schubert, Cole County; Henry J., 
Rosoling, Canada; Christ G., died at the age of 27 years; William L., 
Concordia, Mo. ■ 

John G. Wolfrum was educated in the public schools of Moniteau 
County, and from early life has been interested in stock breeding as well 
as general farming and stockraising. He breeds registered Chester White 
hogs, and has some of the finest animals, both male and female, in the 
country, and is recognized as a successful breeder. He also is an exten- 
sive breeder of registered Shorthorn cattle, of which he has made a recog- 
nized success. Mrs. Wolfrum gives special attention to the poultry busi- 
ness, specializing in the Orpington and Rhode Island Reds. "Prairie 
Lawn Farm" consists of 96 acres and is well located about one mile east 
of Bunceton. The place is well improved with a good residence and other 
farm buildings and improvements. 

John G. Wolfrum was married May 12, 1881 to Miss Elizabeth Her- 
ruleben, a daughter of Frederick and Caroline (Moser) Herruleben, both 
natives of Germany. The father came here when he was 17 years of 
age and the mother when she was nine. They were married at Sandy 
Hook. Mo. The mother died March 24, 1873, and the father died in 
1901. They were the parents of the following children: Mrs. William 
Kile, who resides in Moniteau County ; Charles E., California, Mo. ; Mrs. 
Dan Wallenmeier, Prairie Home ; Elizabeth, the wife of John G. Wolfrum, 
the subject of this sketch ; Mary died at the age of 28 ; Mrs. William 
Sperber, Jamestown, Mo.; Benjamin Franklin, Jamestown, Mo.; Henry, 
died at the age of 40 years ; Laura died at the age of 23 years ; Mrs. J. J. 
Sherer, Bocen, Mo. To Mr. and Mrs. Wolfrum have been born four chil- 
dren as follows: William F., married Eliza Miller, of Moniteau County, 
and resides in Kelly township; Nicholas D., reside in Clarks Fork town- 
ship; Emma E., married William Gerhardt and lives in Kelly township; 
Ella L. is a graduate of the Bunceton High School, and resides at home. 

Mr. and Mrs. Wolfrum are members of the Evangelical Church and 
the Wolfrum family are among Cooper County's representative people. 

Dr. Irvin J. Kehr, a leading and progressive dental surgeon of Bunce- 
ton, Mo., is a native of Missouri. Dr. Kehr was born in .Kansas City, 
April 24, 1889, a son of Charles G. and Louisa (Kamper) Kehr, the former 
a native of Gasconade County, Mo., and the latter of Macoupin County, 
111. They now reside at Bunker Hill, 111. Dr. Kehr is one of four children 
born to his parents, the others being as follows: Arthur, a practicing 



1016 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

dentist at Dubuque, Iowa ; Chester, a farmer in Macoupin County, 111. and 
Ruby resides at home with her parents. 

Dr. Kher received his education in the public schools of St. Louis, 
Mo., and the high school at Bunker Hill, 111., graduating from that institu- 
tion. He then entered the Washington University at St. Louis, where 
he was graduated with a degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery. When the 
United States entered the W T orld War, he enlisted in 1917 in the dental 
corps U. S. army, and for a time was stationed at Camp Greenlief, Ga. 
From there he was transferred to Camp Shelby, Miss., where he was dis- 
charged Jan. 9, 1919. Feb. 10, 1919, Dr. Kehr opened an office in the 
Berger Building at Bunceton, where he is rapidly building up a very satis- 
factory practice. He has had valuable experience in dental work in his 
army practice, which, together with his thorough preparation, and com- 
plete training, well qualify him for the exacting duties of modern den- 
tistry. Dr. Kehr is public spirited and enterprising and has made exten- 
sive acquaintances and many friends in Bunceton and vicinity. 

Edgar C. Nelson, editor and publisher of the Bunceton Eagle, Mo., is 
a native son of Cooper County. He was born Aug. 17, 1883, on a farm a 
few miles east of Bunceton, in Cooper County, a son of T. A. and Sarah A. 
Nelson, a sketch of whom appears in this volume. Mr. Nelson was edu- 
cated in William Jewell College. After leaving college he spent one year 
in Texas, and upon his return to Missouri he held a position in the Uni- 
versity of Missouri for one year. He then purchased a farm near Bunce- 
ton and was engaged in agricultural pursuits for two years. 

In 1907, he became associated with his brother, L. 0. Nelson, in the 
management of the Bunceton Eagle. In 1915, Mr. Nelson leased the 
Eagle plant and business from his brother, and has achieved one of the 
splendid successes in the newspaper field which has placed the Eagle in 
the front rank of Missouri weekly newspapers. The Eagle has the largest 
circulation of any newspaper in Cooper County, and is the most prosperous 
and popular of the newspapers in this section of Missouri. The circula- 
tion exceeds 2,500 — and it is the home paper of Cooper County. 

Jan. 16, 1912, Mr. Nelson was married to Mrs Celeste (Allison) 
Chamberlain, a widow, and to this union one child. Nell Edwina, aged five 
years, has been born. By a former marriage, Mrs. Nelson has a son, Rob- 
ert Chamberlain. 

Mr. Nelson is a democrat, and is a member of the Baptist Church. 
He is a past master of Lodge No. 456, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, 
is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Woodmen of the World, and 
the Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity of William Jewell College. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1017 

David Lawrence Edson, one of Boonville township's progressive 
young citizens, is a native of Cooper County. Mr. Edson was born June 
8, 1889, in Boonville township. He is a son of Lewis and Anna (Brook- 
shire) Edwards" Edson, the former, a native of Cooper County, and the 
latter of St. Clair County. 

Lewis Edson was born in 1857 in Boonville township, a son of Sydney 
and Margaret (Nixon) Edson. Sydney Edson was a native of Ohio. He 
came to Cooper County in 1856 and settled on a farm, the place purchased 
by David Lawrence Edson in 1918, and now owned by him. Mai-garet 
Edson, at the age of 11 years, came from Ireland to America. Sydney 
Edson died in 1897, and his remains rest in Walnut Grove Cemetery. 

When a young man, Lewis Edson went west to Idaho, Oregon and 
California, was successful there, and returned to Missouri with money. 
He purchased a farm then known as the "Ed Jewett farm," which he 
later sold and purchased the farm where his son, David L., now resides. 
The senior Edson followed general farming, and specialized in hog-rais- 
ing, in which vocations he was unusually successful. He is now a resi- 
dent of Boonville. Lewis and Anna Edson are the parents of two chil- 
dren: Grace, the wife of J. L. Dow, of Boonville; and David L., the subject 
of this review. By a former marriage of Anna Edson to David Edwards, 
she is the mother of two children: H. L. Edwards, who is engaged in 
farming in Prairie Home township; and A. D. Edwards, a merchant of 
Moberly, Mo. 

David L. Edson obtained his elementary education in the public 
schools of the county. He is a graduate of Boonville High School. Mr. 
Edson daily made the trip from his home to the high school, a distance of 
three and a half miles, and was never absent, and was late but twice, 
which is a record difficult to surpass. He is a graduate of the Missouri 
State University, a member of the class of 1914, receiving the degrees 
of Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science, and also a teacher's life 
certificate. After completing the university course, Mr. Edson taught 
school one year. He was connected with the State Board of Charities 
and Corrections for 18 months, and was the first agent of the Department 
of Child Welfare. He returned to the farm in 1917, and has since been 
been very successfully engaged in the pursuits of agriculture. Mr. Edson 
raises three varieties of corn : Yellow Dent, Iowa Silver Mine and Pride of 
the North, the last a 91 corn. In 1918, the corn produced on the Edson 
farm was of excellent quality. 

The Edson farm is located three and a half miles southeast of Boon- 
ville on the state highway. David L. Edson has charge of his father's 



1018 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

place, which comprises 350 acres of the best farm land, and in addition 
manages his own farm, which comprises 160 acres, formerly the Alex 
Bear farm. Mr. Edson has had a grade herd of cattle, but, at the time 
of this writing, he is starting a registered Polled Angus herd, having at 
the present time 25 head of cattle. He raises hogs extensively and last 
year, 1918, fed three car-loads of hogs, additional to one car-load of sheep 
and one of cattle. The Edson farm is very productive and is well watered. 

In 1909, David Lawrence Edson and Mary Grace O'Neal were united 
in marriage. Mrs. Edson is a daughter of Amos and Lucy O'Neal, the 
former, now a resident of LaMine township. Mrs. O'Neal died in 1913. 
The O'Neal children are: Alonzo 0., of LaMine township; Lee, of Black- 
water; Silas, of Blackwater; Aubrey, a well-known cattle salesman of 
Kansas City; Freeman, who is at the present time serving under the 
colors in France; and Mrs. Edson, the wife of the subject of this review. 
Two children are deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Edson has been born one 
child, a daughter, Mary Ethel. 

In the fall of 1918, Mr. Edson was a candidate for election as repre- 
sentative on the democratic ticket. Although keenly interested in agri- 
cultural pursuits, Mr. Edson takes a good citizen's part in all matters of 
vital import. He is especially interested in all child-welfare movements. 
The Edson family stands high in the community and in the county there is 
none more highly valued and respected. 

"The Boonville Nurseries", located opposite the Missouri, Kansas & 
Topeka depot, was established in 1904 by A. E. Barnes and T. R. Peyton, 
both of whom came to Cooper County from Audrain County, Mo., and 
located at Boonville because of the pure loess soil at this place. The firm 
began business on a very small scale, but increased the business yearly. 
In 1913, A. E. Barnes purchased the interest of T. R. Peyton and to the 
plant of the "Boonville Nurseries", as it was at that time, added the 
nursery of H. W. Jenkins and now the "Boonville Nurseries" is one of 
the largest and best equipped nurseries in the state and in the west cen- 
tral states. Trees are grown here by the hundreds of thousands. The 
"Boonville Nurseries" also has the largest cherry orchard in Missouri, 
an orchard of nearly 2,500 trees, which will begin bearing next year, 1920. 
The orchard is located in the western part of Boonville on the cross state 
highway. The company employs a large number of agents, who sell stock 
in Missouri and adjoining states, selling a complete line of nursery stock, 
including all kinds of berries, shrubs and roses. 

A. E. Barnes was with the Kansas Home Nursery and at the Experi- 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1019 

mental Grounds at Lawrence, Kan. for three years prior to coming to 
Boonville. Prior to that time, Mr. Barnes was employed at the Ortez 
Fruit Farm & Nursery in Audrain County, Mo. He obtained his general 
education in the public schools of Mexico, Mo. and at Sproul's Academy, 
at the latter studying the business course. He spent a year in the state 
of Colorado, where he was studying irrigation, and thence came to Law- 
rence, Kan. and to Boonville. 

Mr. Barnes was born in Audrain County, Mo., near Mexico, Dec. 29, 
1880, a son of Noble and Mary (Bybee) Barnes, natives of Kentucky. 
Noble Barnes has just completed two terms of service in the office of 
county treasurer, eight years, and now resides at Mexico. Mrs. Barnes 
died in 1917 and her remains are interred in Sunrise Church cemetery in 
Audrain County. The children of Noble and Mary Barnes are: M. C. and 
Theodore, farmers, Mexico, Mo. ; Mrs. T. R. Peyton, of Boonville ; A. E., 
the subject of this sketch; Claud L., who is on a fruit farm in Idaho; and 
Roy and Ray, who are farming in Nebraska. 

In 1909, A. E. Barnes and Grace E. Stammerjohn, a daughter of Claus 
and Emma Stammerjohn, of Boonville, were united in marriage. Mr. and 
Mrs. Stammerjohn are the parents of nine children, all of whom are living 
and residents of Boonville; Meta, the wife of Ed Holtman; Henry; Re- 
becca, the wife of J. J. Heiberger; Julia, the wife of Charles Durr; John, 
Dora, Edward, and Benjamin ; and Grace, the wife of A. E. Barnes. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Barnes have been born three children, who are now living, 
one child now deceased: Noel, Meta and Leah. Noble, Jr., the second 
son and child, died in nfancy. Mr. and Mrs. Barnes are members of the 
Boonville Christian Church, on which Mr. Barnes is a deacon. He is a 
past-grand officer of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Boonville. 

Recently, Mr. Barnes has completed an eleven-room bungalow, mod- 
ern throughout, equipped with a private water system, in the city of 
Boonville. He has on his farm an underground silo, which is attracting 
much attention in the county. The silo is cemented and built on the plan 
of a cistern and the silage as cut is dropped into the silo. It was filled m 
1918 and has proven a success. Mr. Barnes converts an old wine cellar on 
the farm into a cold storage room, when the season opens. He handles 
in the nursery business, three kinds of cherries, the Early Richmond, the 
Montmorency, the Morillo, and he has about 100 each of apples, pears and 
plums, and these are growing on his farm, the entire tract of 40 acres 
being set out in fruit. 

A. E. Barnes is widely known throughout Missouri and Cooper 



1020 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

County knows no more useful or better citizen. He and Mrs. Barnes are 
numbered among Boonville's best families. 

Capt. Edgar L. Barnert, captain of Company H, of the Boonville 
Training School, is one of the county's most valued and respected citizens. 
He was born Sept. 22, 1891 in Boonville, a son of Dominic and Mary A. 
(Back) Barnert, the former, a native of Germany and the latter, of Boon- 
ville. Dominic Barnert is a retired carpenter and contractor and one of 
Boonville's well-known citizens. Mr. and Mrs. Barnert are the parents 
of the following children: Minnie, who is married and now resides in 
Chicago, 111. ; Carl, a traveling salesman of St. Louis, Mo. ; Edgar L., the 
subject of this sketch; Merle, a lieutenant of the 35th Division, 140th 
Infantry, Company I, who enlisted at Boonville in the National Guards, 
was transferred to the army and served in Mexico and then re-enlisted for 
overseas service; Anna E., at home; and Jerome D., a student in the 
Boonville high school. 

Captain Barnert attended the Boonville high school. He worked with 
his father for a few years in carpentering and contracting and then ac- 
cepted the position of clerk in the Boonville postoffice, under R. W. Corum. 
He enlisted Sept. 5, 1918 in Company K, 12th Battalion, Infantry Replace- 
ment at Camp McArthur, Waco, Texas, and he was honorably discharged 
Dec. 19, 1919. Captain Barnert has been connected with the Training 
School in Boonville for the past five years, at different intervals, and he 
has held his present position since Dec. 23, 1918. He has 95 boys in his 
company and he teaches the primary grade. He drills his company one 
hour each morning and evening and he is responsible also for the moral 
welfare of the boys. Captain Barnert is giving much satisfaction as 
instructor and he takes a most commendable interest in his work and in 
the lads under his charge. 

Feb. 27, 1913, Edgar L. Barnert and Marian C. Bradley, a daughter of 
Thompkins and Mary Bradley, of Boonville, Mo., were united in marriage. 
The Bradleys are honored pioneers of Boonville and Mr. and Mrs. Bradley 
are numbered among the county's best families. To Edgar L. and Marian 
C. Barnert has been born one child, a daughter, Mary Catherine. Mr. and 
Mrs. Barnert are highly regarded in their community and they have a 
host of friends in Cooper County. 

Edward Gantner and Joseph Gantner, proprietors of "The De Luxe 
Studio", at 4191/2 East Spring street in Boonville, one of the best studios 
in Missouri, entered the business of photography in this city in April, 
1911 and their gallery was formerly on Main street. Joseph Gantner 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1021 

served an apprenticeship under Pete Stockholm and completed his study 
of the art of photography under Holborn at Columbia, a photographer who 
is widely known as one of the artists in his line of work. Since the Gant- 
ner brothers began business, Joseph Gantner has established a splendid 
reputation throughout the country as a most capable retoucher and etcher 
and he has had exceptional success with children's photos. The studio, 
a large, modern one of four rooms, equipped with north skylights, artifi- 
cial lights, the best lenses, every up-to-date convenience, is one of the 
busiest places in Boonville. The printing and enlarging is done by elec- 
tricity. "The De Luxe Studio" is a monument to the industry and enter- 
prise of the Gantner brothers and they are most highly appreciated by 
the people of Boonville and adjoining territory. Both young men were 
born, reared, and educated in Boonville. Joseph Gantner was for five 
months with the First Infirmary Section, United States Medical Corps, at 
Camp McArthur, Waco, Texas. 

Frank Gantner, father of Edward and Joseph Gantner, a well-known 
and capable bricklayer of Boonville, was born Nov. 27, 1859, at Boonville, 
a son of Andrew and Rosa (Diringer) Gantner, honored pioneers of Boon- 
ville. Both the father and mother have long been deceased and their 
remains rest in the Catholic cemetery. The children of Mr. and Mrs. 
Andrew Gantner are as follows: Frank and Louis, of Boonville; Joseph, 
of Fayette,' Mo. ; Andrew, deceased ; John and Mrs. Louise Potter, of Boon- 
ville; Mrs. Julia Kohlbick, of Kansas City, Mo.; Mrs. Annie Graner, of 
Boonville; and Dora, deceased. 

In the Catholic school at Boonville, Frank Gantner obtained nis 
primary education. He later attended the public schools of Boonville. 
His elementary education was supplemented with a course pursued at the 
Business College in Boonville. Since attaining maturity, Mr. Gantner 
has followed his vocation of bricklaying and he is recognized in the county 
as a most efficient workman. 

In June, 1881, Frank Gantner and Mary Kathrain Augusta Smith, 
a daughter of Nicholas and Amelia (McDaniel) Smith were married. Mr. 
Smith served three years in the Union army during the Civil War and died 
while in service. His remains are buried in the cemetery at Glasgow, 
Mo. Mrs. Smith later died in Texas and is buried there. The children 
of Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Smith are, as follow: Mrs. Frank Gantner, the 
wife of the subject of this sketch; Peter F., of Kansas City, Mo.; John J., 
of Oregon ; and Nicholas M., of Kansas City, Mo. To Frank and Mary K. 
Gantner have been born the following children: Flora, the wife of Carl 



1022 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Neff, of Boonville; Francis Edward, one of the two brothers, the subjects 
of this sketch; Reverend B. N., chaplain at Camp Mills, Long Island; 
Joseph K., one of the two brothers, the subjects of this sketch; and Mittie 
Rosa Amelia, the eldest child, who died at the age of 13 years. Mr. ana 
Mrs. Gantner reside on South Eighth street in Boonville. They are highly 
regarded in the community and they are worthy and consistent members 
of the Catholic Church. 

Capt. J. W. Bozarth, chief engineer of the Boonville Training School, 
is a native of Worth County, Mo. Mr. Bozarth was born in Allendale, 
March 18, 1878, a son of John Rogers and Mary E. (Blodgett) Bozarth, 
the former, a native of Worth County, Mo. and the latter of California. 

The Bozarths are of French lineage and the Blodgetts are of English 
lineage. John Rogers Bozarth was a son of John Rogers Bozarth, Sr., who 
came from New York to Missouri about 1870. The senior Bozarth died 
in Iowa. John Rogers Bozarth, Jr. and Mary E. Blodgett were united 
in marriage at Burlington, Iowa, and to them were born the following 
children: Rosa, the wife of John L. Crandall, of Wichita, Kan.; Capt. J. 
W., the subject of this sketch ; Andrew J., of Liberal, Kan. ; Francis F., of 
Liberal, Kan. ; Grace, the wife of Everett Stalker, of St. John, Kan. ; and 
Jess M., who is, at the time of this writing, a member of the 44th Infantry, 
Company G., now at Camp Lewis, Wash. Jess M. Bozarth enlisted in the 
service of the United States in May, 1918. The father died at the age 
of 42 years in 1890 and his remains were interred in the cemetery at 
Ruskin, Neb. The widowed mother now makes her home at St. John, 
Kan. Mrs. Bozarth is a member of an old and prominent pioneer family, 
who, upon coming to America, located first in Tennessee, afterwards in 
Missouri, and then settled in California, during the period of the excite- 
ment over the discovery of gold there. Mrs. Bozarth was born in 1851. 

Capt. J. W. Bazarth received his elementary education in the public 
schools. He attended Armour's Technical Engineering School in Chicago, 
111. and studied civil engineering in the Kansas City Technical School at 
Kansas City, Mo. Captain Bozarth also took the machinists' course at 
Kansas City with the Eagle Manufacturing Company. He was appointed 
engineer of the Boonville Training School, now the Missouri Reformatory 
at Boonville, in Dec, 1904, a position he has since held. He has an 
assistant engineer and about 20 boys help with the work. The different 
shops of the school are run by electric motor power, furnished by the 
engineering plant, which plant also supplies the light, heat and hot water 
used by the school. A tunnel, 5,000 feet in length, has been constructed 
under the hill upon which the buildings of the school are and through 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1023 

this tunnel are the pipes which carry the water and heat to the various 
buildings. 

Dec. 25, 1906, Capt. J. W. Bozarth and Georgia M. Cheshire were 
united in marriage. Mrs. Bozarth is a daughter of Thomas B. ana 
Angelina (Strickland) Cheshire, now residents of Versailles, Mo. Mr. 
Cheshire was born in Howard County, Mo. in 1841 and Mrs. Cheshire was 
born in Nashville, Tenn., in 1844. The Cheshire family is of English 
descent. David Cheshire, a pioneer blacksmith of Old Franklin, Mo., 
came from Virginia in the early days to Missouri and located in Howard 
County. The children of Thomas B. and Angelina Cheshire, are: Nettie 
S., the wife of J. W. Wilkerson, born March 31, 1863 and is now deceased; 
Nannie, the wife of J. W. Odell, born Feb. 3, 1865 ; Ethel, the wife of P. F. 
Casey, born June 17, 1879, now residing in Oklahoma City, Okla. ; Mrs. J. 
W. Bozarth, born June 6, 1881, in Morgan County, Mo. ; Jimmie, born Jan. 
20, 1868 and Julia, born Sept. 18, 1870, died in infancy. Mrs. Bozartn 
was prior to her marriage a school teacher in Morgan and Moniteau 
Counties. She was a student at the Warrensburg State Normal School. 

Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Bozarth are numbered among the most respected 
citizens of the county and the best families of Boonville. 

Capt. C. C. Meyer, the efficient night watchman of the Missouri Re- 
formatory, is one of Cooper County's best-known citizens. Captain Meyer 
is a member of a prominent pioneer family of Missouri. He was born 
Feb. 8, 1869 at California, Mo., in Moniteau County, a son of W. F. and 
Mrs. Meyer. 

W. F. Meyer was a native of Germany. He immigrated to America 
in his early manhood and located in Cole County, Mo., on a farm near 
Warsaw. Later, he moved to Moniteau County. He was a veteran of the 
Civil War and he held the position of city treasurer of California, Mo. 
for 20 years. He died in 1908 at the age of 77 years and his remains 
were laid to rest in the cemetery at California, Mo. Ten years later, he 
was joined in death by his wife, in 1918, and she, too, was laid to rest in 
the cemetery at California. The children of Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Meyer 
are as follows : Henry, a tailor, of California, Mo. ; W. L., who is engaged 
in the lumber business at Sandy Hook, Mo. ; Adolph, manager of a hotel 
at Mountain Grove, Mo. ; Ed, a tailor, of California, Mo. ; Frank, who is 
engaged extensively in the lumber business near Palm Beach, Fla. ; Capt. 
C. C, the subject of this sketch ; A. B., cashier of the Bank of Jamestown, 
Mo. ; and Rose, of California, Mo. 

Capt. C. C. Meyer is a graduate of the California High School. He 
was for 18 years employed as station agent by the Missouri Pacific and the 



1024 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Missouri, Kansas & Topeka Railway companies. For eight years, he cap- 
ably filled the position of marshal at California, Mo., which position he 
resigned to accept the appointment as night watchman at the Missouri 
Reformatory. Captain Meyer has charge of the quarry at the Reforma- 
tory. He is an exceptionally intelligent workman and is conscientious in 
his efforts to give the boys a fair chance to become good citizens. 

In 1894, Capt. C. C. Meyer and Lou Harris, a daughter of C. C. and 
Ellen Harris, of California, Mo., were united in marriage. Mrs. Meyer 
has one brother, Frank, a harness maker, of California, Mo. To Captain 
and Mrs. Meyer have been born two children: Harris, who assists his 
father with the work at the reformatory ; and Winona, a teacher. Miss 
Winona offered her services as Red Cross nurse, but as she was too young 
to be accepted, she continued her work as a teacher. 

Captain Meyer is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. 
He and Mrs. Meyer are worthy members of the Christian Church and in 
politics Captain Meyer is a democrat. 

William L. Nelson, congressman from the Eighth Congressional Dis- 
trict, is a native of Cooper County, and was born on his father's farm, Aug. 
4, 1875. After completing the course in the district school he was awarded 
a scholarship in Hooper Institute at Clarksburg, Moniteau County, and 
studied there for some time. He later entered William Jewell College 
and taught school while studying at this college to pay his expenses. Mr. 
Nelson would attend William Jewell for a year and then teach school in 
order to earn the needed funds to pay his way. He has also taken special 
work in the Missouri College of Agriculture. 

In 1893 he and his brother Louis 0. Nelson purchased the Bunceton 
Eagle, and the success which they achieved in this new field of endeavor 
attracted attention throughout the State. 

In 1900, when 25 years of age, Mr. Nelson was nominated for the 
State Legislature. His election followed. In 1906, he was again chosen 
to serve in the Missouri General Assembly. As a legislator, he took spe- 
cial interest in farm matters, and was the author of various agricultural 
measures. Serving through two regular terms and one special session, 
he was never absent from his desk when the House was in session. 

Mr. Nelson has also been a frequent contributor to agricultural 
papers, and has several times refused offers of editorial positions on such 
publications. He has always taken an interest in community work of 
every kind. While on the farm he assisted in organizing the Cooper 
County Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company, and for seven years 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1025 

served as secretary. He was also the first secretary of the Cooper County 
Fair at Bunceton, which, for more than 20 years, has lived up to the 
motto which he gave it — "For Farmers, Not Fakirs." 

In the spring, of 1908, Mr. Nelson was asked by H. J. Waters, then at 
the head of the Missouri College of Agriculture, and George B. Ellis, at 
that time secretary of the State Board of Agriculture to become assistant 
secretary of the board. The offer was entirely unsolicited and not until 
August did Mr. Nelson accept it. 

As assistant secretary of the Missouri State Board of Agriculture, 
Mr. Nelson served during the latter part of Governor Folk's administra- 
tion, throughout the terms of Governor Hadley and Governor Major, and 
in January, 1916, was elected to serve during the four years of Governor 
Gardner's administration. Each time his election was by the unanimous 
vote of the board. In August, 1917, Mr. Nelson was asked by Doubleday, 
Page & Co., New York City publishers, to assist in editing a farmers' 
cyclopedia. The Board of Agriculture, on learning of the offer, gener- 
ously granted Mr. Nelson a three months' leave of absence — the first vaca- 
tion that he had ever taken. On his return to Missouri, the offices of the 
Board of Agriculture having in the meantime been moved to Jefferson 
City, Mr. Nelson resigned his position and continued to make his home in 
Columbia. Later, he did special organization work under the direction of 
the College of Agriculture and the U S. Department of Agriculture. 

In the fall of 1918, W. L. Nelson was elected to represent the Eighth 
District in the Congress of the United States, and on March 4, 1919, he 
took his seat in the House of Representatives. 

Mr. Nelson was married June 9, 1909, to Miss Stella Boschert, a 
daughter of W. J. Boschert, of Bunceton. To this marriage has been 
born one son, Will L., Jr. Mr. Nelson is a member of the Baptist Church, 
and is a thorough democrat. 

Capt. George Todd Irvine, instructor of mathematics and physical 
sciences at Kemper Military School, is one of the county's most successful 
and prominent citizens. Captain Irvine is a native of Ohio. He was born 
Oct. 25, 1876, at Wakeman, Ohio, a son of Rev. Edward and Ellen Georgi- 
ana (Todd) Irvine. 

Rev. Edward D. Irvine was a native of England. He immigrated to 
America, when he was but a lad, with his father, Samuel T. Irvine, and 
settled at SpringTTCsi^ Ohio. Reverend Irvine was educated at Kenyon 
College, Gambier, Ohio, and was in the ministry practically all his life. 
Ellen Georgiana (Todd) Irvine is a native of Wakeman, Ohio. She was 
(51) 



1026 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

born March 3, 1848, a daughter of George and Betsey (Pierpont) Todd, 
who came from Connecticut to Ohio in the early days. To Rev. Edward 
D. and Ellen G. Irvine were born the following children: Capt. George 
Todd, the subject of this review; Pierpont Edward, an engineer employed 
by the American Coal and By-Products Coke Company of Chicago, 111., 
and Silva Grace, who died at the age of five years. The father died Dec. 
15, 1906, at Wellsburg, W. Va. and the widowed mother now makes her 
home in Wakeman, Ohio. 

Captain Irvine is a graduate of Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio, as 
was his father before him. He was a member of the class of 1898. Since 
completing his college course, he has been engaged in the teaching pro- 
fession, for one year in the state of New York and since then at Kemper 
Military School, taking his present position as instructor of mathematics 
and physical sciences in Jan., 1900. 

Captain Irvine is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons 
and the Order of the Eastern Star, and he has filled the office of Master. 
He is a worthy and consistent member of the Episcopal Church, of which 
church his father was for so many years a highly respected and beloved 
minister. Captain Irvine is one of the county's most popular young 
citizens and he is held in the highest regard in Boonville. 

Charles Henry Dunnavant, of the Sand & Gravel Company of Boon- 
ville, is one of the highly regarded citizens of Cooper County. Mr. Dunna- 
vant was born at Boonville, Jan. 16, 1868, a son of George and Mary Jane 
(Sullens) Dunnavant, the former, a native of Kentucky and the latter, 
of Howard County. 

George Dunnavant was a steamboat pilot on the Missouri River and 
for 36 years he operated the ferry at Boonville. During the Civil War, 
Mr. Dunnavant piloted the boat which brought the soldiers of the Federal 
army up the Missouri. George and Mary Jane Dunnavant were the par- 
ents of the following children: James, of Jefferson City, Mo.; Joseph, 
of Nelson, Mo.; Frank, of Boonville; Charles Henry, the subject of this 
sketch ; Mrs. Georgiana Ross, of Kansas City, Mo. ; Mrs. Mollie Robinson, 
of Kansas City, Mo. ; Mrs. Luttie Hogg, of Kansas City, Mo. ; and Feedy, 
Johnny, Willie, Eddie and Mrs. Maggie Grundy, all of whom are now de- 
ceased. The father died about 1889 and the widowed mother now resides 
in Boonville. 

Charles Henry Dunnavant attended the city schools of Boonville. He 
has been engaged in river work and engineering practically all his life. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1027 

At the time of this writing, in 1909, Mr. Dunnavant is the engineer of the 
Sand & Gravel Company at Boonville. He is a capable workman and he 
has been very successful in his vocation. 

In 1890, Charles Henry Dunnavant was united in marriage with Daisy 
Brown and to them were bom two children: Earl, at home; and Grace, 
the wife of James Kramer, who resides in Arkansas. Mrs. Dunnavant 
died May 8, 1903 and she was laid to rest in the cemetery at Boonville. 
Mr. Dunnavant was married to Alpha Spry, a daughter of George and 
Nancy Spry. George Spry died Sept. 22, 1906 and his remains were in- 
terred in Nelson cemetery. George and Nancy Spry were the parents 
of four children as follows : Mrs. Charles Henry Dunnavant, the wife 
of the subject of this sketch ; Corp. Walker Allen, who was with the 35th 
Division, 3rd Regiment, 140th Infantry in the World War and was wounded 
in the battle of Argonne; Pearl C. and Mabel F., of Boonville. Mrs. 
Dunnavant has a halfsister, the child born to Mrs. Spry by her first mar- 
riage, Mrs. Bertha C. McLaughlin, of Boonville. Mrs. Spry has remarried 
and she is now the wife of Ben Dobson, of Boonville. To Charles Henry 
and Alpha Dunnavant has been born one child, a daughter, Rosalie. Mr. 
and Mrs. Dunnavant reside at 112 Water street in Boonville. 

Mr. Dunnavant is a member of the Woodmen of the World. He is a 
democrat and he has served as councilman from the first ward for two 
terms. He is one of the leading citizens of the city of Boonville and he 
and Mrs. Dunnavant are highly regarded and valued in Cooper County. 

Patrick Darby, a late prominent citizen of Cooper County, was a 
native of Ireland. Mr. Darby was born April 4, 1838, a son of James and 
Catherine (Ferrell) Darby. He immigrated to New York, when he was a 
young man, 18 years of age. In 1862, Mr. Darby enlisted in the Civil 
War with the First New York Veteran Cavalry of Volunteers and served 
until the end of the conflict. For ten months he was confined in Ander- 
sonville Prison and no words could possibly depict the sufferings of every 
unfortunate soldier there, victims of barbarous cruelty. In 1868, Patrick 
Darby came to Missouri and purchased the farm located near Billingsville 
and engaged in farming and stockraising and became very successful. 

In New York, Patrick Darby and Ellen Coleman were united in mar- 
riage. Ellen (Coleman) Darby was a native of Geneseo, N. Y. To Patrick 
and Ellen Darby were born the following children: John F., of Saline 
County; James, of Shreveport, La.; Mrs. Matt Cleary, of Boonville; Mrs. 
Ed Garthoffner, of Boonville; Edward B. and Eugene M., of Boonville. 



1028 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Mrs. Darby died in 1898 and her remains were laid to rest in the ceme- 
tery at Boonville. 

May 4, 1904, Patrick Darby and Miss Albertine Hartman, of Tipton, 
Mo., were married. Albertine (Hartman) Darby is a daughter of Henry 
and Josephine (Veulemans) Hartman. She was born March 14, 1852 in 
Cooper County. The Hartmans were among the first families of Moni- 
teau County, where they located prior to the coming of the railroads in 
this section of the state. Mrs. Darby is the eldest of 14 children, six of 
whom are now living: Mrs. Patrick Darby, Adam, John, Herman J., 
Frances J., and Thomas F. With the exception of Mrs. Darby, the Hart- 
man children all reside at Tipton, Mo. Mr. Darby was a member of the 
John A. Hayne Post Grand Army of the Republic. 

In this entire state, there could be found no more patriotic citizen 
than Patrick Darby, no man of higher ideals or stronger character. He 
was beloved by all with whom he came in contact and he had countless 
friends in the county, who still lament their loss. Mr. Darby died Jan. 
30, 1917. A writer at the time of the death of Mr. Darby, thus described 
a beautiful floral tribute laid at his feet: 

"Because of his intense patriotism and his great love for the flag 
of his adopted country, The United States, the family of Patrick Darby 
had Mr. E. C. Stammerjohn, the Boonville florist design and arrange a 
beautiful flag emblem of flowers for the funeral. The flag was perfectly 
made of white and red carnations for the stripes and white heliotropes 
representing the stars on a ground of blue, made also of flowers. The 
whole was surrounded with foliage of various colors, making a beautiful 
and appropriate emblem." 

Wallace L. Morton, proprietor of "Shamrock Dairy Farm", Sham- 
rock Heights, near Boonville, was born Oct. 23, 1879, on the place, where 
he now resides. Mr. Morton is a son of Robert and Permelia Frances 
(Orr) Morton, the former, a native of Pilot Grove township, and the lat- 
ter, of Kentucky. The father died in 1891 and his remains are interred 
in Walnut Grove cemetery. The widowed mother now makes her home 
with her son, Wallace L., the subject of this sketch. The "Shamrock 
Dairy Farm" has been the home of the Mortons for more than 40 years. 
The children of Robert and Permelia Frances Morton are, as follow: Mrs. 
Minnie G. Short, of Boonville ; Mrs. John H. Baer, of Wichita, Kan. ; H. 
R., who is with the Witte Engine Company, of Kansas City, Mo.; Mrs. 
Joseph Sale, of Fort Worth, Texas ; Wallace L., the subject of this review ; 
Mrs. Russell Blakey, of Wichita. Kan., and Robert M., a registered pharma- 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1029 

cist, who is now with the United States army, serving in the Medical 
Corps, stationed at St. Louis, Mo. Robert M. Morton enlisted in the service 
in the fall of 1918. 

"Shamrock Dairy Farm" comprises 53 acres of land within the city 
limits of Boonville. The residence is a modern structure, built upon 
the highest point of the farm, and overlooking the city. Robert Morton, 
father of Wallace L. Morton, was a market gardener and horticulturist and 
his garden and orchard were famed throughout the county. Wallace L. 
Morton has been engaged in the dairy business for the past several years 
and, at the time of this writing in 1919, he has a herd of 25 head of Jer- 
sey cattle, which he has himself raised on "Shamrock Dairy Farm". A 
silo, 12x30 feet, has been erected on the place and Mr. Morton usually 
keeps from 20 to 25 acres of the farm in pasture land. He has an up-to- 
date milkhouse, where the milk is cared for in a sanitary manner and he 
delivers bottled milk to his customers twice daily in the summers and once 
daily in the winters. 

April 22, 1917, Wallace L. Morton was united in- marriage with Dora 
Sloan, of Boonville, a daughter of Robert and Mary (Mudd) Sloan, the 
father, a native of Kentucky and the mother, of Illinois, both now resi- 
dents of Boonville township. Mr. Sloan has resided in Boonville town- 
ship for the past 64 years. The children born to Robert and Mary Sloan 
are as follows: Mrs. Wallace L. Morton, the wife of the subject of this 
sketch ; Mrs. Margaret Barlow, of Boonville township ; Marshal, Elizabeth 
and Pauline, at home with their parents. Mr. and Mrs. Morton are valued 
members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Morton is affiliated with the Mod- 
ern Woodmen of America. In politics, he is a democrat. 

At the time of this writing, in 1919, Mr. Morton had cut down a tree, 
an old, historic oak, connected with stories of the Civil War in Cooper 
County. Two confederates, on the then newly opened road near Boon- 
ville, saw a body of Federals approaching and to escape capture the two 
climbed the oak tree, growing on the Morton farm. The Federals camped 
near the tree, in which the Confederates were obliged to remain one day 
and one night, before they could make their escape. The tree has now 
passed into history as all that remains to remind one of the tales of other 
days is the spot where it grew and the six cords of wood into which it 
has been cut. 

P. R. Jaeger, proprietor of the "Jaeger Fruit Farm", in Boonville, is 
Cooper County's leading horticulturist and one of the most thoroughly 
posted fruit growers in the state. Mr. Jaeger was born in Germany, July 



1030 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

6, 1869, a son of Ernest and Clara (Schubert) Jaeger, of Saxony, Ger- 
many, who immigrated to America in 1884 and settled on a farm of 40 
acres located in Lone Elm township. Mr. Jaeger improved his land and 
spent his life on his farm. He died in 1913 and his remains were laid to 
rest in the cemetery at Clarks Fork Church. The widowed mother re- 
sides in Boonville. She is now 79 years of age. The children born to 
Ernest and Clara (Schubert) Jaeger are, as follows: Otto, who resides 
in the state of Washington; Bruno, of Boonville; P. R., the subject of this 
sketch ; Mrs. M. Lohse, of Boonville ; and Hugo, of Sedalia. 

In the schools of Germany and the public schools of Cooper County, 
P. R. Jaeger received his education. He attended Warrenton College at 
Warren, Mo. For several years, Mr. Jaeger has been engaged in fann- 
ing and fruit growing. He served 10 years in the lumber business, em- 
ployed by J. E. Thro. Abandoning the lumber business, Mr. Jaeger 
entered the business of carpentering and contracting. In 1908, he pur- 
chased his present country place, a small farm of two and one-half acres 
of land within the city limits of Boonville, with a small orchard to which 
tract he added an adjoining farm of 15 acres, 10 acres an apple orchard. 
In addition to growing apples, Mr. Jaeger has cherries, strawberries and 
raspberries growing on his farm. The orchard has a northeast slope and 
it has proven an exceedingly profitable investment. The gross income 
from the orchard in 1918 was about $5,000. Mr. Jaeger has always taken 
a keen interest in horticulture and his exceptionally thorough training has 
been a splendid asset to him in his chosen vocation. He raises several 
varieties of apples, namely: Ben Davis, Gano, Grimes Golden, Jonathan, 
Winesap, Huntsman, Favorite, Delicious, Ingrain and a few early sum- 
mer varieties. He has at the time of this writing in 1919, just closed 
a deal for an adjoining tract of land, of 10 acres, upon which he will place 
another orchard. Mr. Jaeger is a member of the Missouri State Horti- 
cultural Society. He has made many exhibits of his fruit at the Sedalia 
State Fair and he has won many premiums. 

In 1901, P. R. Jaeger and Mary Schack, of Boonville, a daughter of 
Mr. and Mrs. Christian Shack, were married. Two children have been 
born to Mr. and Mrs. Jaeger as follow: Mildred, who is a student in the 
Boonville High School ; and Florence, who is a pupil of the city schools, in 
the seventh grade of school. Mr. and Mrs. Jaeger are highly regarded 
in Boonville and they are numbered among the best families of the county. 

William G. Lauer, the well-known and respected street commissioner 
of Boonville, is one of Boonville's own boys of yesterday, a native son of 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1031 

Cooper County. Mr. Lauer was born Sept. 10, 1870, a son of Erhart and 
Francis (Tempfel) Lauer, natives of Germany. 

Erhart Lauer immigrated to America about 1861. He enlisted in the 
Civil War and. served with the Union army in the United States cavalry, 
enlisting at Boonville. Mr. Lauer was in the service three years, serving 
until the war had ended, in Missouri and Kansas. Frances (Tempfel) 
Lauer came to America with her parents, when she was a girl 10 years 
of age. Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Tempfel settled in Boonville township 
on the farm where both died. Their remains rest in West Boonville ceme- 
tery. Mr. Lauer has long been deceased and he was laid to i-est in Walnut 
Grove cemetery. His widow still survives him and she resides on South 
Main street in Boonville. Erhart and Frances Lauer were the parents 
of eight children, as follow: Mrs. Julia Mock, deceased; Ella, at home 
with her mother; Charles F., a farmer, of Boonville township; Henry, a 
farmer, of Boonville township; Arthur, a farmer, of Boonville township; 
Fred, a traveling salesman, of Marshall, Mo.; Oscar, at home with his 
mother; and William G., the subject of this review. 

William G. Lauer attended the public schools of Boonville. He had 
been engaged in farming in Boonville township, until he came to Boon- 
ville nine years ago and purchased the old Rice homestead at 1003 South 
Seventh street, his present residence. In 1915, he was appointed street 
commissioner and he is now serving his fourth year in office. 

June 18, 1889, William G. Lauer and Cora Simmons, a daughter of 
James and Belinda Simmons, were united in marriage. James Simmons 
died in 1901 and he was buried in Walnut Grove cemetery. Mrs. Sim- 
mons makes her home with her son, William Simmons, a farmer in Boon- 
ville township. Mrs. Lauer is one of six children born to her parents, 
as follows: Mrs. Ella Lymer, of Boonville; Mrs. William C. Lauer, the 
wife of the subject of this sketch; Mrs. George Simmons, of Boonville 
township; Mrs. Hattie Lauer, of Boonville; Mrs. Levina Lymer, of Boon- 
ville; and Mrs. Stella Oswald, who resides in Arkansas. Mr. and Mrs. 
Lauer are the parents of five children: William, who is employed by the 
Boonville National Bank; Roy enlisted in the U. S. army from Seattle, 
Wash., June 14, 1918; arrived at Spokane, June 15, took a two months' 
training course in an automobile school and from there was sent to Camp 
Taylor, Louisville, Ky., where he served six months, was discharged, came 
home Dec. 15, 1918 and left for Seattle, Jan. 8, 1919, where he is employed 
by the Electric Light & Power Co. ; Earl who served 10 months a member 
of Battery E, 316th Field Artillery in France; returned to the United 



1032 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

States June 9, 1919 and was discharged at Newport News, Va., arriving 
home June 19, 1919 ; and Frances and Herbert, at home. Mr. Lauer is a 
member of the German Lutheran Church and Mrs. Lauer is a member of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church. The former is affiliated with the Wood- 
men of the World. 

The Lauer family is held in the highest regard in Boonville and they 
are respected and valued by all who know them. 

Robert S. Roe, a member of one of the real pioneer families of this 
section of Missouri, and one of the best known and most substantial farm- 
ers in Cooper County, is the owner of an excellent farm in Palestine town- 
ship. He was born in this county on a pioneer farm in Pilot Grove town- 
ship, Jan. 18, 1858, son of Robert and Frances (Harrelson) Roe, the latter 
of whom also was born in this county, and both of whom were representa- 
tives of families which had settled here in the early days. 

Robert Roe was born in Caroline County, Md., Feb. 27, 1815, and 
was but 10 years of age when his parents, Samuel and Elizabeth (Leith) 
Roe, came to Missouri from Virginia in 1825 and located in Cooper County. 
Two years later, in 1827, Samuel Roe entered a tract of land from the 
Government on the site now occupied by the town of Pilot Grove, and 
there established his home, spending there the rest of his life, one of the 
substantial and influential pioneers. Samuel Roe was born in Scotland, 
Jan. 17, 1788, and died at his home in this county, May 26, 1878, at the 
age of 91 years. He was twice mamed. His first wife, Elizabeth Leith, 
was born in England, March 30, 1794, and died in this county, Dec. 17, 
1826, about a year after the family located here. To that union were 
born five children, of whom Robert was the eldest. Following the death 
of the mother of these children, Samuel Roe married Sarah Shaw, who 
was born Jan. 18, 1795, and died in 1868. To that union four children 
were born. In 1817, Samuel Roe moved from Maryland to Virginia, his 
son, Robert, then being but two years of age, and it was thus that the 
latter had lived in two States before coming to Missouri with his paretics 
in 1825. He grew to manhood on the home farm in the Pilot Grove set- 
tlement, and after his marriage established his home in Henry County. 
Mo. near Calhoun. In 1849, he joined the numerous bands then flocking 
across the plains to the promising gold fields of California, but in 1852 
returned to Cooper County, and east of Pilot Grove resumed his farming 
operations there until 1869, when he sold out and bought a farm in Pales- 
tine township. He retired in 1893, moved to Pilot Grove, where his death 
occurred, April 15, 1894, he then being 79 years of age. His widow died 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1033 

July 19, 1899. She was born near Boonville, Feb. 25, 1824, daughter of 
Bennett and Amy (Brashear) Harrelson, natives of England, the former 
bom on Sept. 12, 1773, and the latter, Dec. 16, 1785, who were among the 
real pioneers of Cooper County. Bennett Harrelson's last days were 
spent in Henry County, Mo. To Robert and Frances (Harrelson) Roe 
were born 10 children, of whom four are still living, those besides the 
subject of this sketch being: Elizabeth, deceased; Alice, wife of Edward 
Wallin, a retired farmer, Greenridge, Mo. ; and 0. L. Roe, Sedalia, engaged 
as a painter and coach finisher in the Missouri Pacific Railroad shops. 

Reared on the home farm in Pilot Grove township, Robert S. Roe 
has always been a farmer, a vocation which he has followed with consider- 
able success, as the well-improved farm on which he is now living will 
attest. He received his schooling in the district schools, and when 21 
years of age, in 1879, began farming on his own account, renting in Pettis 
County, and remained there until 1882, when he returned to this county 
and bought a farm two and one-half miles west of Speed. Three years 
later, in 1885, he sold that farm to advantage and went to Camden County, 
where he remained until 1890, when he returned to this county and en- 
gaged in farming until 1893, when he went back to Camden County. 
There he remained until 1898, returning then to Cooper County and rent- 
ing the farm on which he is now living in Palestine township, the old 
Cole place, and there established his home. In 1918, Mr. Roe sold 253 
acres of the home place, including that portion occupied by the old farm 
house, but still owns 188 acres, on which he has erected a new and modem 
house, the same being equipped with electric lights, hot and cold water 
and all the conveniences of an up-to-date farm house, and has built up a 
general farm plant in keeping with the same, his place being one of the 
best improved farms in that locality. Mr. Roe is a democrat and has 
ever taken an interested part in local civic affairs, but the only public 
office he has held was that of local highway engineer, a position which he 
occupied for four years. He and his family are members of the Meth- 
odist Church. 

Robert S. Roe has been twice married. By his first wife, Myrtle 
Wilkerson, two children were born, Mrs. Lena Doyle, of Palestine town- 
ship, and J. Lovell Roe, a telegraph operator, now at Lakeside, Neb. Fol- 
lowing the death of the mother of these children, Mr. Roe married on 
March 6, 1892, Mrs. Gilla C. (Cole) Soloman, who was born in this county, 
and to this union six children have been born, namely: Samuel C, of Pales- 
tine township ; Truman T., of Boonville ; Porter E., deceased ; Grace, wife 



1034 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

of George Putnam, of Palestine township ; Adda, wife of Aubrey Gander, 
of Kelly township, and Joseph L., who is at home. Mrs. Roe was born on 
the farm on which she is now living, or rather on that portion of the place 
recently sold by Mr. Roe, Jan. 25, 1859, and there grew to womanhood 
and was married to Tilman H. Soloman, who was born in Moniteau 
County, and who died leaving her with three children, Edward, who is 
now living at New Franklin; Nadine, wife of V. Oswald, of Lebanon 
township, and Cordelia, wife of James Leslie Painter, Jr., of Palestine 
township. Mrs. Roe is a daughter of Samuel and Catherine (Peters) 
Cole, and is one of the two daughters born to them, she having a sister, 
Mrs. Jennie Cash, living at Warrensburg. Samuel Cole was born in Ken- 
tucky in 1800, and was 12 years of age when he came to this State with 
his parents in 1812, the family being a part of the colony which accom- 
panied Daniel Boone here in that year. Samuel Cole was twice married, 
and his first wife, Sallie Briscoe, also a member of one of the pioneer 
families of this region, bore him 15 children. 

John H. Schnuck, a prominent farmer of Boonville township, was 
born at Gooch's Mill, April 11, 1874. Mr. Schnuck is a son of John G. and 
Catherine (Meyer) Schnuck. 

John G. Schnuck was born in Germany in 1830. Catherine (Meyer) 
Schnuck, was born in Cooper County in 1842, on the farm later known as 
the Ulrich Oerly farm. John G. Schnuck owned and improved a farm of 
225 acres east of Gooch's Mill. He died in 1880 and was buried in Pleas- 
ant Grove cemetery. Mrs. Schnuck now makes her home with her son, 
John H., the subject of this sketch. John G. Schnuck was, and his wife 
is, a member of the Lutheran Church. The children of John G. and Cath- 
erine (Meyer) Schnuck are: Mrs. Samuel Oerly, of Overton, Mo.; Mrs. 
Elizabeth Renken, of Boonville; Mrs. Catherine Smith, deceased; Henry 
E., a sketch of whom appears in this volume; Mrs. Annie Twillman, of 
St. Louis, and John H., the subject of this sketch. 

John H. Schnuck was educated in the public schools of Cooper County, 
attending school at Gooch's Mill in Liberty district. For about three 
years, he was in a drug business at Gooch's Mill. He abandoned this and 
engaged in farming on the home place for a few years, then moved to his 
present farm, which comprises 188 acres, of valuable land. In addition 
to the home place, Mr. Schnuck owns a farm of 90 acres located one mile 
east of the home place. The Schnuck homestead is located one mile south- 
east of the city limits of Boonville. Since coming to this farm, Mr. 
Schnuck has added two barns, fences and numerous other improvements. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1035 

He is engaged in general farming and stockraising. Mrs. Schnuck is 
interested in the poultry industry and raises Buff Orpingtons, pure breds, 
and has one of the best flocks in the county. 

In 1899, John H. Schnuck was united in marriage with Margaret 
Oswald, a daughter of Herman and Christina Oswald. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Schnuck were born five children: Katherine, Beatrice, Oswald, Norbert 
and Vergil, all at home. Mrs. Schnuck died in 1909 and her remains are 
interred in the Catholic cemetery at Boonville. Sept. 28, 1911, Mr. Schnuck 
was married to Josephine Rossen, a daughter of S. C. and Elizabeth (Rob- 
ertson) Rossen, the former a native of Denmark, and the latter of Arkan- 
sas. S. C. Rossen was born in 1849, and his wife was born in 1861. They 
are both residents of Boonville, and he is the pi-esent superintendent of 
the County Home of Cooper County. The children of S. C. and Elizabeth 
Rossen are: Mrs. Schnuck, the wife of the subject of this sketch; James, 
of St. Louis, Mo. ; Albertine, deceased ; Frederick, of St. Louis ; and Ed- 
ward, who, at the time of this writing, is in France, a corporal with Com- 
pany F, 110th Supply Train. Corporal Edward Rossen enlisted in the 
service of the United States in June, 1917, and he has been in France since 
May, 1918. Mr. and Mrs. Schnuck had a son, Joseph Rossen, who died at 
the age of six years in Sept., 1918. 

Mr. Schnuck is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. 
Mrs. Schnuck is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The 
Schnuck family is well known and highly respected in Cooper County. 

J. R. Gilman, an honest, industrious farmer of Boonville township, 
was born July 3, 1858, near Overton, Mo., a son of John and Kate (Smith) 
Gilman, the former a native of Wayne County, Ohio. John Gilman came 
to Missouri in 1856, and located near Overton, moving thence to Jewett's 
Mill. In later years he moved to Cole County, where he died and is buried. 
Mrs. Gilman died Aug. 10, 1858, and she is buried in Clayton cemetery at 
Overton. 

J. R. Gilman, the only child born to John and Kate Gilman, attended 
the public school of Cole County. He had few educational advantages, 
but in spite of the handicap, he has "made good". In the first part of his 
career, he rented land. Twenty-six years ago he moved to his present 
farm and a year later purchased it. This farm comprises 100 acres, 
located three miles southeast of Boonville, in Boonville township, on the 
Jefferson City road. He had improved the farm, adding a barn, and has 
dug a well and at the time of this writing, is preparing to install a water 
system, which will supply water for the residence, from a supply tank 



1036 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

outside. The farm is well watered, and although somewhat rough, the 
soil is excellent. Mr. Gilman is engaged in general farming and he has 
been very successful. 

Dec. 25, 1879, J. R. Gilman and Kate Robertson, a daughter of John 
and Mary Robertson, of Boonville township, were married. John Robert- 
son was born in Cooper County. He was a veteran of the Mexican War 
and a Confederate veteran of the Civil War. Both parents of Mrs. Gil- 
man are now deceased, and the remains are interred in the cemetery at 
Boonville. Mr. and Mrs. Gilman are the parents of five children, all of 
whom have been reared to maturity and are now married: Stella, now 
Mrs. Henry G. Adams, of Brinkley, Ark.; Myrtle, the wife of Harry 
Kaiser, of Washington township ; John, who married Stella Robinson, near 
Boonville ; Paul, who married Margaret Dick, Sedalia, where he is a drug 
salesman; and Ed, who maried Ruby Gray, of Longfellow, Texas. Mr. 
and Mrs. Gilman are the proud grandparents of ten grandchildren, namely : 
Charlie, Mary K., Margaret and Joe Adams; Derrick, Joseph, Harry, Jr., 
Kaiser, Deckey May, Betty Ann and Darrell Gilman. 

Mr. Gilman is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and 
the Maccabees. He and Mrs. Gilman are members of the Presbyterian 
Church. Politically, he is a democrat. The Gilman family stands high 
In the respect of the best citizens of Cooper County. 

J. H. Meyer and F. A. Meyer, the well-known Meyer Brothers, pro- 
prietors of the Boonville Bottling Works, began business in Boonville in 
1915, purchasing the business of Meyer & Tackett, located at 525 Morgan 
street in Boonville. The present building occupied by the firm is 20x90 
feet, with a basement. The Meyer Brothers have established an excel- 
lent trade since they entered the mercantile business four years ago. The 
elder brother, J. H., the senior member of the firm, is now deceased. He 
died Sept. 1, 1918. 

The Meyer brothers were born, reared and educated in Boonville. 
J. H. Meyer was born in 1871 and F. A. Meyer was born in 1883. They 
are sons of Joseph and Margaret (Schoen) Meyer, natives of Germany. 
Joseph Meyer immigrated to America in 1854 and Mrs. Meyer came two 
years later. They were united in marriage in Cooper County in 1866. 
Mr. Meyer was, by trade, a stonemason and a very competent workman. 
He was a veteran of the Civil War, enlisting in 1861 and serving until 
the close of the conflict, when he returned to his home in Boonville. He 
died in 1914 at the advanced age of 86 years and his remains are interred 
in Walnut Grove cemetery. Mrs. Meyer still survives her husband and 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1037 

resides in Boonville at 1109 Sixth street. She is 75 years of age. The 
children of Joseph and Margaret Meyer are, as follows : August, of Boon- 
ville; Anna, the wife of W. M. Parsons, of Kansas City, Mo.; J. H., the 
senior partner 'of the firm, Meyer Brothers, who died at the age of 48 
years in 1918, and he was unmarried ; Theresa, of Boonville ; Mamie, the 
wife of C. W. Richards, of St. Louis ; Susie, the wife of W. R. Dodge, of 
Manhattan, Kan.; F. A., the youngest brother of the two partners, the 
subject of this review; Charlie, who is, in 1919, with Company I, 85th 
Division of the American Expeditionary Force, in France, who enlisted in 
April, 1918, reached France in June, 1918, was formerly with the 89th 
Division, was wounded in the battle of Argonne Forest, was confined in 
a hospital for four months, and is now back with his division in active 
service. 

F. A. Meyer attended the Boonville High School. After leaving 
school, he was for some time engaged in the nursery business with the H. 
W. Jenkins Nursery. He, with his brother, J. H., became interested in 
the bottling business and he is well equipped to handle his work and the 
brothers have been very successful. Mr. Meyer is one of Boonville's 
good citizens, a progressive, industrious, capable business man. 

George C. Honerbrink, a progressive farmer and stockman of Saline 
township, is a native of Cooper County. Mr. Honerbrink was bom June 
23, 1875 in Prairie Home township, a son of E. F. and Barbara (Iceley) 
Honerbrink, natives of Germany. E. F. Honerbrink immigrated to 
America, when he was a young man, and he was married to Barbara Ice- 
ley in Ohio. The Honerbrinks settled in Missouri in the early seventies, 
on a farm of 80 acres of land located in Prairie Home township, to which 
tract Mr. Honerbrink added 80 acres of land in 1881 and 160 acres of land 
10 years ago. He now owns a half section of land in Prairie Home town- 
ship. Mrs. Honerbrink died at the Honerbrink homestead in 1912 and her 
remains were laid to rest in the cemetery at Boonville. The children of 
E. F. and Barbara Honerbrink are: Henry, of Prairie Home township; 
Fred, of Saline township; Lucy, of Saline township; Annie, the wife of 
Christian Ohlandorf, of Clark's Fork township; Mary, the wife of John 
Crane, of Clark's Fork township; Sophia, the wife of Hogan Freeman, of 
Saline township; and Ernest, at home. 

Mr. Honerbrink, the subject of this sketch was reared and educated 
in Prairie Home township. He has been interested in farming and stock- 
raising all his life and he has raised large herds of cattle and hogs in 
recent years. His farm, comprising 118 acres of valuable land, is located 



1038 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

nine miles southeast of Boonville and four miles southwest of Overton in 
Saline township. Mr. Honerbrink purchased this country place in 1905 
and since acquiring the ownership of the farm he has partly fenced it 
and has added a barn, 42x54 feet, and other buildings, and he has improved 
the residence. The Honerbrink farm is well watered by a stream, which 
crosses the place, and several good springs. 

March 19, 1905, George C. Honerbrink and Christina Brueckner, of 
Saline township, were married. Mrs. Honerbrink is a daughter of George 
and Caroline (Metz) Brueckner. She was born Aug. 12, 1882. George 
Brueckner was a native of Germany and he immigrated to America with 
his parents in 1850. He was killed by a stroke of lightning on the Brueck- 
ner homeplace, June 3, 1895. Mrs. Brueckner was bom Aug. 5, 1861, on 
the farm which is now her home. The deed to her farm was signed by 
Andrew Jackson. Mrs. Honerbrink has one sister and one brother now 
living: Mrs. J. C. Farris, of Arkansas; and George, Jr., of Boonville. To 
George C. and Christina Honerbrink have been born three children : George 
Carl, Eulah Viola; and Willie Beatrice. Mr. and Mrs. Honerbrink are con- 
sistent and valued members of the Evangelical Church. 

The Honerbrink farm has located upon it an old cemetery, established 
by Joseph Westbrook, who owned the farm 90 years or more ago. He 
was trie first to be interred in the buria! ground and later the different 
members of his family were laid to rest there. Other pioneers of Cooper 
County have this spot for their last resting place, among them the Elliot 
and William Leek families. It is related that Grandmother Cynthia West- 
brook, who lived on the Honerbrink farm more than a century ago, was 
accustomed to ride horseback from her home to the principal marketing 
place in Howard County and that on horseback she would cross the Mis- 
souri River, when the water was low. The Honerbrink farm is one of 
the most interesting country places, historically, in Cooper County. 

J. H. Stretz, of the Boonville Brick Company, is one of Boonville's 
own boys. Mr. Stretz was bora June 23, 1862 in Boonville, a son of Frank 
and Magdalena (Rider) Stretz, both of whom were natives of Germany. 

Frank Stretz immigrated from Germany to America in 1845 and set- 
tled at Boonville, where he was first employed as potter by Mr. Vollrath, 
the pioneer potter of this city. In his latter years, Mr. Stretz was engaged 
in gardening. He died in 1878, from the effects of sunstroke. Mrs. 
Stretz died at the age of 82 years. Both father and mother are interred 
in the Catholic cemetery at Boonville. The children of Frank and Magda- 
lena Stretz are, as follow: Mrs. Mary Strickfaden, deceased; Frank, of 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1039 

Boonville; Charles, who died about two years ago in New Orleans; Mrs. 
Kate Strickfaden, of California, Mo. ; Joseph, who resides in the state of 
California; Mrs. - Sophia Schuster, of Boonville; Theresa, a daughter who 
died at the age of 24 years; J. H., the subject of this sketch; and Albert, 
of Chicago, 111. 

J. H. Stretz received his education in the Catholic school of Boonville. 
Since attaining maturity, he has been employed in brick manufacturing 
and he has followed this vocation and bricklaying in Boonville the past 38 
years. J. H. Stretz and Louis Gautner have formed a partnership in the 
business of brick making and they have succeeded Claus Stammer John. 
The firm was established in 1905 and the office is located at the factory, 
which is on the Missouri, Kansas & Topeka railroad, near the station. The 
plant has a capacity of 20,000 bricks daily. The firm does a general con- 
tracting business and has built in Boonville the St. Joseph Hospital, which 
is 48x102 feet in dimensions; the pipe factory, the largest factory in the 
city; the county infirmary; and perhaps 100 other buildings. The Boon- 
ville Brick Company has done much toward pushing Boonville into the 
front ranks among the leading manufacturing cities of the state and Mr. 
Stretz and his partner deserve much credit and commendation. 

J. H. Stretz was united in marriage with Mittie Edwards and to this 
union were born the following children: Mrs. Julia Walje, of Sedalia, 
whose husband is a well-known railroad employe there; Henry, of Boon- 
ville; Mrs. Rose Taylor, of Kansas City, Mo.; Lawrence, a competent 
brickmason of Fulton, Mo. ; Norbert, who has recently returned from 
England after serving one year in the United States army, with the Air- 
craft Construction Company; Ernest, who enlisted in the service of the 
United States in Jan., 1918, a gunner with the Anti-Aircraft Machine Gun 
Battalion, homeward bound from France at the time of this writing, in 
1919; Mrs. Mary Sonen, of Osawatomie, Kan.; and Ferdinand, who died 
at the age of 16 years. The mother died in 1888. 

In 1899, J. H. Stretz and Mrs. Mary (Edwards) Gantner, of Boon- 
ville, were married. Mrs. Stretz is a daughter of J. A. and Eva (Potts) 
Edwards, the former, a late stockdealer of this city, and the latter, now a 
resident of Rockyford, Col. Mr. Edwards is deceased. Mrs. Stretz, by 
her first marriage, is the mother of four children: Mrs. Ollie Sinclair, 
of Boonville; Mrs. Nettie Smith, of Boonville; Urban and Earl, both of 
whom served in the United States army overseas for one year with the 
Aircraft Construction Company in England, returning to America in Jan., 
1919, now engaged in brick-masonry in Boonville. To J. H. and Mary 



1040 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Stretz have been born four children: Virgil, Agnes, Helen and Leonard. 
Mr. and Mrs. Stretz are faithful members of the Catholic Church and Mr. 
Stretz and all his sons, excepting the youngest, are members of the 
Knights of Columbus. Mr. Stretz is also affiliated with the Modern Wood- 
men of America. 

There is no man in Cooper Couny more worthy of respect and con- 
sideration than J. H. Stretz. He is one of Boonville's leading citizens and 
is admired by all who know him. He has served three terms as a mem- 
ber of the city council and, at the time of this writing, in 1919, he is serv- 
ing his fourth term in office. He has proven himself an able and con- 
scientious official. 

Col. Robert L. Harriman, for years recognized as one of the leading 
live-stock auctioneers in the West, for 20 years a member of the board of 
directors of the Bank of Bunceton, a member of the firm of Harriman 
Bros., breeders of Shorthorn cattle, a resident of Bunceton for nearly 35 
years, and in many ways actively identified with the growing interests of 
that section of Cooper County, is a native son of this county. He was 
born at Pilot Grove, March 19, 1856, son of Dr. William and Caroline 
(Mayo) Harriman, formerly and for years influential residents of that 
neighborhood, and whose last days were spent there, their final resting 
place being in Mt. Vernon Cemetery, which was established on a corner 
of the old Harriman home place. 

Dr. William Harriman was born in New Jersey, the son of a clergy- 
man, and was reared by two aunts, who brought him up in a bookish 
atmosphere. He was schooled in both law and medicine, but gave his 
preference to the latter profession, and as a young man went to Kentucky, 
where he engaged in the practice of medicine, and where he married 
Caroline Mayo, a daughter of William and Caroline (Pleasants) Mayo, 
the latter of whom was a second cousin of Thomas Jefferson, and a lineal 
descendant of Pocohontas. William Mayo and his wife were natives of 
Virginia, who moved from Norfolk, Va., to Kentucky, where they reared 
their family. It was in the latter '40s, and after two children had been 
born to him and his wife that Dr. William Harriman left Kentucky and 
came to Missouri with his family, coming up the river with a bunch of 
negroes, a fine string of thoroughbred horses and jacks and a good small 
herd of Shorthorn cattle. He landed with his possessions at Boonville, 
and moved thence to the Pilot Grove neighborhood, where he established 
his home, and where he became the owner of 2,400 acres of land. Upon 




COL. ROBERT L. II A Hill MAN* 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1041 

locating there, Doctor Harriman re-established himself in the practice of 
his profession, and soon became widely known as one of the leading phy- 
sicians of his time in this section of Missouri. He had not been trained 
to the life of the farm, but his wife was a skilled executive along those 
lines, and acted as overseer of the place, she and her sons directing the 
operations of the same, while the Doctor devoted his attention to his 
practice and his books. On that place, Doctor Harriman and his wife 
spent the remainder of their lives, useful in all good works thereabout in 
their clay and generation, and their memory is still cherished throughout 
that neighborhood. They were the parents of eight children, as follows: 
Dr. William P., a physician, now deceased; Georgianna, also deceased, 
who was the wife of John F. Rogers, former sheriff of Cooper County ; 
Isabella, deceased; John H., deceased; Jennie, wife of J. A. Thompson, of 
Pilot Grove ; Col. Robert L. ; Regis A., of Pilot Grove, and Caroline, wife 
of J. D. McCutcheon, of Pilot Grove. 

Reared on the farm on which he was born in the immediate vicinity 
of Pilot Grove, Robert L. Harriman received his schooling in the Pilot 
Grove School and in the private school then being conducted at Bunceton 
by D. R. Cully, and from the days of his boyhood devoted himself to the 
affairs of the farm, with particular attention to the live-stock breeding 
operations long carried on there. He married in the fall of 1882, and for 
some time thereafter made his home on what is now known as the Luray 
stock farm in Palestine township, and which he owned for five or six 
years. In 1885, however, he moved to Bunceton for the better attention 
he could there give to his growing live-stock interests, and has resided 
since. About 1889 Colonel Harriman began the crying of sales in the 
vicinity of his home, and it was not long until his success in that line 
had created a wide demand for his services, this demand presently neces- 
sitating the limitation of his services to live-stock sales only, and for 
many years the Colonel has thus been one of the best known live-stock 
auctioneers in the West. He has long specialized in the crying of sales 
of Shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs, and is an acknowledged author- 
ity in these classes. The Colonel has cried stock sales in no fewer than 
12 of the States of the Union, and his operations have carried him as far 
as Portland, Ore., in which city in one week he sold at auction more than 
$100,000 worth of stock. Though he is not an advertiser, the Colonel is 
so widely known in his particular field that during the seasons he finds 



1042 HISTORY OB' COOPER COUNTY 

himself book 40 or 50 sales ahead, and as a measure of the value in which 
his services are held it is not improper to state that his fee for crying 
the sales of pure-bred stock is $100 the day. 

Colonel Harriman has been twice married. In November, 1882, he 
was united in marriage to Rosa Stephens, who was born in Kelly town- 
ship, in 1860, and who died March 9, 1916. She was the daughter of 
John H. and Margaret (Ewing) Stephens, the former of whom was an 
extensive landowner and stockman in Kelly township. To that union 
were born four children, two of whom died in infancy, the others being 
Louise and Helen. Louise Harriman married W. B. Wallace, a son of 
T. J. Wallace, a member of one of the old families of Cooper County, and 
is now living at Boonville. She and her husband have one child, a son, 
Thomas H. Wallace. Helen Harriman married George W. Robertson, a 
hardware merchant at Mexico, Mo., and has one child, a son, George Wil- 
liam Robertson III. On Dec. 26, 1917, Colonel Harriman married Bettie 
J. Harned, who also was born in this State, daughter of Benjamin and 
Bettie J. (Bradley) Harned, who are now living on a farm in this county. 
Benjamin Harned and wife are the parents of 11 children, of whom Mrs. 
Harriman is the second in order of birth. Colonel and Mrs. Harriman 
are members of the Presbyterian Church. The Colonel is a democrat. 
Fraternally, he is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons 
at Bunceton. The Colonel has for years given his active attention to the 
general business affairs of his home community, and for 20 years or more 
has been a member of the board of directors of the Bank of Bunceton. 
He is a member of the Central Shorthorn Association of Kansas City, 
and in association with his nephew, Bert Harriman, is connected with the 
firm of Harriman Bros., of Bunceton, a firm widely known as breeders 
of pure-bred Shorthorn cattle. 

James B. Shepherd, a leading agriculturist and stockman of Saline 
township, is one of the county's prominent citizens. Mr. Shepherd is a 
native of Andrew County, Mo. He was born Jan. 9, 1856, a son of Levi 
and Joanna (Campbell) Shepherd. 

Levi Shepherd was born in Jackson County, Mo., on the farm which 
is now the present site of Independence, a son of Elijah Shepherd and 
Rebecca (Yates) Shepherd. Elijah Shepherd came to Missouri from Ken- 
tucky about 1810 and settled on a tract of land in Jackson County, where 
he died. His widow moved from Missouri to California in 1870 and she 
died near San Jose, several years later. Levi Shepherd was born in 1832 
and he died May 14, 1914, on his farm in Saline township. His remains 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1043 

are interred in the cemetery at Gooch's Mill. Joanna (Campbell) Shep- 
herd was born in 1834 near Wooldridge in Saline township, a daughter 
of Bradley and Meka Campbell, the former a native of Tennessee and the 
latter, of North Carolina, honored pioneers of Saline township. Mr. and 
Mrs. Campbell have long been deceased and their remains are buried in 
the family cemetery near Wooldridge. Mrs. Shepherd died in 1916 and 
she was laid to rest beside her husband in the cemetery at Gooch's Mill. 
Mr. Shepherd was a confederate veteran of the Civil War. The children 
of Levi and Joanna Shepherd are, as follow: James B., the subject of 
this sketch; Mrs. Rebecca J. Eager, of Saline township; C. M., cashier of 
the Pilot Grove Bank, Pilot Grove, Mo. ; Mrs. Alice C. Clayton, of Woold- 
ridge, Mo. ; and William L., a late teacher in the Robinson district schools, 
near Prairie Home, who died at the age of 22 years at the Shepherd home- 
stead. 

James B. Shepherd attended the public schools of Missouri and Hooper 
Institute, at Clarksburg, Mo. Since leaving school, he has been engaged 
in farming and stockraising in Saline township. He purchased his pres- 
ent country place, a farm comprising 205 acres of land, in 1881. There 
are two sets of improvements on the farm. The land is exceptionally well 
watered by three never-failing springs. Mr. Shepherd is following gen- 
eral farming and he raises large herds of cattle, hogs and horses. The 
Shepherd farm is located 14 miles southeast of Boonville. Mr. Shepherd 
relates that the covered bridge over the Petite Saline River at Gooch's 
Mill was built more than 75 years. This bridge is a landmark in the 
county, having covered sides and a roof, constructed of wood, and is still 
in a good state of preservation, in 1919. 

In 1880, James B. Shepherd and Amanda E. Stone, of Saline town- 
ship, were united in marriage. Mrs. Shepherd died April 23, 1903, and 
she was laid to rest in Oak Grove cemetery. Aug. 27, 1916, Mr. Shep- 
herd was married to Mrs. Maggie L. Shepherd, of Clay County. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Shepherd have been born two children: Addie Lee, 11 years 
of age; and Helen Louise, three years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd 
are members of the Baptist Church. 

Mr. Shepherd is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. 
He is a charter member of the lodge which was organized at Overton in 
1881. 

Capt. George T. Boyce, of the Kemper Military School in Boonville, 
one of the leading citizens of Cooper County, is a native of Shelby County, 
Mo. Mr. Boyce was born Sept. 20, 1876, a son of George W. and Mary J. 



1044 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

(Brewington) Boyce, the former, a native of Delaware and the latter, of 
Maryland. Captain Boyce is the only child born to his parents. 

George W. Boyce was born in Delaware in 1825. He was, by trade, 
a contractor and builder. During the Civil War, he served with the con- 
federates under Colonel Porter, who secured volunteers for the command 
of General Sterling Price. Mr. Boyce was taken prisoner by the Union 
men, after he had been in service but a few weeks, at Newark, Mo., in 
1864. Later, he was paroled and he returned to Delaware, where he re- 
mained until 1866, when he returned to Shelby County, Mo. Mr. Boyce 
first came to Shelby County in 1857 and three different times he returned 
to his native state, the last time in 1869. When he came back to Shelby 
County, after his last visit to Delaware, he remained. George W. Boyce 
was a son of Joseph J. Boyce, a veteran of the War of 1812, who enlisted 
in 1812 and served throughout the war and until 1819, in the regular 
army. He was with General Andrew Jackson in the war against the Sem- 
inoles in Florida. The predecessor of the Boyces in America came to 
this country about 1630. Mary J. Boyce, mother of Captain Boyce, died 
in 1891 and George W. Boyce died in 1895. The remains of both parents 
are interred in Bacon Chapel cemetery in Shelby County. 

Captain Boyce received his elementary education in the public schools 
of Shelby County. Later, he was a student at Northwest Missouri Col- 
lege at Albany, Mo., and at Rose Polytechnic Institute, and at the State 
University of Missouri. He came to the Kemper Military School in Octo- 
ber, 1900, and for the first three years he taught commercial subjects. 
In 1903 and 1904, Captain Boyce attended the State University, after 
which he accepted a position as principal of the township high school at 
Marshall, 111. He taught in the high school of Albany, Ga., a place 
he held during 1907 and 1908. In the latter year, he was recalled 
to the Kemper Military School to open the manual training de- 
partment of the school. Captain Boyce is the originator of the manual 
training work here and today this department in the Kemper Military 
School is the* best manual training department in any preparatory mili- 
tary school in the United States. The training is not compulsory, but 
optional with the students, and more than one-third the student body 
is taking the course. Captain Boyce made a map of Cooper County in 
1918, the original of which hangs in the Commercial Club room in Boon- 
ville. The map is a pen drawing and accurate in every detail. 

In 1907, Capt. George T. Boyce was united in marriage with Mary E. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1045 

Gilbert, a daughter of John W. and Melissa (Taylor) Gilbert. The mother 
of Mrs. Boyce died in 1916 and she is buried in the cemetery at Marshall, 
111. Mr. Gilbert resides at Kansas, 111. The grandfather of Mrs. Boyce, 
father of Melissa (Taylor) Gilbert, was a cousin of former President 
Zachariah Taylor. To Captain and Mrs. Boyce have been born three chil- 
dren: George T., Jr., John M., and Mary M. The Boyces are membei-s 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Boonville. 

Captain Boyce is widely known throughout the county and he is uni- 
versally respected as a gentleman and scholar. He and Mrs. Boyce are 
numbered among Boonville's best and most prominent citizens and they 
have innumerable friends wherever they are known. 

Captain Harris Cecil Johnston, of the Kemper Military School, a 
prominent and highly respected young citizens of Boonville, was born 
Feb. 12, 1883, in Boonville, a son of Col. T. A. Johnston, superintendent 
of the Kemper Military School, and Carolina (Rea) Johnston. Captain 
Johnston is one of four children born to his parents, as follows : Rea Alex- 
ander, the present major of the Missouri State Reformatory at Boonville; 
Bertha, the wife of Major A. M. Hitch, of Boonville; Capt. Harris Cecil, 
the subject of this sketch ; and Alice, the wife of Major R. J. Foster, of 
Washington, D. C. 

Captain Johnston is a graduate of the Kemper Military School, a 
member of the class of 1901, and he was a student of the Western Reserve 
University at Cleveland, Ohio. He accepted the position of quartermas- 
ter at Kemper Military School in 1904, succeeding Major Joseph H. Rea, 
and this position he has most capably filled for the past 15 years. The 
quartermaster's department has complete charge of all the supplies of 
the school, and Captain Johnston is a most efficient officer. In addition 
to his regular duties, he attends to the finances and to the coaching of the 
athletic teams and to the "booking" of games with outside schools. 

June 27, 1905, Capt. Harris Cecil Johnston was united in marriage 
with Georgia Walker Wooldridge of Boonville. Mrs. Johnston is a 
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Elizabeth (Osborne) Wooldridge. Dr. Wool- 
dridge was a prominent banker and grain merchant of Boonville, and he 
is now deceased. Mrs. Wooldridge resides in Kansas City, Mo., with her 
son. J. H., a well-known grain merchant of that city. The children born 
to Mr. and Mrs. Wooldridge are as follows: Lula B., of Boonville; Jay H., 
of Kansas City, Mo. ; 0. J., a grain merchant of St. Louis, Mo. ; Mrs. Har- 
ris Cecil Johnston, the wife of the subject of this review; Jessie, the wife 



1046 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

of Frank Brosius, of Boonville ; and one child, the eldest, died in infancy. 
To Captain and Mrs. Johnston have been born two children: Marjorie 
Walker and Ann Caroline. 

Captain Johnston is a deacon of the Presbyterian Church. He is a 
thorough, able, young man, and he is held in the highest respect by all 
his colleagues and acquaintances. 

Charles F. Lauer, a successful and prosperous farmer and stockman 
of Boonville township, is a native of Cooper County. Mr. Lauer was born 
in Boonville township, Oct. 10, 1868, a son of Erhardt and Frances 
(Tempfe!) Lauer, natives of Germany. 

Erhardt Lauer immigrated to America in 1861. He enlisted in the 
Civil War and served throughout the conflict with the Union Army, with 
Company E, 5th Missouri Infantry. He was, by trade, a potter, and he 
was employed for several years by Mr. Jeglin, of Boonville. Later, he 
purchased a farm west of Boonville, near the Missouri Valley coal mines. 
He died in 1905 and his remains were laid to rest in Walnut Grove Ceme- 
tery. Frances (Tempfel) Lauer came to America with her parents in 
1845. She is a daughter of Frederick and Fredericka (Oswald) Temp- 
fel. Mr. Tempfel was, by trade, a stonemason. Mrs. Lauer now resides 
in Boonville. She is, at the time of this writing, 73 years of age. The 
children of Erhardt and Frances Lauer are as follows: Mrs. Julia Mocks, 
deceased ; Emma, who died in infancy ; Charles F., the subject of this 
review ; William G., of Boonville ; Fred W., of Marshall, Mo. ; Henry E., 
Ella M., Oscar G. and Arthur C, twins, all of Boonville. 

Charles F. Lauer attended Westwood School in Boonville township. 
He has, since leaving school, been engaged in farming and stock raising. 
Mr. Lauer was on the home place for 24 years. He purchased his present 
farm in September, 1892, a place comprising 114 acres of land located 
six miles southeast of Boonville. Mr. Lauer has himself improved this 
farm, adding all the buildings, except the residence, since acquiring the 
ownership of the place. The land is well watered by five springs, and is 
well adapted for general farming and stock raising. Mr. Lauer raises 
cattle, hogs, horses and mules. 

March 6, 1901, Charles F. Lauer was married to Delia Woolery, a 
daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Wilkes) Woolery. Thomas Woolery 
was born near Pleasant Green and now resides at Bunceton. He is 75 
years of age, at the time of this writing in 1919. Mrs. Woolery was born 
near Springfield, Mo. She died about 20 years ago, and her remains rest 
in Mount Nebo Cemetery.. Mr. and Mrs. Woolery were the parents of 
the following children: Mrs. Charles F. Lauer, the wife of the subject of 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1047 

this review; Mrs. Mary Johnson, of Pleasant Green, Mo.; Allen, of Kan- 
sas City r Mo.; Samuel, of Bunceton; Mrs. Bessie Reed, of Pleasant Green; 
Minnie, who died at the age of 11 years; and Downing, a telegraph oper- 
ator, now residing in Illinois. Mr. Woolery is a Confederate veteran of 
the Civil War. He served throughout the conflict with Gen. Sterling 
Price. To Mr. and Mrs. Lauer has been born one child, a daughter, Lorine 
Frances. Mr. Lauer is a member of the Evangelictl Church, and Mrs. 
Lauer is a member of the Christian Church. 

Mr. Lauer is affiliated with the Woodmen of the World and the Inde- 
pendent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a modest, unassuming citizen, a 
man highly regarded by all who know him. 

Edward Hasenbach, a prosperous and progressive farmer and stock- 
man of Saline township, residing on the F. H. Hobrecht farm of 160 acres, 
located nine miles southeast of Boonville, was born Feb. 8, 1882, in Cali- 
fornia, Mo., a son of Frederick and Emma (Schmidt) Hasenbach, the 
former a native of Germany. Mr. Hasenbach died at Boonville in Octo- 
ber, 1881, a few years after coming to this country. His widow resides in 
Bconville. Frederick Hasenbach was, by trade, a tanner, and he oper- 
ated a tanyard in Boonville. Edward Hasenbach, the subject of this 
sketch, is the only child born to his parents. 

Mr. Hasenbach attended Woodland District School in Saline town- 
ship. Practically all his life he has been interested in farming and stock- 
raising, and for the past six years he has resided on the farm where he 
now lives. He is the owner of a farm of 56 acres of valuable land in 
Saline township. He is an industrious, honest citizen, respected by all 
with whom he comes in contact. 

In 1907, Edward Hasenbach was united in marriage with Alma 
Hobrecht, a daughter of H. A. and Nancy Hobrecht, of Saline township. 
The great-grandparents of Mrs. Hasenbach, on the paternal side of the 
family, died and were buried in Schmidt Cemetery in Saline township in 
1844. The Schmidt Cemetery is one of the first burial grounds estab- 
lished in Cooper County, and is located on the farm of Otto Schmidt. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Hasenbach have been born two sons: Harold and 
Carl. The Hasenbachs are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian 
Church, and Mr. Hasenbach is affiliated with the Odd Fellows: 

Mr. and Mrs. Hasenbach are well known in Cooper County, and they 
are numbered among the county's good, substantial citizens. 

Acrey B. Hurt, of Clarks Fork township, is a native of Cooper County, 
and a member of a pioneer family of this section of the State. He was 
born in Clarks Fork township, Sept. 27, 1864, a son of Acrey and Matilda 
(Rackaid) Hurt, both natives of Virginia. They were married in Vir- 



1048 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

ginia and came to Cooper County in 1855, settling on the farm where 
Acrey B., the subject of this sketch, now lives. The father served in the 
Home Guards during the Civil War, and followed farming and stock rais- 
ing throughout his life. He met with success, and at the time of his 
death was the owner of 160 acres of land. He died in 1882, and was sur- 
vived by his widow a number of years. She died in 1898. They were 
the parents of the following children : Mrs. Jeanette Arnold, Boonville ; 
Andrew W., Clarks Fork township; Benjamin F., Clinton; Arbell, Moni- 
teau County; Mrs. Annie E. Copas, Jefferson City; Newton J., deceased; 
Acrey B., the subject of this sketch; Silas, Boonville; and William T., 
Pilot Grove. 

Acrey B. Hurt was reared on the home farm in Clarks Fork town- 
ship, and was educated in the district school. The first school house in 
his district was a log structure, which stood on the Hurt farm. The 
seats were made of split logs, and it was a typical school building of 
pioneer days. It was abandoned for school purposes, however, before 
Mr. Hurt was old enough to attend school. Acrey Hurt has always fol- 
lowed farming and stock raising. However, during the last year, on 
account of poor health, he has rented his place, but still retains his resi- 
dence there. 

A number of Mr. Hurt's uncles were among the early settlers of 
Cooper County. Theodore Hurt came here in 1855, and another uncle, 
Joseph Hurt, came prior to that date. Another uncle, Osmus Hurt, set- 
tled in Pettis County at an early date. 

Mr. Hurt is a constant reader, and keeps himself well posted on the 
world's current events. He is one of the intelligent and substantial citi- 
zens of Cooper County. 

Commodore P. Fairfax, proprietor of a fine farm of 333 acres in 
Lebanon township, and one of the best known and most successful breed- 
ers of horses and mules in this section of Missouri, is a native of Virginia. 
He was born in Wirt County, Va. (now W. Va.), May 1, 1852, son of 
William and Elizabeth Fairfax, who were the parents of 10 children, five 
sons and five daughters, of whom four are still living. Of these but two 
are living in Cooper County, the subject of this sketch having a sister, 
Mrs. Melissa Arnold, who lives in the vicinity of Vermont. In 1865, 
William Fairfax came to Missouri with his family, and settled on a farm 
in this county, where he died a month later. He was born in Virginia in 
1803, and was thus 73 years of age at his death. His widow died in 1866. 

Commodore P. Fairfax was about 13 years old when he came to 









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('. P. FAIRFAX 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1049 

Cooper County with his parents in 1865. He grew to manhood on the 
farm which his father had bought upon coming to this county, completed 
his schooling in the local schools and engaged in farming, which he has 
followed all .his life, and with gratifying success. He married when 21 
years of age, and then bought a farm near Lebanon. Sometime later he 
sold that farm and bought one of 300 acres south of Lebanon, where he 
made his home for many years, in 1917 he trading that place for the farm 
of 333 acres on which he now lives. This place, in 1865, when Mr. Fairfax 
came to Cooper County, was owned by Jack Newman, whose son at that 
time was sheriff of Cooper County, and it has long been regarded as one 
of the best farms in that vicinity. Mr. Fairfax has made numerous im- 
provements, and is contemplating more. He for years has been engaged 
in the breeding of horses and mules, his stable including both saddle and 
and draught horses and jacks of notable strain. One of the latest addi- 
tions to his stable is a French coach stallion. Mr. Fairfax is a democrat, 
and has ever given attention to local civic affairs. He and his family 
are members of the Presbyterian Church. 

Mr. Fairfax has been twice married. In 1873, he was married to 
Emma Kemp, who was born in this county, and who in 1891 met her 
death by being thrown from a horse she was riding, her foot being 
caught in the stirrup. To that union were born seven children, one of 
whom died in infancy, the others being as follows: Lester, now a well- 
to-do banker at Kansas City ; Willard, who is farming in Morgan County ; 
June, wife of T. G. Lewis, Kansas City; Thomas L., head of the schools 
at Clifton City ; Forester, living in western Kansas ; and Elmer, deceased. 
June 24, 1893, Mr. Fairfax married Margaret Reed, who was born in this 
county, a member of one of the old families of this section of the State, 
and to this union seven children have been born, namely: Homer, who is 
at home assisting his father ; Lon S., who died while serving in his coun- 
try's army in Europe during the late World War; and Edith, Jack, Hugh, 
Nola. and Leta May, at home. 

Lon Stephens Fairfax, the soldier son, whose death while serving as 
a member of the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe has put a 
gold star in the service flag of the Fairfax family, was born in this county 
Feb. 2, 1896, and here grew to promising young manhood. Early in the 
course of this country's war against Germany in 1917, he was inducted 
into the National Army, and was assigned to Camp Dodge, Iowa, for 
preliminary training. There he was attached to Company H, 351st In- 
fantry (Pioneer Regiment), 56th Division, and with that command in 



1050 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

August, 1918, sailed for France, his division arriving just at the time of 
preparations for the terrific push which was destined to bring the war to 
an end. With his command he took part in the desperate and decisive 
battle in the Argonne Forest in September, went "over the top" without 
receiving a scratch, marched then with the victorious army to Coblentz, 
and was on the front when the armistice was signed in November. His 
division then was assigned to the Army of Occupation in the Rhine coun- 
try, and he was there serving, when on Jan. 11, 1919, he was stricken with 
pneumonia. His condition was regarded as critical from the start, and 
eight days later, Jan. 11, 1919, he died, a true American soldier and a 
loyal and valiant defender of his country's cause. The body was buried 
in Coblentz, Germany, where many other American soldiers sleep amid 
the poppies, and his sorrowing comrades erected a stone over his grave, 
and there devoted a wreath to his memory — to the memory of a gallant 
lad who relinquished all thought of self when his country called. 

Dr. Hugo H. Buescher, a successful dentist of Boonville, is a native 
of Warren County, Mo. Mr. Buescher was born Oct. 28, 1896, a son of 
Rudolph and Wilhelmina (Hasenjager) Buescher, natives of Warren 
County. 

Rudolph Buescher was born in 1852, a son of one of Warren County's 
most honored pioneers. The senior Buescher was one of the first settlers 
near Hopewell, Mo. Wilhelmina Buescher was born in 1853. Mr. and 
Mrs. Buescher now reside in Hartsburg, in Boone County, where they 
moved in 1896. They are the parents of the following children: Louis, 
deceased ; Josephine, the wife of Henry Kluesmeyer, of New Franklin, 
Mo. ; John, a minister of the Burlington Evangelical Church, Burlington, 
Iowa; Herman and Robert, who died in infancy; Edward, a prosperous 
farmer near Hartsburg, Mo.; Meta, the wife of Frank Backhorst, of 
Hartsburg; Alina, the wife of Frank Osterloh, a farmer, near Harts- 
burg; Otto, who is engaged in farming near Hartburg; Oscar, who en- 
listed in the service of the United States in May, 1918, and 
reached France in August, 1918, was at the front when the 
armistice was signed, has been in active service for many months, and 
has escaped unharmed, and is now with his company, Company F, 349th 
Infantry, in France, at the time of this writing, in 1919 ; Hugo H., the 
subject of this sketch; Levonia, the wife of Julius Meyer, a well-known 
farmer near Hartsburg, Mo. 

Dr. Buescher obtained his elementary education in the public schools 
of Hartsburg. He later attended the high school at Columbia and the 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1051 

University at St. Louis, and of the latter institution he is a graduate, a 
member of the class of June 3, 1918. He opened a dental office at Galla- 
tin, Mo., in June, 1918, and in August of the same year he was called into 
service, as he had enlisted for duty, Dec. 21, 1917, and was awaiting call. 
Dr. Buescher was sent to Camp Pike, where he was kept on duty until he 
was honorably discharged in December, 1918. While in service, he was 
engaged in the practice of his profession. He located in Boonville, Jan. 1, 
1919, coming thence from Camp Pike, and he has thus far established a 
splendid reputation, and is meeting with exceptional success. Dr. 
Buescher is a capable practitioner and a young man in very way worthy 
of all the success which will attend his efforts. 

July 31, 1918, Dr. Huga H. Buescher was united in marriage with 
Susie Woodward, of Gallatin, Mo., a native of McFall, Mo. Mr. and Mrs. 
Buescher have made many friends in Boonville and Cooper County since 
their recent coming to this locality, and they are highly regarded by all 
who know them. Dr. Buescher is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias of 
Boonville. 

Archie L. Farris, a prominent farmer and stockman of Saline town- 
ship, is a member of one of the oldest and best pioneer familier of Cooper 
County. Mr. Farris was born March 10, 1876, at the Farris homestead in 
Saline township, on the farm a part of which is the present home of the 
subject of this sketch. He is a son of William P. and Almeda S. (Grubbs) 
Farris, natives of Cooper County. 

Eri Mosley Farris, great-grandfather of Archie L. Faris, was one of 
the earliest settlers of Cooper County. He settled on the farm known as 
the Farris home place, and he and his wife are interred in the family 
burial ground on this farm. Eri Farris, Jr., an uncle of Archie L. Farris, 
now resides in Pettis County, and he, at the advanced age of 90 years, is 
still active and alert, mentally and physically. William P. Farris, father 
of the subject of this review, was born in Cooper County in 1842. He 
was a Confederate veteran of the Civil War. He served under Gen. Ster- 
ling Price, and was twice imprisoned at Jefferson City. After the war 
ended, Mr. Farris returned to the farm and engaged in general farming 
and stock raising the remainder of his life. He died in 1914, and his 
remains are interred in Clayton Cemetery. Almeda S. (Grubbs) Farris 
was born in 1844 and died in 1901. She was laid to rest in Clayton Cem- 
etery. The children of William P. and Almeda S. Farris are as follows: 
Emmet, who died in infancy ; Lena and Nela, who died in infancy ; James 
E., who was born in 1874 and died in 1901 ; Archie L., the subject of this 



1052 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

review; William A., an auto repairman of Boonville; Nellie, the wife of 
Waite Finley, of Saline township ; Lydia M., who died in infancy ; Edna E., 
the wife of Layton T. Mills, of Boonville ; and Annie M., the wife of George 
Brueckner, of Boonville. 

Archie L. Farris attended the public schools of Cooper County. He 
was a student for one year at Harper Institute at Clarksburg, Mo., when 
he returned to the home place and has ever since been engaged in farm- 
ing and stock raising. Mr. Farris raises Poland China hogs and pure-bred 
Plymouth Rock chickens, having of the latter a flock of 150 hens. Mr. 
Farris's farm comprises 128 acres of land located eight miles southeast 
of Boonville, and is known as the "Maple Dale Farm." On this place are 
two good barns, an excellent chicken house, a machine shed, and a com- 
fortable residence, built in 1898, all improvements placed there by Mr. 
Farris. 

Oct. 19, 1898, Archie L. Farris was married to Sadie M. Hobrecht, 
a daughter of H. A. and Nancy J. Hobrecht, both of whom are residents 
of Saline township. Mrs. Farris has one brother and one sister living: 
Frank Elmer, who resides on the Hobrecht home place in Saline township ; 
and Mrs. Alma B. Hasenbach, of Boonville. To Mr. and Mrs. Farris have 
been born three children: Wilbur S., Hargrove, and Raymond E. Mr. 
and Mrs. Farris are worthy and consistent members of the Baptist 
Church, and Mr. Farris is a member of the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows. 

For nine years, Mr. Farris has been a valued member of the School 
Beard of his district. He takes a good citizen's interest in educational 
matters and in affairs of public import. He and Mrs. Farris are highly 
regarded among the best families of Cooper County. 

John C. Lohse, a prosperous farmer and stockman of Clarks Fork 
township, is a native of Cooper County, and a descendent of pioneer 
parents. He was born in Prairie Home, March 31, 1876, a son of Fred 
and Anna (Smith) Lohse, both natives of Germany, who settled in Prairie 
Home township some years prior to the Civil War. When Fred Lohse 
first came to this county he worked out by the month, and continued to 
do so for several years before he was able to invest in a farm of his own. 
He spent his life here and was successfully engaged in farming and stock 
raising, and now resides on the old home place at the age of 76 years. 
His wife died about 20 years ago, and her remains are buried in the 
Lutheran Church Cemetery at Clarks Fork. They were the parents of 
the following children: Mrs. Maggie Kaiser, deceased; John C, the sub- 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1053 

ject of this sketch; Henry, a farmer in Clarks Fork township; Lena, de- 
ceased; Martin, a farmer in Clarks Fork township; Ernest, who resides 
on the old home place; Walter, lives at Lone Elm, and Willie died at the 
age of 14 years. 

John C. Lohse was reared on the home farm in Prairie Home town- 
ship, and educated in the public schools. His farm consists of 160 acres, 
and is one of the nicely improved and well kept places of Clarks Fork 
township. It was formerly the Dorsey place, and Mr. Lohse purchased 
it in 1899. He has just completed the erection of a 10-rocm brick resi- 
dence with all modern improvements, including electric lights, hot and 
cold water system, with furnace heat. This is one of the fine residents 
of this section of the county. There are three barns on the Lohse place, 
all of which are commodious and conveniently arranged. Mr. Lohse car- 
ries on general farming and raises hogs and cattle extensively. 

John C. Lohse was united in marriage with Miss Nora Fricke, of 
Clarks Fork township. She is a daughter of William and Minnie Fricke. 
The father is now deceased, and the mother lives in Carks Fork town- 
ship. Mrs. Lohse is one of three children born to her parents, the others 
being William, who resides on the home place, and Emma, who married 
William Smith, of Bunceton. To Mr. and Mrs. Lohse have been born the 
following children : Arthur, died at the age of seven years ; Wilbur, Grace 
Marie, Bernice. Mr. and Mrs. Lohse reared a nephew, Raymond Kaiser, 
who now resides with the Lohse family. 

Mr. and Mrs. Lohse are members of the Clarks Fork Lutheran 
Church. The Lohse family are well known and highly respected, and 
Mr. Lohse is a citizen of genuine worth to the community. 

Robert A. Shannon, a prominent farmer and stockman of Clarks Fork 
township, is a native son of Cooper County. He was born in the township 
where he now resides, April 26, 1881, and is a son of Elza and Mary 
(Miller) Shannon. 

Robert A. Shannon is one of two children born to his parents, the 
other one being Eliza Miller Shannon. The mother died in 1884. and to 
the father's second marriage the following children were born: Martha, 
married Vivian Mills; George, Noye, Louis Minnie, died in infancy, and 
Maggie, died at the age of three years. 

Mr. Shannon was educated in the public schools of Cooper County and 
the State Normal School at Chillicothe, Mo. He engaged in farming and 
stock raising, and in 1901 bought the Joel Hurt place. Later he sold that 
farm and bought his present place of 160 acres in 1916. This is a well 



1054 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

improved place, with a good two-story, 10-room, modern residence. The 
place is equipped with an acetylene lighting system, and is modern in every 
particular. There is one large barn, 40x40 feet on the place and other 
farm buildings. The place is well watered aand nicely adapted to stock 
raising as well as general farming. Mr. Shannon raises Duroc Jersey hogs 
extensively, and has also made a success of breeding Galloway cattle. He 
also raises pure-bred Rhode Island chickens. 

In 1901, Robert A. Shannon was married to Miss Anna Eldredge, a 
daughter of Charles C. Eldredge, of Prairie Home township. Mrs. Shan- 
non is one of the following children born of her parents: Dr. James El- 
dredge, Kansas City, Mo. ; Lucy, married Newton Cunningham, and resides 
in Texas ; Bessie, married Milton Cunningham, Boonville ; Olive, married 
Leslie Laws, they reside in Oklahoma; Charles C, Jr., Boonville; Anna, 
wife of Robert A. Shannon, the subject of this sketch; Dorothy, married 
Fred Bear, Vernon County ; Sarah, married Asa Williams, Santa Fe, N. M. ; 
Louisa, married David Hurt, Boonville. To Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Shan- 
non have been born four children as follows: Norman Laura, Mary and 
Gilbert. 

Mr. and Mrs. Shannon are members of the Walnut Grove Christian 
Church. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and 
is a progressive and public spirited citizen. He is for good schools, good 
roads, and stands ever ready to give his support to any movement which 
has for its object the betterment of the community. 

One of the historic landmarks of Cooper County is an old building 
which stands on the Shannon farm. It was built nearly 100 years ago. 
Colonel McCulloch owned it at one time, and he sold it to Steigleder, and 
here all the Steigleder children were reared. Louis Earhart bought it 
later, and he sold it to Jennie Portner, who sold it to Mr. Shannon. It is 
a log structure and in later years was clapboarded. It is now used for a 
corn crib. 

Robert William Mills, a descendent of one of Cooper County's honored 
pioneer families, is a native son of this county. He was born on the place 
where he now resides in Saline township, Oct. 18, 1881, the son of Hunter 
N. and Mary E. (Thomas) Mills. Hunter N. Mills was also born in Cooper 
County, and was a son of Henry W. Mills, a native of Virginia, born July 
27, 1815, and died Feb. 12, 1898. He was a prominent pioneer of Cooper 
County and became prosperous. 

Hunter N. Mills was reared in Saline township, and was successfully 
engaged in farming and stock raising, and at the time of his death was the 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1055 

owner of 500 acres of land. He married Mary E. Thomas, a native of 
Moniteau township, Cooper County. She was a daughter of James and 
Martha G. (Ellis) Thomas, natives of Virginia, and early settlers in Cooper 
County. Hunter N. Mills died in 1915, and his wife died in 1912. They 
were the parents of the following children: Mabel, married D. L. Rogers, 
Boonville; Irene, married J. P. Kaiser, Clarks Fork township; Robert W., 
the subject of this sketch ; Garland, died at the age of one year; Vivian H., 
resides in Saline township; Vera, Axil, Colo.; and Elvira, married Louis 
James, Axil, Colo. 

Robert W. Mills was educated in the Fairview School District and the 
Boonville High School. He has made farming and stock raising his life's 
business, and has been very successful in his undertakings. His farm, 
which is known as "Edge Hill Farm," consists of 350 acres of well improved 
land in Saline township. He had a fine residence, two large stock barns, 
which are complete in detail, and also a silo with a capacity of 150 tons. 
Mr. Mills is an extensive feeder, and feeds about two and a half carloads 
of cattle annually, and about three carloads of hogs and sheep. He car- 
ries on general farming and stock raising, and is a practical farmer, as 
well as a student of modern progressive farming methods. 

Mr. Mills was married Oct. 19, 1905, to Miss Margaret E. Logan, a 
daughter of Hugh and Nancy (Davis) Logan, of Prairie Home township. 
Her father died May 17, 1903, and her mother now resides on the Logan 
home farm in Prairie Home township. Mrs. Mils is one of the following 
children born to her parents : John, who resides on the home place ; Sallie, 
married Aubrey Mills, Clarks Fork township ; Katie, married T. B. Jewett, 
Clarks Fork township ; Katie, married T. B. Jewett, Clarks Fork township ; 
Margaret E., the wife of Robert W. Mills, the subject of this sketch, and 
Lucy, married William Hunt, North Moniteau township. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Mills has been born one child, Robert William, born Nov. 27, 1916. 

Mr. Mills is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and is a 
democrat. He is one of Cooper County's progressive citizens. 

H. C. Honerbrink, a well known and successful farmer and stock raiser 
of Prairie Home township, is a native of Ohio. He was born in Cleveland, 
Jan. 13, 1865, a son of Earnest F. and Barbara (Eisle) Honerbrink. They 
were early settlers in Cooper County, and the father now resides in Prairie 
Home township, at the age of 78 years. The mother died April 20, 1914, 
and her remains are interred in the cemetery at Boonville. They were 
the parents of the following children: H. C, the subject of this sketch; 
Fred, who resides in Saline township; Lucy, Saline township; Anna, married 



1056 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Christ Olendorf ; Mary, married James Crane ; George, lives in Saline town- 
ship; Sophia, married Hogan Freeman, Saline township; Earnest, resides 
on the home place, and Herman, died in infancy. 

H. C. Honerbrink was reared in Cooper County, and received his edu- 
cation in the public schools, attending the school in the Providence district. 
He has made farming and stock raising the chief occupation of his life. 
He purchased his present place in Prairie Home township in 1889, and 
has made many improvements, and brought this farm up to a high state 
of cultivation. The place contains 140 acres, and is regarded as one of the 
valuable farms of that neighborhood. Mr. Honerbrink is extensively en- 
gaged in raising cattle and hogs and makes a specialty of Poland China 
hogs. 

Mr. Honerbring was united in marriage, June 5, 1892, with Miss Sophia 
Wehmeyer, a daughter of Peter and Lena (Fiedler) Wehmeyer, early 
pioneer settlers of Cooper County, both of whom are deceased. Mrs. 
Honerbrink was born in Clarks Fork township, Feb. 21, 1862. Her father, 
Peter Wehmeyer, was a Civil War veteran, having served in the Union 
Army for three years. To Mr. and Mrs. Honerbrink have been born three 
children, as follows : Barbara, married Fred Ohlendorf , of Boonville ; Ida, 
resides at home with her parents, and Martha, died at the age of 15 years. 

Mr. Honerbrink takes a keen interest in the public welfare and stands 
ever ready to do his duty as a citizen and neighbor. He has served as a 
member of the local School Board for a number of years and is recognized 
as one of Cooper County's progressive citizens. 

Henry Schuster, a prominent farmer and stockman of LaMine town- 
ship and owner of "Longview" Farm, is a native son of Cooper County, 
and belongs to a pioneer family of this section of Missouri. He was 
born in the township where he now resides April 5, 1867, and is a son 
of Mortiz and Rachel (Hildebrant) Schuster, a more extensive review of 
whom is given elsewhere in this volume. 

Henry Schuster was the second child born of a family of nine chil- 
dren. He was reared on his father's farm in LaMine township, and 
attended the district schools. He was brought up to the life of a farmer 
and in 1888 engaged in farming and stockraising on his own account 
on his father's farm. Two years later he settled on the place where he 
now resides, which he rented for seven years, when he bought It. 
"Longview" Farm consists of 120 acres of well improved, productive 
and valuable land, and here Mr. Schuster has been successfully carrying 









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MR. AND MRS, HENRY SCHUSTER 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1057 

on general farming and stock raising for a number of years. Recently 
he has turned his attention to breeding Duroc Jersey hogs, and is mak- 
ing a success, of this field of endeavor. 

On Sept. 23, 1888, Henry Schuster was united in marriage with Miss 
Viola Belle Phelps, a native of Cooper County, born in LaMine town- 
ship, April 23, 1869. She is a daughter of William H. and Elizabeth 
(White) Phelps. William H. Phelps was a native of Missouri, and a 
descendant of one of the pioneer families of this section. He was born 
in Boone County in 1832, and came to Cooper County sometime in the 
sixties. Here he settled on a farm and spent the remainder of his life 
in that line of work. He died in 1882. His wife, Elizabeth (White) 
Phelps, was born in New Jersey in 1832 and died in Cooper County, Mo., 
in 1886. 

To Henry Schuster and wife have been born three children, as fol- 
lows: Morris H., born Aug. 22, 1889, a farmer in LaMine township, 
married Henrietta Gibson of Blackwater, and they have one child, Harold 
Gibson ; Elmer R., born Nov. 21, 1890, also a farmer in LaMine township, 
married Frances Kincaid, and they have three children, Robert H., Henry 
L. and Margaret; and Lealia, born Feb. 26, 1894, married Roy Jeffress, 
LaMine township, and they have two children, Helen L. and Eva. 

Henry Schuster is one of the substantial citizens of Henry County, 
and the Schuster family are well known and highly respected. 

George Viertel, of Boonville township, has spent practically all his life 
in Cooper County, and has been identified with this section of the State 
since his boyhood. He was born in Baltimore, Md., Jan. 18, 1854, and is the 
son of John and Marie (Schunch) Virtell. The father was a native of 
Germany, and came to America at about the age of 15 years, settling in 
Baltimore, Md. He was married in that city, and in May, 1869, came to 
Cooper County, and settled two and one-half miles east of Boonville on the 
place where George Viertel now resides. He improved this farm and 
made his home here until the time of his death, in 1908. His wife died 
the same year, and the remains are buried in Walnut Grove Cemetery, 
Boonville. They were the parents of the following children: John F., 
Boonville township ; George, the subject of this sketch ; Anna K., deceased ; 
Lizzie C, Boonville; William, Boonville; and P. P., Boonville. 

George Viertel spent his early boyhood days in the city of Baltimore, 
where he received his early education. He came to Cooper County with 
(5?.: 



1058 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

his parents when he was about 15 years of age. For 15 years he was 
engaged in the livery business at Boonville. He built the bam which is 
now owned by Thomas B. Robinson, of Boonville. He has been interested 
in farming during the greater part of his career, and has owned a number 
of valuable farms in both Cooper and Howard Counties. He purchased his 
present place, which consists of 40 acres, the same being his father's old 
homestead, 1915. W. B. Miller owned the place for a number of years 
prior to the time that George Viertel purchased it. This is one of the 
well improved and valuable places of Cooper County. The place is equipped 
with a good modern cottage and other suitable farm buildings. ■ A thrifty 
young orchard adorns the place, and everything about the Viertel farm 
bears evidence of the thrift and industry of the owner. Mr. Viertel gives 
special attention to the poultry industry, and has about 200 splendid 
Plymouth Rock and Rhode Island Red chickens. 

Dec. 18, 1889, Mr. Viertel was united in marriage with Miss Mollie Z. 
Fluke, a daughter of Frederick and Julia (Rector) Fluke, both now de- 
ceased. The father was a native of Pennsylvania and came to Missouri in 
the fifties. He was killed in a cyclone at his home in Saline township, 
June 5, 1917. His wife preceded him in death, having departed this life 
in 1903. Their remains are interred in the cemetery at Overton, Mo. Mrs. 
George Viertel was one of the following children born to her parents: 
Luallan, deceased; Troy C, resides in Oklahoma; William F., deceased; 
Harrison B., deceased; Mattie, married Arthur Henry, and resides in 
Sedalia ; Ida N., married James Brady, Saline township ; and Mollie Z., the 
wife of George Viertel, the subject of this sketch. Mrs. Viertel was born 
in Saline township, Aug. 18, 1871, and was reared aand educated in this 
county. To Mr. and Mrs. Viertel have been born the following children: 
Laura Elliot, married Bower Hickman, Boonville township; Vance V., 
resides at home wth his parents. He is a stenographer, a graduate of the 
Boonville High School and has taught several terms of school. 

Mr. Viertel is a member of the Woodmen of the World, and his politi- 
cal allegiance is with the Democratic party. He has taken a prominent 
part in the affairs of his party, and was a candidate in the party primaries 
for county treasurer. 

Mr. Viertel is one of the younger men of this section who has seen 
much of the development of Cooper County, from almost its primitive state 
to its present greatness. His father owned the first wagon which was 
equipped with a brake in Cooper County. In those days it was considered 






HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1059 

an extraordinary vehicle, and was frequently used as a hearse in the pioneer 
days. 

Harry J. Muntzel, a progressive young farmer and stockman of Clarks 
Fork township, was born in the township where he now resides on Nov. 
29, 1888, and is a descendent of Cooper County pioneer parents. He is a 
son of Albert and Margaret (Schmidt) Muntzel. Albert Muntzel was born 
in Germany, and came to America with his parents when he was 12 years 
of age. The family first settled in St. Louis County, Mo., and from there 
came to Cooper County and settled in Clarks Fork township, being early 
settlers in that locality. Albert Muntzel was a hard-working and frugal 
citizen, and contributed the best years of his life to rearing his family 
and improving and bettering their condition. He died in 1905, his wife 
having preceded him in death about 10 years. They were the parents of 
the following children : Albert, Portland, Ore. ; M. W., St. Louis ; Ed., Boone- 
ville ; Clare, married H. E. Trampe, St. Louis County ; Julia, married George 
H. Meyer ; Lillie, resides with her sister, Mrs. Meyer, in Clarks Fork town- 
ship; Caroline, married George H. Fricke; Harry J., the subject of this 
sketch; Delia, resides in St. Louis County; Lizzie, deceased; and Leonard, 
died in infancy. 

Harry J. Muntzel was reared on the home farm in Clarks Fork town- 
ship and attend the local district school. Later he took a course in the 
Gem City Business College at Quincy, 111., where he was graduated in 1909. 
About a year later he purchased his present place in Clarks Fork town- 
ship from his brother, Ed. Muntzel. This is one of the well-kept and 
highly productive farms of Clarks Fork township. It consists of 112% 
acres, with good, modern and substantial improvements. The farm resi- 
dence is a six-room cottage, and the other farm buildings, including two 
barns and a silo, are well arranged for convenience and facilitating modern 
agricultural methods. Mr. Muntzel has made a marked success as a 
breeder of Hereford cattle, Chester White hogs, and Percheron horses, and 
is the owner of some very valuable registered animals. 

Harry J. Muntzel was united in marriage with Miss Minnie Fricke, in 
December, 1911. She is a daughter of Henry and Caroline Fricke, well 
known and highly respected residents of Clarks Fork township. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Muntzel have been born three children: Erla Harriette, Ralph 
Edmund and Doris. 

Mr. and Mrs. Muntzel are members of the Lutheran Evangelical 
Church of Clarks Fork, and are well known throughout eastern Cooper 



1060 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

County. They are numbered among the substantial and highly respected 
citizens of the county. 

F. H. Bornhauser, a prominent farmer and stockman of Prairie Home 
township, is a native son of Cooper County. He was born near Prairie 
Home. Aug. 27. 1S84, and is a son of Benjamin and Caroline (Schwaff) 
Bornhauser. Benjamin Bornhauser was a native of Germany, and came 
to America when he was about 20 years of age. He was an early settler 
in Prairie Home township, where he now resides at the age of 73 years. 
His wife died in 1905, aged 54 years. She was a native of Moniteau 
County. They were the parents of the following children: C. A., who 
resides in Evansville, Ind. ; John, who was killed in an automobile accident 
in 1915, at the age of 35; F. H., the subject of this sketch; Mary, married 
James Longan, and resides on the home place ; Maud, married J. A. Erhart, 
and lives in Henry County ; and Clara, died in infancy. 

F. H. Bornhauser was reared in Cooper County and received his edu- 
cation in the public schools. Since boyhood he has been interested in 
farming and stock raising. He purchased his present farm from W. F. 
Johnson in 1910. The place consists of 255 acres of valuable land, and is 
located 12 miles southeast of Boonville. in Prairie Home township. It is 
well improved, and one of the valuable and productive farms of Cooper 
County. It is an exceptionally well adapted place to stock raising, having 
an abundant supply of water. Mr. Bornhauser is extensively engaged in 
raising cattle, hogs and sheep, and has met with unusual success in this 
line of endeavor. 

Mr. Bornhauser was united in manage in 1911 with Miss Nellie 
Cochran, a daughter of Dr. O. W. Cochran, of Gooch Mills. A sketch of 
Dr. Cochran appears in this volume. Mrs. Bornhauser is one of the fol- 
lowing children bom to her parents: William Owen, deceased; Annie Gray, 
now Mrs. Emmet Oerly : Samuel Victor: Nellie, wife of F. H. Bornhauser. 
the subject of this sketch. To Mr. and Mrs. Bornhauser have been born 
five children as follows: Virginia. Margaret, Bernard Owen. Willie Gray. 
and Elizabeth. 

Mr. Bornhauser is a member of the Woodmen of the World. Independ- 
ent Order of Odd Fellows, and Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. He 
and Mrs. Bornhauser are members of the Baptist Church, and are reckoned 
among the leading citizens of Cooper County. 

Grover E. Debo. a successful farmer and stockman of Boonville town- 
ship, is a native of this county, and a descendent of one of the honored 
pioneer families of this section of Missouri. Mr. Debo was born in Boon- 






HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1061 

villc township, April 22, 1884, a son of R. P. and Mary (Hippenstall) 
Debo, both natives of Virginia. R. P. Debo was born in 1832. When the 
Civil War broke out he cast his lot with his native State and enlisted in the 
Confederate Army, and served throughout the entire war. He served in 
General Pickett's Division, and was with that renowned division at the bat- 
tle of Gettysburg, where he was severely wounded. After the close of the 
war, in 1866, R. P. Debo came to Missouri and first settled in Howard 
County. A few years later he moved to Cooper County, settling on a farm 
east of Boonville. Later he removed to Livingston County, where he re- 
mained about nine years, when he returned to Cooper County. Here he 
spent the remainder of his days. He died April 21, 1911. His wife died 
July 23, 1889, aged 49 years. She died while on a visit to her old home 
near Lynchburg, Va. 

Grover E. Debo is one of the following children born to his parents: 
P. L., Mattie, L. C, and Grover E., all of whom reside in Boonville town- 
ship, and the following are deceased: Gillie Jane, Julia Mary, Ida Laura, 
and Pearl. Grover E. Debo attended the public schools in Cooper County, 
and later took a course in a business college at Columbia, Mo. He has 
made farming and stock raising his life work, and has met with very satis- 
factory degree of success. He purchased his present place in Boonville 
township in 1909. A part of this place was originally the old G. E. Cham- 
bers farm, and a part of it belonged to the Warren MacFarland place. Mr. 
Debo owns 140 acres, which is one of the well improved and attractive 
places of Boonville township. The residence is a modern structure of 
eight rooms, and was built in 1910, and the place is well equipped with 
barns, silo and other suitable buildings for carrying on farming and stock 
raising, according to the most modern and approved methods. Mr. Debo 
makes a specialty of raising Shorthorn cattle and Duroc Jersey and 
Hampshire hogs. 

Aug. 5, 1908, Grover E. Debo was united in marriage with Miss Hattie 
M. MacFarland, a native of Boonville township, born March 15, 1883. She 
is a daughter of Warren and Malvina (Wear) MacFarland. Warren Mac- 
Farland was born in Boonville township, Feb. 12, 1841, and died July 21, 
1908. He was a soldier in the Union Army during the Civil War, and was 
a farmer and stockman all his life. Malvina (Wear) MacFarland was born 
in 1844, and died June 24, 1895. The MacFarland family are numbered 
among the very early pioneers of Missouri. Reuben MacFarland, grand- 
father of Mrs. Debo, was a native of North Carolina, and came to Mis- 
souri with his father, Jacob MacFarland, in 1816. They settled near St. 



1062 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Genevieve, and in 1818 came to Cooper County and entered Government 
land in Boonville township. Reuben McFarland spent the remainder of his 
life in Boonville township and his remains are buried on the old MacFar- 
land place, and Jacob MacFarland is buried at the same place. Mrs. Debo 
is one of the following children born to her parents: Mrs. Mary Eunice 
Mellor, Millerton, Okla. ; Mrs. Elizabeth Elmira Debo, Boonville township ; 
Mrs. Mettie Reed Tellesferro, Ardmore, Okla. ; and Hattie M., the wife of 
Grover E. Debo, the subject of this sketch. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Debo have been born the following children: Mary 
Malvina, Grover Glenn and Ethel Louise. Mr. Debo is a member of the 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Boonville, and the Debo family are 
members of Bethel Presbyterian Church. 

Benjamin Nicholas Smith, president of the Missouri Farm Manage- 
agement Association, a member of the board of directors of the Bunceton 
Fair Association, proprietor of "Walnut Dale Farm" in Clark's Fork town- 
ship, is one of the most progressive farmers and stockmen in Cooper 
County. 

"Walnut Dale Farm," situated six and one-half miles northeast of 
Bunceton, was bought by Nicholas Smith, grandfather of the subject of 
this sketch, from the Fryer heirs, in 1866, the original owner, Fryer, hav- 
ing lost his life while returning from California in the days of the gold 
excitement following the days of '49. The Fryers were slave owners, and 
besides the big brick house there were three cabins for slaves on the place 
when Nicholas Smith bought it. The "big house" was erected in 1835, and 
was constructed from brick burned on the place. Chris. T. Smith had a 
herd of registered Galloways. At the Panama Pacific Exposition at San 
Francisco in 1915, Chris T. Smith won the first prize on blue grass taken 
from the park of 50 acres which marks the approach to the "big house" 
at "Walnut Dale," this beautiful park being filled with walnut trees of 
ancient growth, from which the place takes its name. At that same expo- 
sition, he also won first on a sheaf of wheat raised at "Walnut Dale" and 
second on Ben Davis apples taken from the fine orchard there; and in 1913 
won the grand championship on single and 10-ears contests at the Missouri 
State Corn Show at Columbia. At the Louisiana Purchase Exposition at 
St. Louis a sample of corn from this farm won (in conjunction with R. B. 
Johnson and the T. W. McFarland farm) the gold medal on an exhibit of 
Cartner corn. 

Benjamin Nicholas Smith was born on "Walnut Dale Farm," March 2, 
1890, son of Christ T. and Ellen Augusta (Brandes) Smith, the latter of 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1063 

whom was born in New Zealand. Chris T. Smith was bora in the vicinity 
of Lone Elm, in this county, a son of Nicholas Smith, one of the leading 
figures of his day in Cooper County, and succeeded his father in the direc- 
tion of "Walnut Dale Farm," even as his son has now succeeded him, three 
generations of the family thus having labored to bring the place up to its 
present high standard. Mr. and Mrs. C. T. Smith are now living retired at 
Bunceton. They have six children, as follows: Mrs. Herman Langkop, 
Elston, Mo. ; Benjamin N. ; Mrs. Arthur Smith, of Clarks Fork township ; 
Mrs. Edward Fricke, of Lone Elm; Mrs. John Roehrs, of Bunceton; and 
Esther Marie, living with her parents at Bunceton. 

B. N. Smith has from the days of his boyhood devoted his attention 
to agricultural pursuits, has made a real study of the same, and has thus 
come to be recognized as one of the most wideawake and progressive young 
farmers and stockmen in Missouri. He received his early schooling in the 
Jefferson School and followed this by a course at the State Agricultural 
College at Columbia and University of Minnesota, St. Paul. In 1909, he 
won a scholarship in the county corn judging contest. Upon completing 
his studies Mr. Smith returned to "Walnut Dale," and has since been en- 
gaged in developing the place, which he now owns, and of which he has 
been in complete charge since his father's retirement. The place covers 
300 acres in Clarks Fork township and is well improved, in addition to 
having one of the best tenant houses in the county on it, being equipped 
with two stock barns, an ample hog barn and an Indiana silo, 14x37 in 
dimensions. Though his father made much of the herd of Galloway cattle 
which formerly added to the reputation of "Walnut Dale Stock Farm." 
Mr. Smith, the present owner, gives his particular attention to registered 
Shorthorns, and has a fine herd, and is secretary of Cooper County Short- 
horn Breeders' Association. He also has a fine lot of registered Duroc 
Jersey hogs, the start of which he gained by winning a prize of a registered 
Duroc in a Missouri Farm Management Association contest, prize given by 
Longview Farm, Kansas City, seeking to ascertain definite information 
relating to records of farm management in Missouri. The records sub- 
mitted by Mr. Smith covering his system of farm management won for 
him second place in the State contest. Mr. Smith is ably and intelligently 
assisted by his wife in his stock operations, and the latter has a fine flock 
of Mammoth Bronze turkeys and 125 Brown Leghorn chickens. Mr. Smith 
also has an excellent herd of registered Shropshire sheep. 

Sept. 2, 1916, Benjamin Nicholas Smith was married to Zula Erma 
Smith, who also was born in this county, daughter of P. F. and Margaret 



1064 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Ida (Cordry) Smith, both of whom also were born in Cooper County, mem- 
bers. of pioneers families, and who are now living in Lebanon township. 
P. F. Smith was born at Otterville, where his mother, Mrs. Nancy Ellen 
Smith, is still living, being now in the 92nd year of her age. His wife 
was born near New Lebanon. To them 10 children were born, as follows : 
Harry Alonzo, deceased; Mrs. T. A. Nelson, Jr., Bunceton; Mrs. W. C. 
Lewis, St. Louis; Hunter F., who is at home; Homer W., also at home; 
Mrs. Benjamin N. Smith ; Hubert L., Speed ; and Mary Augusta, William 
Herschell, and Harold Vincil, at home. Mrs. B. N. Smith received her 
early schooling in the public school at West Fork and supplemented this 
by a literary course at Missouri Valley College at Marshall. She then took 
a course in the Washington University Art School at St. Louis, where she 
gave special attention to the details of china painting, and has since done 
some very handsome work in that line, a number of pieces in her home 
collection revealing true artistry and a real delicacy of both conception 
and touch. Mrs. Smith is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and Mr. 
Smith is a member of the Lutheran Church. 

Milton McGee McCarty, justice of the peace, a former merchant of 
Clifton, and a member of the board of directors of the bank there, for- 
merly postmaster at Pleasant Green, and in other ways for many years 
actively identified with that part of the county, now living retired at 
Clifton City, is a native son of Cooper County. He was born on what 
then was known as the W. D. Muir farm, near Boonville, Oct. 6, 1850, son 
of W. S. and Mary (Ferguson) McCarty, who were among the well known 
residents of Boonville, and both long since deceased. 

W. S. McCarty was born in Kentucky in 1821, son of Dennis McCarty 
and wife, the former of whom was born in Loudoun County, Va., who 
came to Missouri with their family in the early days and settled on a 
farm. Dennis McCarty and wife had six children, three sons and three 
daughters, the sons being Richard, John and W. S., the first named of 
whom served as a captain in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. 
W. S. McCarty grew to manhood here, and after his marriage settled at 
Boonville, where he engaged in the livery business, and was also for years 
a mail carrier, having charge of "star" routes out of Boonville to Fayette 
and other points adjacent. During the progress of the county fair at 
Boonville in September, 1867, he was running a hack line to and from the 
fair grounds, and on Sept. 26 was known to have had a good bit of money 
in his possession, the accumulation of fares taken during the day. The 
last seen of him on the evening of that day was when he bade goodby to 




M M McCARTY 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1065 

a party of women friends whom he had treated to ice cream in a Main 
Street confectionery store. He started home from that point, but did 
not arrive home, and the next day his body was found in a downtown 
cellar, the supposition being that he had been murdered for the money 
he had, though no one ever was brought to justice for the crime. His 
widow died at South McAlester, Okla., May 6, 1895, she then being 76 
years of age. She was born at Palmyra, Mo., and was married to W. S. 
McCarty on Dec. 19, 1843. To that union were born 10 children, of whom 
but two are now living, the subject of this sketch having a sister, Mary, 
wife of J. B. Kline, now living at Clifton, Ariz. 

Milton R. McCarty completed his schooling in the Allison and Kemper 
Schools in Boonville, and for one year taught school. He then went to 
Kansas City, and presently was made constable for Kaw township (that 
city), his service being in connection with the routine of the common pleas 
court. In 1875, he engaged in railroad work in a clerical capacity, and 
after awhile was made foreman of the railroad yards at Moberly. In 
1894, Mr. McCarty left the railroad service and located at Clifton, where 
he became engaged in the general merchandise business, and for about 20 
years conducted a store there ; in connection with which, during the Cleve- 
land administration, he served as postmaster at Pleasant Green. He 
helped to organize the bank at Clifton City, and was a member of the 
board of directors of the Clifton City Bank, and has property at Clifton, 
where he is now living retired, having practically given up his various 
business activities in 1914. Mr. McCarty is a stanch democrat, and for 
some years has been justice of the peace for his home township. He is 
a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and he and his fam- 
ily are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church (South). 

On Dec. 28, 1875, Milton M. McCarty was united in marriage to Lulu 
A. Bridges, who was born near Madison, Ind., and who in 1873 had come 
to Missouri with her parents, Joseph H. and Sarah A. (Bowman) Bridges, 
both natives of Indiana, the family locating in Cooper County, where Mr. 
and Mrs. Bridges spent the remainder of their lives. Joseph H. Bridges 
was born Nov. 15, 1828, and died on Feb. 21, 1899. His widow survived 
him until May 23, 1918. She was born on Feb. 22, 1832. Both were 
members of pioneer families in southern Indiana. To Milton M. and 
Lulu A. (Bridges) McCarty seven children have been born, namely: 
Douglas, Chicago; Minnie, deceased; Mrs. Jennie Cauthen, Independence, 
Mo.; Joseph M., Ashland, Ore.; Arthur, Kansas City; Clyde, of Ft. Smith, 
Ark. ; and Wilbur S., a telegraph operator for the M., K. & T. at Clifton. 



1066 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Wilbur S. McCarty was inducted into the National Army early in 1918 
for service in the World War and served for five months, in training at 
Camp Dodge, Iowa, attached to Company 17, 163rd Depot Brigade, 5th 
Battalion, receiving his honorable discharge in November, 1918. 

H. G. Brandes, of Boonville township, is one of Cooper County's suc- 
cessful farmers and stockmen. He was born in Cooper County, Nov. 24, 
1882, a son of Theodore and Mary (Knorp) Brandes. Theodore Brandes 
was born in Germany and came to America at an early age with his parents, 
who settled in Clarks Fork township. He and his wife now reside on the 
old homestead in Clarks Fork township, where they have been successfully 
engaged in farming for many years. To Theodore and Mary (Knorp) 
Brandes have been born the following children : George, a farmer in Clarks 
Fork township; H. C, the subject of this sketch; Emelia, married John 
Barron, Bunceton ; Nora, married John Bomhauser, Prairie Home township ; 
and Stella, married Frank Hale. Prairie Home township. 

Theodore Brandes purchased his home place in Clarks Fork township 
from Wiliam Pope. He improved this place and bought more land until 
at one time he was the owner of 583 acres. Later he sold a part of his 
Tand and now owns 313 acres. 

H. C. Brandes was educated in the Ellis School District, and has always 
followed farming and stock raising. He bought his present place in Boon- 
ville township in 1914. The place consists of 182 acres of rich, productive 
land, located on the Jefferson Highway, six miles southeast of Boonville. 
This land was formerly owned by Berryot Hurt, who sold it to Joseph 
Rich, who later sold it to Thomas Rich. It was then purchased by Fleming 
Hurt, who sold it to H. G. Hurt, from whom Mr. Brandes bought it. This 
place is well adapted to both general farming and stock raising. 150 acres 
of it being bottom land. It is well watered with one never-failing spring, 
and Clarks Fork Creek courses its way through the place. Mr. Brandes 
raises cattle extensively, and also red hogs and Rhode Island Red chickens. 
He is one of the most successful and practical stockmen of the county. 

Nov. 25. 1903, H. C. Brandes was united in marriage with Miss Lula 
Barron, daughter of Walter and Virginia (Hurt) Barron. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Brandes have been born three children, as follows: Chlorene Lois, 
Earl M.. and Mary Virginia. 

The Brandes family stand high in the community, and Mr. Brandes is 
one of the most valued citizens of this county. 

J. D. Crain. proprietor of the old Mai-inus Lanjers farm of 340 acres 
in Clark's Fork township, a substantial farmer, was born in Warren County, 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1067 

Tenn., Sept. 18, 1863, son of N. C. and Margaret (Lewis) Crain, the former 
born in that State and the latter in Germany. N. C. Crain died in 1899. 
His wife died in 1893, and both are buried in Greenwood Cemetery in War- 
ren County, Tenn. They had seven children: N. B. and C. C, of White 
County, Tenn. ; N. C, Oklahoma City ; J. D. ; B. C, of Princeton, Ky. ; Mar- 
garet, wife of James Pffeifer, Warren County, Tenn.; Theodosia, wife of 
Samuel Shockley, Texas ; and Elvana, wife of George Simmons, of Van 
Buren County, Tenn. 

Reared in Tennessee, J. D. Crain received his schooling in the public- 
schools of his home county, and took up railroading, which he followed 28 
years, and in 1899 came to Cooper County and bought a farm in Saline 
township. Here he made his home until 1918, when he sold the place and 
bought the Lebbing heirs' place, where he now lives, formerly the Herman 
Lonjers farm. The substantial farm house was erected more than 50 years 
ago, and is in good condition. Nearby is the grave of Marinus Lonjers, 
surrounded by an iron fence and neatly kept. The headstone notes that 
Marinus Lonjers was born March 2, 1827, and died on June 28, 1874. This 
farm has 270 acres of bottom land, the rest being upland, and has two sets 
of improvements. There are two fine springs on the farm, providing an 
inexhaustible supply of water. Mr. Crain raises registered Hampshire 
hogs. 

Mr. Crain has been twice married. In 1878 he was married to Abitha 
Moore, of Warren County, Tenn., who died in 1901. To that union were 
bora three sons, John, Arless and Edward, all connected with the Wilson 
Packing Company at Kansas City, the latter being foreman. Mr. Crain's 
second wife, Mary Honerbrink, was born in this county. To this marriage 
has been born two children ; Tennie and James. Mrs. Crain is a daughter 
of Ernest and Barbara Christina Honerbrink, the latter of whom died on 
April 22, 1914, and is buried in Walnut Grove Cemetery, Boonville. Ernest 
Honerbrink is living in Saline township. He and his wife had eight chil- 
dren, of whom Mrs. Crain was the last bora, the others being as follows: 
Fred, of Boonville township ; Henry, of Saline township ; George, of Boon- 
ville township ; Ernest, of Saline township ; Anna, wife of Chris Ohlandorf, 
of Clark's Fork township ; Sophia, wife of Hogan Freeman, and Lucy, who 
is living in Boonville township. Mr. Crain is affiliated with the Modern 
Woodmen of America, and with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. 

Andrew Hagan Windsor, owner of "Fairview Farm" in Boonville town- 
ship, is one of the progressive and enterprising fanners and stockmen of 
the younger generation in Cooper County. Mr. Windsor was bora in Mon- 



1068 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

iteau County, Dec. 5, 1883, a son of Alfred M. and Martha Ann (Renfrew) 
Windsor. Alfred Windsor, the father, was born in Cooper County, and 
now resides near Overton, Mo. Andrew H. Windsor was the eldest of four 
children born to his parents, the others being : Charles Owen, James Law- 
rence, and Virginia Mattenlee, all of whem reside at Overton, Mo. 

Andrew H. Windsor was reared in Moniteau County, and received his 
education in the public schools of that county. He is a practical farmer 
and stockman, having been reared and trained to that business since boy- 
hood. He purchased "Fairview Farm" in March, 1919. This place con- 
sists of 448 acres, and was formerly the David Smith farm. It is a well 
improved and productive place. The farm residence is an imposing brick 
structure of nine rooms, built by David Smith, five of the rooms of the 
early day residence being equipped with wood fire-places, which is sugges- 
tive of pioneer times. There is a splendid barn on the place which was 
built in 1918. It is 56x50 feet in dimensions. Mr. Windsor raises a good 
grade of hogs and cattle, and in the near future he expects to stock his 
place with registered Duroc Jersey hogs and Hereford cattle. 

Andrew H. Windsor was united in marriage Feb. 19, 1918, with Miss 
Grace Maud Allen, of Overton, Mo. She is a daughter of Henry and Addie 
Allen, who now reside at Overton. Mrs. Windsor is one of the following 
children born to her parents : Mary, married Troy Niel, Boonville ; Norel, 
married W. B. Lann, Overton ; Bessie, married W. M. Drehl, who is now in 
United States Army in France, and Grace Maud, wife of Andrew H. Wind- 
sor, the subject of this sketch. 

Mr. Windsor is a member of the Woodmen of the World, and the Inde- 
pendent Order of Odd Fellows. He is one of Cooper County's substantial 
young men. 

William Loesing, a well established young farmer of Clarks Fork town- 
ship, and owner of a fine farm, is a native son of Cooper County. He was 
born in Clarks Fork township, March 4, 1888, son of August and Laura 
(Faulter) Loesing, the former of whom is living in Clarks Fork township. 

August Loesing was born in St. Louis County, Aug. 19, 1862, son of 
William Loesing. William Loesing was a soldier of the Civil War, and died 
while in service. His widow married again, and is living in St. Louis. 
August Loesing has been a resident of Cooper County for many years on 
his farm in Clarks Fork township. His wife died Feb. 10, 1916, and is 
buried in the cemetery at Lone Elm. They were the parents of 12 chil- 
dren, all of whom are living, save two, Minnie and Edgar, the others being 
as follows : Lena, wife of H. H. Fahenbrink ; Fred, in Oklahoma ; William, 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1069 

the subject of this sketch; Bruno, Clarks Fork township; Christina, at 
home with her father ; Henry, an assistant to his father ; Peter, farming in 
Clarks Fork 'township, and Lizzie, Julia and Emily, at home. 

William Loesing has always been a farmer and stock raiser. He 
received his schooling in the parochial school at Lone Elm and the public 
school at Bunceton, and in the fall of 1915 began farming on his own ac- 
count. In 1917, he bought the farm of 154 acres on which he is now liv- 
ing. This farm was formerly owned by Matthew McDowel for 41 years. 
About 110 acres of it is rich bottom land on the Petite Saline. Mr. Loesing 
has made a number of impi-ovements, including fencing, and he also drilled 
a well 100 feet in depth. He has a good bunch of registered Poland China 
hogs, 35 head of sheep, and contemplates engaging in the raising of live 
stock on a more extensive scale. His wife has about 300 chickens, and is 
making a specialty of pure-bred Orpingtons. Mr. and Mrs. Loesing have 
plans in hand for further improvements on the place, and are bending 
their energies in that direction. 

Nov. 25, 1915, William Loesing was married to Dora Carl, also of that 
township, and they have two children, Delphia and Wilbur. Mr. Loesing 
is a member of the Lutheran Church at Lone Elm, and his wife is a mem- 
ber of the Evangelical Church at Boonville. Mrs. Loesing is a daughter of 
George W. and Amelia (Witthar) Carl, of "Woodland Farm," in Clarks 
Fork township. 

H. M. King, a substantial farmer of Clarks Fork township, was 
born on his present place, Aug. 5, 1876. He is a son of Jacob and Annie 
(Nohrnberg) King, both natives of Holland. Jacob King, who was one 
of the pioneers of the community in which he settled after his marriage, 
bought a quarter of a section of timber land in Clarks Fork township. 
His was the first piece of land cleared in that community, and he set out 
the first orchard in that section of Cooper County. He was a cabinet 
maker and at nights and odd times while living on the farm followed that 
trade. Some of the furniture he made for his home use, particularly a 
"safe" and a writing desk, are still held by his son, H. M. King, and are 
greatly prized by him and his family. Jacob King and his wife died on that 
farm and are buried in Clarks Fork Cemetery. They were the parents of 
five children, as follows: J. W. King, part owner of the old home place; 
C. F. King, Clarks Fork township; H. M. ; and Sophia and Anna, deceased. 

H. M. King was reared on the farm and has always followed farming. 
He received his schooling in the old Washington School. This district has 
the honor of being the leading rural school district in Cooper County, it 



1070 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

having been the first district in the county to win a certificate in Class 1, 
and much credit for this distinction is due to the efforts of Mr. King and 
his brother. Upon reaching manhood's estate, Mr. King continued on the 
home farm. In 1918, he and his brother, J. W. King, bought the home 
place, H. M. King buying the south portion of 115 acres, on which he has 
since done much in the way of improvement. Twenty-five acres of the 
farm is bottom land, the remainder being second bottom and upland, and 
is well watered for stock purposes by excellent living springs. The build- 
ings are of good construction and include a modern type poultry house, to 
which latter Mrs. King gives her special attention, having for years been 
one of the most successful poultry fanciers in that neighborhood, her 
pure-bred Black Langshans having a high reputation. 

Nov. 30, 1904, H. M. King was married to Mary Smith, who also was 
born in this county, and to this union three children have been born, 
Josephine and Irving, who are at home, and Mary died in infancy. Mrs. 
King was born in 1877, daughter of Leonard and Josephine (Kloeckner) 
Schmidt, the latter of whom died in 1883, and is buried in Clarks Fork 
Cemetery. Leonard Schmidt is living at Clarks Fork. He was born in 
Germany and was about seven years of age when he came to this country 
with his parents, who located in Missouri about the year 1856. Leonard 
Schmidt has been thrice married. By his union with Josephine Kloeckner 
he was the father of six children, those besides Mrs. King being Martin 
and Leonard, who live at Crockett, Texas; Caroline, wife of R. L. Stieg- 
leder ; Emma, wife of F. E. Klug, of Denver, Colo. ; and Anna, at home. 
His second wife was Ida Renken, and to that union was born one child, 
John Smith, Clarks Fork township. Mr. Schmidt's third wife was Kalie 
Siegel, and to this union five children have been born, namely: Mrs. Flora 
Bridges, deceased; Ailene, at home; Elmer, farmer, Clarks Fork township; 
Harry, same township; and Siegel R., deceased. Mr. and Mrs. King are 
members of the Clark's Fork Lutheran Church. 

Homer L. Carpenter, a wideawake young farmer of Prairie Home 
township, and joint owner with his elder brother, Warren E. Carpenter, 
of "Meadow Brook Farm," a fine place on the Prairie Home-Bunceton rOad, 
on which farm the brothers maintain separate establishments, was born 
in this county. He was born on a farm near Pisgah, May 30, 1888, son of 
George A. and Mary McCune (McCulloch) Carpenter, the latter of whom 
died in 1911, and the former of whom is still living, one of Clarks Fork 
township's best known and substantial residents. 

Homer L. Carpenter received his schooling in the Ellis School District 
and continued his activities on the home farm until in 1909, when his 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1071 

father transferred to him and his brother Warren the valuable tract com- 
prised in "Meadow Brook Farm," which he has since been cultivating, and 
on which, after his marriage in the spring of 1910, he established his 
home. All the improvements on that portion of "Meadow Brook" looked 
after by him have been made since he came into possession, these including 
a substantial residence, a good barn, granaries, garage and the like, all 
bespeaking the progressive character of the owner. The place is well 
drained and has an ample water supply. During the current year (1919) 
Mr. Carpenter has 120 acres in wheat. The whole farm is under cultiva- 
tion. Mr. Carpenter also gives considerable attention to the raising of 
livestock. His grandfather, Samuel Carpenter, at one time owned 1,300 
acres of land in that vicinity and the Carpenters have thus for three gen- 
erations been carrying on extensive agricultural operations in the neigh- 
borhood, the family from pioneer days having been substantial and influ- 
ential. 

May 18, 1910, Homer L. Carpenter was married to Bessie Virginia 
Hurt, who also was born in this county, and to this union three children 
have been born, Helen Virginia, Forest Lee and Lucy M. Mrs. Carpenter 
was born in Clarks Fork township in 1890, daughter of Boone Hurt, who 
is now living at Pleasant Green, and was educated in the public schools ; she 
and her husband have known each other since childhood. Mr. Carpenter 
is a democrat, and he and his wife are members of Pisgah Baptist Church. 

Theodore L. Brandes, who is successfully engaged in farming and stock 
raising in North Moniteau township, was born in Clarks Fork township in 
1879. He is a son of Charles and Margaret (Smith) Brandes, both natives 
of Germany. Charles Brandes was a successful farmer of Cooper County. 
He died Jan. 22, 1912, aged 68 years, 9 months, 29 days, and his remains 
are buried at Lone Elm. His widow now resides at the home of her son, 
A. C. Brandes, in North Moniteau township. 

Theodore L. Brandes is one of 11 children born to his parents. He was 
reared on a farm and educated in the public and parochial schools of Clarks 
Fork township, and has been engaged in farming and stock raising all his 
life. He bought his present farm in 1911. This is a well improved and 
productive farm, with a good farm residence and other buildings. The 
place has a never failing water supply, and is well adapted to both general 
farming and stock raising. Mr. Brandes raises large numbers of cattle and 
hogs, with a tendency to specialize in Galloway cattle and Hampshire hogs. 

Oct. 16, 1902, Theodore L. Brandes was married to Miss Lizzie Hoerl, 
a daughter of Martin and Ida (Selck) Hoerl. Martin Hoerl was born in 



1072 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Germany in 1849, and immigrated to America when he was about 20 years 
of age. He has spent his life engaged in farming, and now resides in Clarks 
Fork township. His wife was also a native of Germany, born July 6, 1852, 
and came to America when she was a young girl. She died June 17, 1896, 
and her remains are buried at Lone Elm. Martin and Ida (Selck) Hoerl 
were the parents of the following children: Lizzie, the wife of Theodore 
Brandes, the subject of this sketch; Laura, married John Brandes; Dora, 
married William Timm ; Leonard, resides in Clarks Fork township ; Elmer, 
resides at Bunceton ; and Ida, Martin and Walter are deceased. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Theodore L. Brandes have been bom four children, as follows : Arthur 
M. ; Martin L., died in infancy ; Warren E. ; and Porter C. 

Mr. Brandes is one of Cooper County's successful men. He and Mrs. 
Brandes are members of the Lutheran Church at Lone Elm. 

Col. Caleb C. Jones, auctioneer, farmer and stockman, and one of the 
best known citizens of Cooper County, proprietor of an excellent farm a 
mile east of Pilot Grove, was born in this county, a member of one of the 
real pioneer families of Cooper County. He was born Oct. 28, 1872, son 
of George C. and Anna (Trent) Jones, the former of whom, one of the 
large landowners of Cooper County, is still living. Mrs. Anna Jones died 
in 1909. She was the mother of six children, those beside the subject of 
this sketch being Addie M., who married George H. McElroy, and is now 
deceased ; Dr. George C. Jones, a Pilot Grove dentist ; Marie, wife of M. L. 
Jones, of Blackwater township; Nancy T., wife of Archibald McGuire, of 
Blackwater township; and Woodson T., also of Blackwater township. 
George C. Jones is a son of Caleb Jones, the pioneer, who came to this 
county from Kentucky in 1826, and started a store at Arrow Rock. From 
that beginning Caleb Jones gradually branched out, as his affairs pros- 
pered, becoming merchant, banker, farmer and stockman, and at the time 
of his death in 1883 was said to be the wealthiest man in Cooper County. 

Reared on the farm on which he was born, Caleb C. Jones received 
his early schooling in the local schools in the neighborhood of his home in 
Blackwater township, and supplemented the same by a course in the Wil- 
liam F. Johnson school, from which he was graduated. From the days 
of his boyhood Mr. Jones has given particular attention to the raising of 
live stock, and has been successful in that line. His first load of stock was 
shipped from Pilot Grove in 1898. Of late he has been giving special 
attention to the breeding of Shorthorn cattle and his place is well equipped 
for the purpose. He is renting a farm of 212 acres, known as the Mrs. 
John Lee farm, one mile northeast of Pilot Grove, in the township of that 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1073 

name, and also owns 140 acres of land in Blackwater township. In 1914, 
Mr. Jones began crying public sales, both farm and stock, a department 
of endeavor for which from the start he displayed peculiar aptitude, and 
his success in that line by the common consent of neighborhood brevetry 
has earned for him the title of "Colonel," by which he is widely known 
throughout the county. Colonel Jones is a democrat, and fraternally is 
affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons at Pilot Grove. 
He and his family are members of the Methodist Church. 

In October, 1901, Caleb C. Jones was married to Lavinia Burns, who 
also was born in this county, and to this union have been bom five chil- 
dren, Virginia, Caleb C, Jr., Lavinia, Ruth and Robert Burns. Mrs. 
Jones also is a member of one of the pioneer families of Cooper county. 
She was born in New Lebanon township, daughter of Robert and Vir- 
ginia (Weedin) Burns, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter 
of Virginia, who had come here with their respective parents in the 
earlier days. During the Civil War, Robert Burns served as a soldier of 
the Union, enlisting at Boonville, and was one of the youngest soldiers in 
the service. He died in 1917, having lived to be past the traditional three 
score and ten. His widow is now Jiving in Kansas City, and is about 70 
years of age. 

Albert Brandes, owner of an excellent farm of 130 acres four miles 
east of Bunceton in North Moniteau township, was born on that farm, 
March 25, 1884, son of Charles and Margaret (Schmidt) Brandes, both 
natives of Germany, and the latter of whom is living with her son, Albert, 
on the place which has been her home for 40 years. 

Charles Brandes, who was a veteran of the Civil War, was born on 
March 23, 1843, and was but a boy when he came to this country with his 
parents from Germany, the family first locating in Iowa, but presently 
coming to Missouri and settling on the place now owned by Theodore 
Brandes, Sr., in Clarks Fork township, and it was there that Charles 
Brandes was living when the Civil War broke out. In 1862 he enlisted in 
the Union Army as a member of Company A, 29th Missouri Volunteer 
Infantry, attached to the 15th Army Corps, Army of the Tennessee, and 
with that command served until mustered out at the close of the war. 
During this three years of service Mr. Brandes participated in some of the 
most difficult campaigning of the war, and was with Sherman's army on 
the march to the sea. Among the other commanders under which he served 
were John A. Logan, F. P. Blair, P. J. Osterhaus and William B. Hazen. At 



1074 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

the close of the war he returned to his home in this county and resumed 
farming. He presently married, and in 1879 established his home on the 
farm now owned by his son, Albert, and there spent the remainder of his 
life, one of the substantial farmers of that community. He died Jan. 22, 
1912. Mr. Brandes was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic at 
Boonville. Margaret (Schmidt) Brandes was born in 1840, and was 15 years 
of age when she came from Germany to this country with her parents in 
1855, the family locating on the farm now owned by Leonard Schmidt, 
near Clarks Fork. There, Mrs. Brandes's parents spent the remainder of 
their days, and are buried in Clarks Fork Cemetery. Mrs. Brandes has 
been twice married and by her first husband, Christian Fricke, is the 
mother of two daughters, Mrs. Caroline Alpers and Mrs. Sophia Rasmussen. 
To her union with Charles Brandes nine children were born, as follows: 
Christian, a farmer of Moniteau township ; Mrs. Margaret King, of Clarks 
Fork; Mrs. Josephine Pethan, of Clarks Fork; Mrs. Emma Langkop, of 
Boonville ; Mrs. Elizabeth Brockamp, of Clarks Fork ; John A., a fanner of 
North Moniteau township; Theodore, North Moniteau township; Mrs. 
Dora Fahrenbrink, of Clark's Fork, and Albert. Mrs. Brandes has 41 
grandchildren, namely: Carl and Edgar Brandes; Mrs. Clara Martin; Clar- 
ence King; Mrs. Stella Toellner; Martin, Myrtle and Carl King; Emile, 
Lydia, Oscar, Ernest, Edgar and Edna (twins), Cordia and Walter Pethan; 
Delia, Alma, Ada, Lydia and Selma Langkop ; Belva, Emelia, Wilbur, Her- 
man, Clara, Bernardine and Leonard Brockamp; Alvin, Lawrence, Ilda, 
Arthur, Warren and Porter and Norbert Brandes; Margaret, Paul and 
Carl (twins), and Gertrude Fahrenbrink, and Julius and Helene Dorothy 
Brandes. This venerable "mother in Israel" also has nine great-grandchil- 
dren, namely: Mary Lee, Irma Grey and Lucille Martin, Eleanor Pethan, 
Norbert Toellner, Ruth Mersey, Leona and Lorine Toellner and Dorsey Ras- 
mussen. 

Reared on the farm on which he was born, Albert Brandes received 
his schooling the local schools, and as a young man continued on the farm, 
gradually relieving his father of the burden of management, and in 1911, 
bought the place. Since taking possession of the farm, Mr. Brandes has 
remodeled the house, built a new barn, installed a local water plant and 
put up minor farm buildings. He gives considerable attention to the 
raising of live stock. 

In 1911, Albert Brandes was married to Emma Fahrenbrink, who also 
was born in this county, and to this union two children have been born, 
Julius and Helene Dorothy. Mrs. Brandes is a daughter of Henry and 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1075 

Magdalene (Schnack) Fahrenbrink, the former of whom is deceased, and 
the latter of whom lives with her son, J. J. Fahrenbrink. Mr. and Mrs. 
Brandes are members of the Lutheran Church. 

W. H. Morris, one of the well known and substantial farmers of North 
Moniteau township, is a native of Cooper County. He was born on a farm 
in North Moniteau township, Aug. 6, 1871, son of Hugh B. and Juda A. 
(Davis) Morris, the latter of whom also was born in this county, and the 
former in Howard County. Hugh B. Morris was born May 16, 1825, and 
was but eight years of age when he came to Cooper County with his 
parents, Shadrack Morris and wife, who settled on a farm one mile east of 
of Vermont. Shadrack Morris was a son of Hammond Morris, a Virginian, 
who came West in the early days and was the only one of the 10 children 
of his father's family thus to emigrate. Upon coming here Hammond 
Morris settled on what is now the John McCulloch farm, where he died and 
is buried. In 1917, Judge Boland, of Hillsville, Va., a cousin five times 
removed of W. H. Morris, came to Cooper County on a visit to his kinsfolk 
here and brought with him a letter written by Hammond Morris from Mis- 
souri to his relatives in the East more than 100 years ago, together with 
other papers of interest concerning the Virginia Morrises. Shadrack Mor- 
ris spent his last days in this county and was buried on what is now the 
John Bear farm. His son, Hugh B. Morris grew up here and became a 
substantial farmer. He died Aug. 6, 1908, in his 84th year, and is buried 
in the Baptist Churchyard at Pisgah. Hugh B. Morris was twice married, 
and by his first wife, Mary Wiley, was the father of two sons, L. A. and 
A. W. Morris, the former of Kelly township and the latter of Bunceton. 
Upon the death of the mother of these sons, Hugh B. Morris married Juda 
A. Davis, who was born in Kelly township, Oct. 18, 1833, and to this union 
were born eight children: J. O. Morris, a farmer, North Moniteau town- 
ship ; Mrs. L. C. Yancey, of that same township ; T. H. Morris, North Moni- 
teau township ; Judge G. W. Morris, Snode Morris and B. L. Morris, of the 
same township; W. H., and Mrs. J. A. Hurt, North Moniteau township. 
Mrs. Juda Morris died Nov. 8, 1918, in the 86th year of her age. 

W. H. Morris received his schooling in the Pisgah schools, and as a 
young man continued helping develop the home farm until his marriage at 
the age of 24 years, when he began farming on his own account. In 1906 
Mr. Morris bought from N. A. George the farm of 200 acres where he has 
since lived, and which he has greatly improved, these improvements includ- 
ing a new barn, 50x60 feet, built in 1912. The substantial old farm house 
on the place was erected in pioneer days by Adam Scott, the original owner, 



1076 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

and was rebuilt by W. R. George, who lived on the place for 50 years. The 
farm is well watered, Mr. Morris having two dug wells and a driven well 
and utilizes his gas engine for pumping power. 

Jan. 8, 1896, W. H. Morris was married to Nannie L. Hunt, who was 
born in this county, a member of one of the real pioneer families, and to 
this union three children have been born, Mary Lee, John H. and Leighton, 
the latter of whom died in infancy. Mrs. Morris is a daughter of William 
B. and Sallie (Boswell) Hunt, the latter of whom, born in North Carolina, 
died in 1871, her daughter, Nannie, being then but an infant. William B. 
Hunt was born on a farm near Pisgah, the farm now known as the Heysell 
farm, in 1831, son of W. B. and Nancy (Jones) Hunt, the former a North 
Carolinian, and the latter an Indianian, who were married in Kentucky and 
came to Missouri during the War of 1812, when they were required to take 
refuge in Cole's Fort against the threats of Indian attack. W. B. Hunt 
first settled in Howard County, but soon came to Cooper County and en- 
tered the land now known as the Heysell farm, becoming an influentiol 
pioneer. He spent the remainder of his life in this county, and is buried 
on the Apperson farm, one mile east of Pisgah. On the farm on which 
he was born, William B. Hunt, son of the pioneer, spent his life. He died 
Aug. 9, 1901, at 70 years of age, and was buried on the farm, where his 
wife had been buried years before. William B. Hunt and wife were the 
parents of four children, those besides Mrs. Morris being Mrs. Mollie Claw- 
son and D. W. Hunt, both now deceased, and Mrs. J. M. Pealer, of Lawton, 
Okla. Mr. and Mrs. Morris are members of the Pisgah Baptist Church 
and take an active interest in the affairs of that organization, the church 
to which their respective parents also were attached. This church will 
celebrate the centenary of its organization in September, 1919. 

L. C. Yancey, proprietor of "Locust Grove Farm," in North Moniteau 
township, was born on that farm, Dec. 26, 1851, son of Joel and Rosanna 
(Guyer) Yancey, both members of pioneer families here. Joel Yancey 
was born in Howard County, in 1828, his father, a Kentuckian, having been 
one of the original land entrants in that county. When he was 21 years 
of age, he came to Cooper County and married Rosanna Guyer. who was 
born in Kentucky and came to Missouri with her parents, Williamson 
Guyer and wife, in the '40s. Williamson Guyer entered several hundred 
acres of land in Cooper County, including the place on which L. C. Yancey 
was born and now lives, and on that place he and his wife spent their last 
days and are buried. Sometime after his marriage, Joel Yancey settled on 
the farm now owned by J. W. Kinsey and engaged in farming until his 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1077 

retirement. He died in 1915, in his 88th year, and is buried at Lamar, Mo. 
Joel Yancey and wife were the parents of five children, all of whom are still 
living: L. C, the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Alpha Hurt, living in Barton 
County, widow of G. W. Hurt ; Evan, of Lamar ; Alonzo, of Clarksburg, and 
Rozzell, of Lamar. 

L. C. Yancey received his early schooling in what then was known as 
the Yancey district (now the Greenwood district), the pioneer school house 
having been built on the Yancey farm and used both for school and church 
purposes. That was before the days of the public school and the school 
terms were arranged by private subscription in the neighborhood. For 
a time in those early days the Yancey school supported two teachers and 
among these Mr. Yancey recalls the names of Professor Buck and wife, 
Will Foreman, A. C. Fisher, Obediah Bailey and others. While in remini- 
scent mood, Mr. Yancey also recalls the names of persons who were engaged 
in business at Pisgah more than 60 years ago ; Richard Boughsfield, David 
Jones, Milton Mohan, and John A. Hickman. Joseph Bostwick and John 
St. John operated a chair factory many years ago, and Mr. and Mrs. 
Yancey have two chairs that were made at Pisgah 42 years ago. During 
those days, John L. Jones made wagons and plows at Pisgah, and Leander 
Reavis operated a carding machine, the motive power of which was a tread- 
mill operated by oxen. Mr. Yancey has followed farming at "Locust Grove 
Farm" all his life, and has been successful. In 1897, he rebuilt the old 
farm house along more modern lines, also built a new barn and other farm 
buildings. 

Oct. 22, 1876, L. C. Yancey was married to Mary Jane Morris, who 
was born in this county, Oct. 6, 1858, daughter of Hugh B. and Juda A. 
(Davis) Morris, both now deceased, the former dying in 1907, and the 
latter in 1918. Mrs. Yancey is the fourth in order of birth of the 10 
children born to her parents, and all of whom are still living. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Yancey one child was born, a daughter, Ada L., born on Sept. 29, 
1883, married A. L. Rickman, and who died Sept. 8, 1913, and is buried in 
the Baptist Churchyard at Pisgah. 

Jackson Wallace Kimsey, on of the well known and substantial farmers 
of North Moniteau township, is a native Missourian, born in Platte County. 
He was born on March 30, 1870, son of W. D. and Parmelia (Baxter) Kim- 
sey, both of whom were also born in Missouri, the former in Platte County, 
and the latter near Tipton, in Moniteau County. 

In 1879^ W. D. Kimsey left Platte County with his family and came 
to Cooper County. Here he bought the farm now owned by his son, J. W. 



1078 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Kimsey, and engaged there in farming until his retirement. He died in 
1906, at the age of 72 years, and his widow died Feb. 10, 1907, at the age of 
65 years. W. D. Kimsey and wife were the parents of 12 childen, five of 
whom grew to maturity : Bettie, who died at the age of 45 years ; Walter, 
farmer, North Moniteau township; F. M., living in Johnson County; W. N., 
Lynn, Minn., and Jackson W. 

Jackson W. Kimsey was but nine years of age when he came to 
Cooper County with his parents. Here he grew to manhood, receiving his 
schooling in the local schools, and was reared on the farm. After his mar- 
riage in 1896, he established his home on the place, and in 1904 bought the 
farm. All the buildings on the farm save the farm house have been built 
by him, and he has a very well kept farm. Among these buildings is a 
barn 44x36 feet, with a native walnut frame and a cattle shed with a front- 
age of 150 feet. He also erected a tenant house in 1906. He raises regis- 
tered Shorthorn cattle, and generally has on hand 50 or more hogs. 

Jackson W. Kimsey has been twice married. In 1896 he was 
married to Addie Harris, a daughter of W. A. Harris, who died in 1900, 
leaving two daughters, Miriam, who married R. H. Rucker, O'Keen, Okla. ; 
and Porter, who is at home. Feb. 9, 1902, Mr. Kimsey married Eva Mins- 
ter, who was born in Missouri, and to this union three children have Veen 
born : Michael, Lawrence Lee and Eva Pauline. Mrs. Kimsey is a daughter 
of Michael and Hester (Sappington) Minster, both now deceased. Michael 
Minster was bora in Germany in 1846, and was nine years of age when he 
came to Missouri with his parents. He died in 1912 and is buried at 
Clarksburg. His widow died March 28, 1916, and she also is buried at 
Clarksburg, where she was bora. Michael Minster and wife were the 
parents of four children, those besides Mrs. Kimsey being S. S., Monroe, 
La.: G. R., Clarksburg; and Mrs. J. A. Birdsong, Clarksburg. Mr. and 
Mrs. Kimsey are members of the Baptist Church at Pisgah, and Mr. Kim- 
sey belongs to the Mystic Workers of the World. 

Williamson Guyer, proprietor of a fine farm near Pisgah in North 
Moniteau township, was born in this county. He not only is a member of 
one of the pioneer families of this county, and thus familiar with the tra- 
ditions of pioneer days, but is one of the old-timers of the community. 
Mr. Guyer was born on what is now known as the Moore farm, about two 
miles south of Pisgah, Feb. 10, 1854, son of Henry Speed and Mary A. 
(Clauch) Guyer, both members of pioneer families. 

Henry Speed Guyer was bom in Madison County, Ky.. in 1818, and 
was 10 or 12 years of age when he came to Cooper County with his 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1079 

parents. His father was of German birth, and for some time after coming 
to this country had lived in Kentucky. The Guyers settled in what is now 
North Moniteau township, opening the farm now owned by J. W. Kimsey 
at Pisgah, and on that place the elder Guyer died and is buried. Henry 
Speed Guyer grew up there, and upon beginning operations on his own 
account, settled about two miles south on what is now known as the Moore 
farm. He died while on a visit to his children in Texas, and was buried 
in the New Zion Churchyard, South Moniteau township. His widow died 
in August, 1917, at the age of 92 years. She was born in Pulaski County, 
Ky. Henry Speed Guyer and his wife were the parents of nine children: 
Williamson ; Mrs. Nancy Jane Maxey, deceased ; Christopher C. ; Mrs. Mary 
Catherine Burris, deceased ; Margaret, who died at the age of four years ; 
George W., Clayton, N. M. ; Mrs. Esther Copaz, deceased ; Henry S., of 
Nevada, Mo. ; and John R., of Oklahoma City. 

Williamson Guyer was reared on the home farm south of Pisgah, and 
received his schooling in the Yancey School, the school building at that time 
being used both for school and church purposes, and it was there, he says, 
that he got his "diploma." Trained to farm work as a boy, he has always 
followed that vocation, and has met the changes in farm conditions with a 
progressive spirit. The first home his father had was a log cabin, and he 
thus knows how the pioneers lived. In his boyhood, oxen were used about 
the farm, and he recalls trips by ox-team to the Jewett mill with grist, a 
trip necessitating his staying over night at the mill, where his comfort 
would be assured by the kindly engineer, Wiseman, who would make up 
a bed for him alongside the engine. In 1901, Mr. Guyer bought the quar- 
ter section on which he is now living, formerly known as the "Aunt Peggy" 
Martin place, near Pisgah, and has since resided there. On this farm, 
the first circular saw ever seen in Cooper County was operated. The farm 
is substantially improved, well watered and well drained. 

Mr. Guyer has for years regarded the prohibition question, that is, 
the elimination of the saloon, a sthe most vital issue before the people 
of this country. He also is ardently in favor of the thorough American- 
ization of the schools, stoutly maintining that the English language only 
should be taught in the schools. One country, one flag, one tongue, says he. 

Nov. 24, 1874, Williamson Guyer was married to Harriet A. Edwar Is, 
who was born in this county, member of one of the pioneer families, and 
to this union seven children have been born, namely: Henry Griffin, died 
in infancy; Dora, wife of George Turner; William Barton, deceased; Mrs. 
Mary Harriet Crownhite, Mrs. Bertha Leona Hurt, Mrs. Amanda Florence 



1080 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Carpenter (deceased), and Logan, deceased. Mrs. Guyer is a daughter 
of Griffin and Harriet Edwards, former well known residents of this com- 
munity, who are buried in the Harris home cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Guyer 
have 10 grandchildren: Raymond, Ophelia, Sada Leona and Ada Turner; 
Audrey Lucille and Paul Guyer Crownhite; Alma Ruth and Lucille Hurt; 
and William Merwin and Florence Lee Guyer. 

Curry Schupp, one of the best known farmers in Clear Creek town- 
ship, is a native son of Cooper County, and has lived here all his life. He 
was born on a farm in Clear Creek township, Nov. 14, 1852, son of Chris- 
tian and Mary (Masel) Schupp, and was the second in order of birth of 
the children bom to them. 

Reared on the home farm, Curry Schupp received his schooling in the 
local schools, and has devoted his attention to farming, a vocation in 
which he has been successful, being now the owner of a fine farm of 280 
acres, the place where he now lives, in Clear Creek township, and on 
which he has made his home for nearly 40 years. At the age of 16 he 
begain working on his own account as a farm hand, working many a day 
for 50 cents day, and thus continued until his marriage at the age of 25 
years, when he rented a farm. A couple of years later, in 1880, he 
bought the farm on which he is now living, and has there since resided. 
When Mr. Schupp bought that place, there was an old double house, 
built of logs, on it, and another small house partly of frame. The place 
was quite heavily timbered, and it was no small task to clear it, but the 
new owner was energetic and industrious, and in time had the place 
cleared and under profitable cultivation. Mr. Schupp is a republican, and 
for a couple of years some years ago served the public as constable in his 
home township. 

On March 31, 1878, Curry Schupp was united in marriage with Kath- 
erine Muller, who also was born in this county, and to this union 10 chil- 
dren have been born, namely: Chris F., farming in Pilot Grove township; 
Lizzie, wife of William Dwyer, of the same township; Maggie, wife of 
Joseph Kirkpatrick, Lamonte, Mo.; Flora, wife of George Wolf, also of 
Lamonte ; Rose, wife of E. Holliday, of Blackwater ; William, who, during 
America's participation in the World War, served in the navy, a student of 
wireless telegraphy; Robert and Frederick (twins), born on Feb. 1, 1893, 
both of whom also rendered service in the World War, and the former of 
whom was discharged June, 1919, and is now at home. He served in 
France, a member of an infantry regiment in the United States Army, 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1081 

and the latter of whom served in the navy, a student at the Great Lakes 
Naval Training Station at Chicago, received his discharge at the close of 
the war and is now living at Blackwater ; Conrad, born in 1897, who also 
was in France, attached to an infantry regiment of the United States 
Army, and is now home ; and Albert, who is farming in Clear Creek town- 
ship. Mrs. Schupp. mother of these children, was born in Clear Creek 
township on Feb. 26, 1857, daughter of Frederick and Margaret (Gard- 
ner) Muller, both now deceased. Frederick Muller and his wife were both 
natives of Germany, and were among the early residents of Clear Creek 
township, where they for many years made their home on a farm, and 
where they reared their family. 

W. F. Apperson, farmer and horticulturist and a substantial citizen of 
Cooper County, was born on the farm where he is now living, and is a 
member of one of the real pioneer families of Cooper County, the Apper- 
sons having been prominently represented here for 100 years. He was born 
on Sept. 8, 1848, and has thus lived the tradition "three score and ten 
years," though his friends assure him he "does not look it," and the vigor 
with which he continues to carry on his operations certainly belies the 
date. Mr. Apperson is a son of Gilbert and Martha (Berkley) Apperson. 

Gilbert Apperson was born in North Carolina in 1812, a son of Francis 
Apperson and wife, who not long after his birth moved from North Caro- 
lina to Kentucky, whence in 1819 they came with their family over into 
Missouri Territory and settled on the farm now owned by T. M. Kirkpat- 
rick in Moniteau township. Later Francis Apperson moved to the farm 
which he owned and there spent his last days. He and his wife are buried 
in the Apperson Cemetery on the Kirkpatrick farm. Gilbert Apperson 
was but seven years of age when he came to Cooper County with his 
parents and here he grew to manhood. He developed the farm on which 
his son, W. F. Apperson, now lives, and there died in 1888. His wife died 
in 1886, and both are buried in the Apperson Cemetery. They were the 
parents of seven children: Mary E., wife of Judge T. A. Harris; W. F., 
subject ; B. J., died in 1892 at the age of 39 years ; R. W., living on the home 
farm ; G. P. and T. F., who died in infancy ; and Nancy P., married P. S. 
Haycock, and died about 1867. 

W. F. Apperson was reared on the farm in the Pisgah neighborhood 
and received his schooling in the Yancey School and at Pisgah. He has fol- 
lowed farming in this county all his life, with the exception of three years, 
when he tried ranching in Idaho. Mr. Apperson has an excellent orchard 



1082 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

of three acres, and has for years taken a special interest in his horticul- 
ture. The products of his orchard have something more than local fame. 
He also raises cattle and hogs. 

Sept. 19, 1895, W. F. Apperson was married to Lou E. York, who was 
born in this county, and to this union one child has been born, W. R. Apper- 
son, who is at home, assisting his father. Mrs. Apperson is a daughter of 
James and Jane (Hunt) York, for years well known residents of Clarks 
Fork, and has a brother, W. H. York, of Leslie, Ark. James York was 
killed in a runaway accident at Bunceton, June 15, 1902, and his widow 
died March 14, 1919. Both are buried in the Apperson Cemetery. Mrs. 
York had joined Pisgah Baptist Church in 1849, and at the time of her 
death was the oldest continuous member of that church, the same having 
covered the long span of 70 years. Mr. and Mrs. Apperson are members 
of this church. 

T. Edgar Hurt, blacksmith and general mechanic, and proprietor of a 
well equipped shop at Pisgah, is reviving the reputation Pisgah enjoyed as 
a local center of the mechanical trade back in the pioneer days. The old 
brick building in which he carries on his operations is one of the landmarks 
of Cooper County, it having been erected for factory purposes by the pio- 
neer Jones in 1835, the bricks entering into it having been burned at a kiln 
just east of the place. Originally the building was a two-story structure, 
but the top story long ago was removed. The primary use of the building 
was as a wagon, carriage and plow factory. 

Mr. Hurt learned his trade at Pleasant Green and operated a shop 
there until the summer of 1915, when he bought his present shop at Pis- 
gah, and moved here, where he ever since has been successfully engaged 
in business. His shop is equipped with a gas engine for motive power, and 
his mechanical equipment is sufficient to take care of all ordinary calls for 
repair work and such machine-shop work as is required in an agricultural 
community. He also carries a good line of supplies. 

Mr. Hurt was born on a farm in Clarks Fork township, Feb. 3, 1882, 
a son of Boone and Melinda (Haley) Hurt, both of whom are living in the 
Pleasant Green neighborhood. Boone Hurt was born in Clarks Fork town- 
ship in 1854, and his wife was born near Jamestown, Mo., their respective 
parents having been pioneers of this section. Boone Hurt is a substantial 
farmer, and he and his wife are the parents of 10 children, as follows: 
T. Edgar; Nannie, wife of Homer Brubaker; Eliza, wife of Archibald 
Powell; Chester, of Pleasant Green; Bessie, wife of Homer Carpenter; 
Raymond, of Pleasant Green; Ewing, who is now (spring of 1919) with the 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1083 

American Expeditionary Forces in Europe, and Thelma, Huldah and Lewis, 
at home. Ewing Hurt, the soldier son, enlisted in the United States Army 
in September, 1917, and after training was sent to France as a member of 
Company L, 356th Infantry, 89th Division, and spent six months in France 
and participated in some of the most desperate engagements of the war, 
and is still held on foreign service, a part of the Army of Occupation in 
Germany. 

T. Edgar Hurt was reared on a farm and received his schooling in the 
Washington District School. He married when 20 years of age, and for 
10 years thereafter continued farming. In the meanwhile, however, he 
had been cultivating his naturally mechanically-inclined bent, and about 
six years ago took up the blacksmith trade at Pleasant Green, and was thus 
engaged at that place until his removal in August, 1915, to Pisgah, where 
he bought from Clarence Polley the shop he has since been operating. In 
November, 1917, Mr. Hurt entered upon a contract with Government for 
the supply of walnut logs for gun stocks, and continued purchasing walnut 
timber throughout this section of Missouri for more than a year, his con- 
tract terminating Jan. 1, 1919. During that time he bought for the Gov- 
ernment around 400 carloads of walnut logs, the average value per car 
being around $1,000. Mr. Hurt is a republican. 

In 1902, T. Edgar Hurt was united in marriage to Anna Howard, who 
was born in this county, and to this union have been four children : Hallene, 
Helen, Juanita and T. Edgar, Jr. Mrs. Hurt is a daughter of Thomas and 
Parmelia (Dale) Howard, both of whom were bom in Missouri and are 
living in North Moniteau township. Thomas Howard was bom near James- 
town, Mo., and his wife was bora at Carthage. Both the Howards and the 
Dales are of pioneer stock. Mrs. Howard's father at one time owned a part 
of the townsite of Joplin. 

Louis Braun, one of North Moniteau township's progressive farmers, 
is a native son of Cooper County. He was born at Pisgah, May 18, 1867, 
son of Peter and Harriet (English) Braun. Peter Braun was born in Ger- 
many and when 14 years of age came to the United States alone, joining 
relatives in St. Louis, where he was trained in the trade of wagon-maker. 
After working there for some time he came to Cooper County, and worked 
in the old Jones wagon-shop at Pisgah, which he later bought and for some 
time operated. He died at Pisgah in 1888, and he is buried in the Lutheran 
Churchyard in Moniteau County. Peter Braun was thrice married. By 
his first wife, Louisa Kuhle, he was the father of two sons, Edward Braun, 
of South Moniteau township, and Charles, deceased. The subject of this 



1084 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

sketch was the only. child born of his marriage to Harriet English. By his 
later marriage to Rachel Deitzel, he was the father of three children, 
William T.. North Moniteau ; Frank, Prairie Home ; and Dora, wife of H. W. 
Williamson, Prairie Home. 

Louis Braun received his schooling in the schools at Pisgah and at 
Fail-view School in Moniteau. In 1899, Mr. Braun bought the Fisher farm 
and has since made his residence there. He has rebuilt the farm house and 
bams, and has a well improved farm. The place is well watered, and is 
adapted to live stock raising. Mr. Braun is a member of the Modem Wood- 
men of America, and his wife is a member of the Chapel Methodist Epis- 
copal Church in Moniteau County. 

In 1890, Louis Braun was united in marriage to Carolina Haldiman, 
of Moniteau County, d?ughter of Jacob and Mary Haldiman, the latter of 
whom is living at Califoi-nia, Mo. Jacob Haldiman died in 1910, and is 
buried at California He and hi? wife were the parents of 10 children, 
those besides Mr. Braun being Mrs. Mary Geiger ; John, deceased ; Mrs. 
Emma Muri, Godfrey, who is now living in Colorado; Charles, in Okla- 
homa ; Jacob, Moniteau County ; Joseph, Moniteau County ; Adolph, Kansas 
City ; and William, California, Mo. Mr. and Mrs. Braun have two sons, 
William and Leslie T., both of whom are now (spring of 1919) in the serv- 
ice of their country, the former in the army and the latter in the navy. 
William Braun was born Aug. 30, 1892. June 25, 1918, he enlisted for 
service in the United States Army, and after training was, in August, 1918, 
sent to France as a member of Company C, 131st Engineers, with which 
command he was serving at the front when the armistice was signed, and 
has since remained in Europe, being retained on foreign service. The 
younger son, Leslie T. Braun, bom Oct. 13, 1895, enlisted in the navy 
May 6, 1917. He was trained at the naval station at Norfolk, and after 
some preliminary coastwise service down as far as Vera Cruz was attached 
to the destroyer "Alywin," which afterward rendered valiant service in 
the waters of the English Channel and other European waters, hunting 
German submarines, and during that service had some most exciting expe- 
riences, the "Alywin" several times coming in contact with the enemy, 
and having at least one definite "hit" accredited to its score. The "Alywin" 
also saw service in the Baltic and the marines on board took part in certain 
actions in Russia. 

Charles A. Baughman, of North Moniteau township, is a native of 
Cooper County, and a descendent of one of the early pioneer families of this 
section. He was bora on a farm about a mile north of Pisgah, Nov. 6. 1864, 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 3085 

and is a son of Henry and Anna (Briscoe) (Cole) Baughman. Henry Baugh- 
man was born near Boonville in 1837, and spent his life in Cooper County, 
and died in 1913. His wife was born in Palestine township and died at 
Bunceton, in 1918, at the age of 74 years. Henry Baughman improved the 
place, which is now owned by Charles A., and resided here for 50 years. 

Henry Baughman was a son of Jacob Baughman, who was one of the 
earliest pioneer settlers of North Moniteau township. He was a farmer and 
spent the remainder of his life in North Moniteau township, after coming 
to this county. His wife bore the maiden name of Mary Parks. They are 
both now deceased, and their remains are buried on the old Baughman home 
farm. 

Of the children born to Henry Baughman and wife the following are 
living: Charles A., the subject of this sketch; Maggie, the widow of Harve 
Underwood, Webb City, Mo. ; Patience, married Ben Morris, North Moniteau 
township; Minnie, married John Morris, Bunceton; Mary, married Rollo 
Hadley, Glendora, Calif. ; Flora, married Charles Edwards, Kelly township ; 
and Katie, married George Gilbert, Bunceton. 

Charles A. Baughman has been engaged in farming and stock raising 
all his life, and has met with success. His farm consists of 180 acres of well 
improved land, with two good sets of farm buildings. He was married 
Nov. 18, 1895, to Miss Ella Dill, a daughter of Henry and Angeline (Hick- 
man) Dill, the former of whom is now deceased, and the mother resides in 
South Moniteau township. To Mr. and Mrs. Baughman have been born the 
following children: Luther Wallace, born Aug. 30, 1897; Jesse Claud, born 
Sept. 23, 1900; and Charles Lloyd, born May 21, 1906. 

Luther Wallace, the eldest son of Mr. Baughman, has attained a degree 
of distinction as a specialist in the agricultural world, well worthy of note. 
He has made a specialty of breeding and developing seed corn, as well as 
raising some prize corn crops. In 1915, he won the prize for raising the 
best acre of corn in Cooper County, and also received the second prize in 
the Boys' Class of the State. His prize acre produced 106 bushels and 10 
pounds of corn. He raises corn for seed purposes, which he sells at a good 
price. He is also a successful poultry raiser, and has the best strain of 
Barred Plymouth Rock chickens to be found anywhere. His chickens are 
frequently exhibited at state and county fairs, and they always win the 
honors. In 1918, he won 29 ribbons with his poultry exhibits. He has won 
in all 150 ribbons. He has also taken a number of premiums at the State 
and other fairs for his exhibition of seed corn. 

Charles A. Baughman is a progressive and public spirited citizen, and 



1086 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

takes a keen interest in local affairs, being a special friend and advocate of 
good schools. He has served as president of the board of Consolidated 
School District No. 2. The Baughman family is well and favorably known 
in Cooper County. 

John Kaiser, a leading citizen and prosperous farmer and stockman of 
North Moniteau township, was born Sept. 19, 1859. He is a son of George 
and Henrietta (Smith) Kaiser, both natives of Germany, who came to 
Cooper County with their respective parents. George Kaiser lived about 
three miles west of Prairie Home, where he spent his life engaged in farm- 
ing and stock raising. He was a Civil War veteran, having served in Col- 
onel Pope's regiment, under Captain George. He died in 1903, and his wife 
departed this life in 1897. They were the parents of the following children : 
John, the subject of this sketch ; Mrs. Mary Shilp, Otterville, Mo. ; August 
Charles, who died at the age of 42 ; George, deceased ; Mrs. Minnie Brokamp, 
Clarks Fork township ; and Lizzie, who died at the age of 10 years. 

John Kaiser received his education in the public schools, attending 
school in the Henshaw district. He was reared on a farm and has followed 
farming and stock raising all his life. He bought his present place of 176 
acres from Samuel P. Baughman in 1891. This land was entered from tne 
Government by Judge Baughman, father of Samuel P. Mr. Kaiser has im- 
proved the place, rebuilt the residence and erected two large barns, and 
other buildings, until he has one of the well improved and valuable places 
of the county. He carries on general farming and stock raising. 

John Kaiser was united in marriage Jan. 5, 1888, with Carrie Knorp, a 
daughter of George and Minnie (Schenck) Knorp, natives of Germany. 
The father was born in 1813, and died July 12, 1886. The mother was born 
April 26, 1825, and died Jan. 10, 1901. They were the parents of the fol- 
lowing children : Henry, Pleasant Grove, Mo. ; Mrs. Louise Stock, Sedalia ; 
Charles, Jamestown ; Mrs. Minnie Fricke, Clarks Fork township ; Mrs. Mary 
Brandes, Clarks Fork township ; Carrie, the wife of John Kaiser, the sub- 
ject of this sketch ; John, Pleasant Grove ; and Fred, California, Mo. 

To Mr. and Mrs. John Kaiser have been born eight children as follows : 
John, married Lena Carrie Burlison, Dallas, Texas; Ida, married Delbert 
York, Cotton, Mo. ; William was inducted into United States Army, July 26, 
1918, trained at Camp Funston, Kan., and after the armistice was signed 
received his discharge, and is now residing at home; Emma, married Harry 
Timm, and resides near Pisgah ; Lula, resides at home ; George, also served 
in the United States Army during the World War, having entered the 
service Oct. 21, 1918, and was trained at Camp Stanley, Texas, has also been 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1087 

mustered out of service and is now residing- at home ; Lawrence and Clar- 
ence, residing at home. Mr. and Mrs. Kaiser have five grandchildren as 
follows: Wilma Elizabeth; John Burlison; and Doris Marie Kaiser, and 
Herbert Harrison and Emia Louise Timm. 

The Kaiser family is well known in Cooper County and rank among its 
best citizens. Mr. Kaiser has served as a member of the local school board 
for many years. 

Luther B. Laws, a leading farmer aand stockman, and a progressive 
citizen of Prairie Home township, is a native of Missouri. He was born at 
Glasgow, April 9, 1874, and is a son of Rev. M- L. and Gertrude A. (Taylor) 
Laws. Rev. M. L. Laws was a native of Accomac County, Va., born Aug. 
2, 1842. He was a minister of the Baptist faith, and died May 4, 1882. To 
Rev. M. L. and Gertrude A. (Taylor) Laws were born two children : Luther 
B., the subject of this sketch, and Leslie Temple, who resides in Oklahoma. 

After the death of her first husband, Mrs. Gertrude (Taylor) Laws 
married Rev. B. G. Tutt. He was born near Bunceton, and was a prominent 
Baptist minister, and for several years was chaplain of the State Prison, 
Jefferson City. He died at St. Mary's Hospital, Jefferson City, Aug. 4, 
1906, aged 69 years. By a former marriage, Rev. B. G. Tutt was the father 
of the following children : W. P. ; George E. ; Dr. A. N. ; Henry, deceased ; 
Anna, married Reverend Stafford and is now deceased, and Dr. J. M., of 
Kansas City, Mo. 

Mrs. Gertrude A. Tutt, mother of Luther B. Laws, was born at Har- 
rodsburg, Ky., the daughter of Rev. B. T. Taylor, a native of Henderson 
County, Ky. He was born March 12, 1823, educated in Kentucky, and was 
a graduate of Georgetown College. He taught school for a number of years 
and conducted a boarding school at Columbia, Ky. He was married Dec. 25, 
1851, to Mary Bell Alexander. They came to Missouri in the '70s, and Rev- 
erend Taylor was pastor of the Baptist Church at Columbia, Mo., for sev- 
eral years, when he bought a farm near Aullville, Mo., and for a time sup- 
plied the pulpit there and also at Sweet Springs. He also preached in other 
country churches and later came to Cooper County and bought the farm 
wbich is now owned by L. T. Yancey. His wife, Mary Bell Alexander, was 
a native of Harrodsburg, Ky., born Nov. 15, 1830. She was educated at a 
Presbyterian school conducted by Dr. Montgomery, and was a well educated 
and highly accomplished woman. She lived to the advanced age of 82 
years. Mrs. Gertrude A. Tutt was educated by private tutors and at 
private schools in Henderson, Ky., and Urbana, Ohio. 

Luther B. Laws was educated in the public schools in Boonville, and has 



1088 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

resided in Prairie Home township on his present place since 1890. His 
home place consists of 160 acres, and he owns 440 acres in Moniteau and 
Prairie Home townships. This is one of Cooper County's valuable farms. 
Mr. Laws is successfully engaged in stock raising, and is also an extensive 
feeder. , He has bought and sold a number of farms in the vicinity where 
he lives, and is a successful man of affairs. He is one of Cooper County's 
self made men and has made good. 

James T. Jeffress, a member of the directorate of the Fanners Stock 
Bank of Blackwater, and proprietor of "East View" Farm in LaMine 
township, this county, is a native son of Cooper County, and has lived 
here all his life. He was born on a farm in Palestine township on June 17, 
1859, son of John R. and Isabelle (Lourie) Jeffress, the latter of whom 
also was born in this county, a member of one of the pioneer families of 
the Boonville settlement. 

John R. Jeffress was born near Huntsville, Ala., Feb. 20, 1830, a son 
of Richard and Susan (Bruce) Jeffress, Virginians, who in 1840 came to 
Missouri and settled at Boonville, where John R. Jeffries grew to man- 
hood, later going to Glasgow, Mo., where he became engaged in the shoe 
business. For some time he drove stage from Glasgow to Boonville, and 
during the Civil War managed a threshing crew. He later turned his 
attention to farming, bought a farm in Pilot Grove township, Cooper 
County, and on that place spent his last days. He died Nov. 12, 1906. 
His wife died July 1, 1885. She was born on Feb. 15, 1835. They were 
the parents of 13 children, three of whom died in infancy, the others being 
the following: Ann, wife of T. W. Caton, of Blackwater township; Mary 
F, now living at Boonville, widow of Joseph Barnhardt; Richard, de- 
ceased; John William, of LaMine township; James T., the subject of this 
sketch; Sallie E., Washington, D. C, widow of W. H. Cochran; Robert H., 
of Pilot Grove township; Susan, wife of H. C. Davis, of Boonville: Charles, 
of Palestine township; Jesse Ross, of Boonville township; and Etson B., of 
Boonville township. 

James T. Jeffress was reared on the home farm and received his 
schooling in the schools of that neighborhood. He grew up a practical 
farmer, and in 1882 bought a farm in Clear Creek township. Two or 
three years later he sold this farm and bought another, which he also dis- 
posed of, and in 1890 bought "East View," his present fine farm of 165 
acres in LaMine township, where he since has made his home, and where 
in addition to his extensive farming operations he also has carried on 
with much success the breeding of Duroc Jersey hogs. 




MR. AND MRS JAMES T JEFFRESS 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1089 

For years Mr. Jeffress has been a member of the board of directors 
of the Farmers Bank of Blackwater, to the affairs of which well known 
fiancial institution he gives his thoughtful attention. He is a democrat, 
and he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, the con- 
gregation of which Mr. Jeffress has for some time served as a member 
of the session. 

Nov. 17, 1881, James T. Jeffress was united in marriage to Amanda 
Brownfield, who was born in Pilot Grove township, Oct. 20, 1858, daughter 
of Thomas and Elizabeth (Groves) Brownfield, former well known resi- 
dents of that township and representatives of pioneer families hereabout. 
Thomas Brownfield was born near Richmond, Va., Feb. 5, 1818, and died 
on Feb. 15, 1889. His wife was born in Indiana in 1823, and died on July 
25, 1901. To Mr. and Mrs. Jeffress have been born four children, namely: 
Ivan, a farmer of Blackwater township; Gertrude, wife of J. W. Davis, 
also of Blackwater township; Grace, wife of G. C. Nunn, of Blackwater 
township; and James R., of LaMine township. Mr. and Mrs. Jeffress have 
14 grand children. 

Arthur Bodamer, a successful farmer and stockman, who is well known 
as a breeder of registered Aberdeen Angus cattle, was born in Prairie 
Home township, April 6, 1896. He is a son of Charles H. and Elizabeth 
(Kuhn) Bodamer, a sketch of whom appears in this volume. Arthur 
Bodamer was reared and educated in Prairie Home township, attending 
school at Hazel Dell district. He has recently purchased 223 acres of land, 
which was formerly a part of the Gilbreath place. He is also the owner 
of 40 acres in another tract, which makes his entire holding 263 acres, and 
this is one of the valuable farms of Prairie Home township. Mr. Bodamer 
carries on general farming and stock raising, and for the past two years 
has given considerable attention to breeding registered Aberdeen Angus 
cattle, and now has a herd numbering 35 head, headed by "Black Dale," 
which is considered one of the most valuable Aberdeen Angus animals in 
the State. 

Nov. 7, 1917, Arthur Bodamer was united in marriage with Miss 
Lucile Gilbreath, a daughter of Newton A. and Myra E. (Boswell) Gil- 
breath. Newton A. Gilbreath was a native of Cooper County, born in 
Prairie Home township, and spent his entire life in this township. He 
died in October, 1910, at the age of 75 years, and at the time of his death 
owned 435 acres of land. He was a son of Hugh Gilbreath, a native of 
Kentucky, who was a very early Cooper County pioneer. Myra E. (Bos- 
(53) 



1090 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

well) Gilbreath was born in Pleasant Home township, on the farm now 
owned by Benjamin Meyers, and now resides in Cooper County. 

Hugh Gilbreath, brother of Mrs. Bodamer, was born Aug. 10, 1890. 
He was educated at the Bunceton schools and the Missouri Valley College 
at Marshall, Mo. In October, 1917, he enlisted in U. S. Army and was first 
sent to Camp Funston, and later to Fort. Sill, Okla., where he was trained, 
and in May, 1918, he went to France, a member of 130th Field Artillery, 
35th Division. He participated in much of the severe fighting during the 
summer and fall of 1918. He was at the battle of Argonne Forest and 
other engagements. At the close of the war he was discharged and re- 
turned to his Cooper County farm. He owns 285 acres known as "Glen- 
wood Farm." 

Arthur Bodamer is a member of the Masonic Lodge, No. 503, Prairie 
Home, and he and Mrs. Bodamer are members of the Eastern Star. 

T. J. Burrus & Sons, proprietors of the "Champion Oxford Down Sheep 
Farm," rank among the leading sheep breeders of the country. They have 
lived up to the standard of the business motto, "The best is none too good." 
Purebred sheep from this farm have been among the leading prize win- 
ners of stock shows and State fairs throughout the country since 1907. 
They have won prizes at the Missouri State Fair, the Chicago International 
Stock Show, the Fort Worth (Texas) Fat Stock Show, and the Denver 
(Colorado) Fat Stock Show. The winnings of the stock from the Cham- 
pion Oxford Sheep Farm include 21 champion ribbons, 96 first premium 
ribbons, and 60 second premium ribbons. 

T. J. Burrus began breeding purebred Oxford sheep in 1899, and made 
his first exhibit in 1907 at the Missouri State Fair, and has exhibited there 
every year to the present time. He exhibited at the Chicago International 
Stock Show in 1918 ; at Ft. Worth, Texas, in 1918 ; and Denver, Colo., in 
1918. Among some of his most valuable animals is "Burrus Lady," No. 
388, ewe which has won champion ribbons at the Missouri State Fair, 
and "McKerrow's Bumpton X, 69148," one of the most valuable rams in 
the country, has been exhibited at 12 different State fairs and won first 
and champion premiums each time. The Burrus flock of sheep are rich 
in the strains of J. T. Hobbs, Horlick, Stilgoe, White and Trewerkee, all 
famous English breeders. Mr. Burrus is also interested in breeding pure- 
bred Buff Orpington chickens and Mammoth Bronze turkeys, all of which 
rank high in the poultry world. Mr. Burrus purchased his present farm 
in 1907, and has added most of the improvements himself. It is one of the 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1091 

well improved farms of the county, with a good residence and other farm 
buildings, including a large barn, 50x56 feet. 

J. T. Burrus is a native son of Cooper County, born on the Lovell farm 
in Prairie Home township, April 15, 1870. He is a son of John M. and 
Amanda F. (Lovell) Burrus. J. T. Burrus was educated in the public 
schools of Prairie Home township and at Pilot Grove. He has been inter- 
ested in farming and stock raising since boyhood, specializing in sheep 
raising as above stated, of which he has made a decided success. 

Mr. Burrus was married Sept. 4, 189t5, in California, Mo., to Miss 
Alpha McDow, a daughter of J. M. and Kiziar (Kirkpatrick) McDow. both 
of whom are now deceased. The mother died in 1879, and the father de- 
parted this life Feb. 24, 1897. They were the parents of the following 
children: Joe E. Versailles, Mo. ; T. J., Barnett, Mo. ; C. E., Deming, N. M. ; 
Tolby Alpha, the wife of T. J. Burrus, the subject of this sketch, and 
Bird, who is now a sergeant in the U. S. Army, stationed at Camp Lewis, 
Wash. He is a veteran of the Spanish-American War, having served in 
Cuba and the Philippine Island. He also served in the army in Alaska, 
and has been in the U. S. Army for the past 25 years. 

To T. J. Burrus and wife have been born the following children : Ber- 
nice, married L. B. Morris; John M. ; Porter; Emile; Charles; Mary Mar- 
garet ; and Joe Mack, all of whom reside at home with their parents. 

Nicholas John Blank, a well known farmer and stockman of North 
Moniteau township, was born on the place where he now resides, March 28, 
1862. He is a son of John Jacob and Margaret (Lanbolt) Blank, both 
natives of Bavaria, Germany. The father first came to Cooper County in 
the '40s, and later returned to his native land, where he was married, and 
after remaining there a few years came to Cooper County again in 1852. 
He purchased 130 acres of land from Dr. Alexander Apperson, located in 
North Moniteau and Prairie Home townships. This farm is the present 
home of Nicholas John Blank. The deed of this farm was recorded Feb. 
19, 1852. John Jacob Blank spent the remainder of his life on this place, 
and died at the age of 76 years. His wife died at the age of 80, and their 
remains are buried in the Moniteau Evangelical Church Cemetery. When 
John J. Blank purchased this place there was a log house on it which was 
built by Dr. Apperson. It has been remodeled and is still standing in a 
fair state of preservation. It is probably 100 years old. 

Nicholas John Blank was one of five children born to his parents, 
the others being as follows: Mrs. Mary Heyssell, North Moniteau town- 



1092 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

ship ; Mrs. Catherine Wolfram, California, Mo. ; Mrs. Annie Kossman, Cali- 
fornia, Mo. ; and Mrs. Margaret Bloch, California, Mo. 

Nicholas J. Blank was reared on the home farm and attended such 
schools as the neighborhood afforded. His school district is Felder dis- 
trict, but when he attended school it was known as the "Dirt Dauber 
School," owing to the fact that it was a log cabin and the cracks between 
the logs were daubed with mud. The seats were made of split logs, and 
the building was about 10x20 feet in dimension. Mr. Blank says that the 
old building was usually pretty well filled with children from the neighbor- 
hood. He recalls among the early teachers at this school, Squire Elliot, 
Mrs. Chilton, and a Mr. Bruzan. The old school building stood on the farm 
now known as the Nelson place. 

Mr. Blank has followed general farming all his life, and has met with 
a very satisfactory degree of success. He owns 170 acres of land, which is 
a fertile and productive farm. The place has a good supply of water, 
which is procured from a well, and, besides, Pisgah Creek courses its way 
across the place. Mr. Blank has rented his place for the past year; how- 
ever, he still makes his home here. 

Mr. Blank has some interesting relics of bygone days, among which is 
a walnut log 12 feet long and 2 1/2 feet in diameter, which his father hewed 
and hollowed out in 1855, and used it for a receptacle, in place of a barrel, 
in which to pack and cure pork. Mr. Blank still uses this odd and unusual 
pork barrel for its original purpose. He is one of the substantial citizens 
of Moniteau township. 

John William Jeffress, proprietor of a well-improved farm in LaMine 
township, one of the successful farmers of Cooper County, was born in 
this county. He was born April 11, 1857, son of John Richard and Eliza- 
beth (Lourie) Jeffress, of who further mention is made in this volume. 

Reared on the farm, John W. Jeffress received his schooling in the 
district schools, and from boyhood has given attention to farming. When 
a young man he engaged in fanning on his own account. In 1881, he 
bought a farm in Saline County, and looked after the same until 1887, 
when he sold the place and for four years operated the home farm on a 
rental basis. In 1891, he bought the farm on which he is now living, and 
has here since made his residence. Mr. Jeffress has 300 acres in his home 
farm, and since coming into possession of the same has made extensive 
improvements, which are in keeping with his progressive methods of 
farming. Mr. Jeffries has been successful, and is a stockholder in the 




JOHN W JEFFRESS, WIFE AND FAMILY 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1093 

Bank of Blackwater. He is a democrat, but has not been a seeker after 
public office. 

Nov. 19, 1887, John W. Jeffress was united in marriage to Rhoda E. 
Hazell, and to this union were born three children, Pearl, John and Berny. 
Mrs. Jeffress also was born in Cooper County, of pioneer parentage, and 
all her life was spent here. She was born on May 21, 1855, and died on 
Dec. 19, 1918. Her parents, Edward and Sallie (Yamell) Hazell, were 
both of pioneer stock in Missouri, the Yarnells having been the fourth 
settlers in Cooper County. 

Col. N. D. Patrick, a well known and successful auctioneer of Prairie 
Home, is a native son of Cooper County. He was born in South Moniteau 
township, April 12, 1891, and is a son of Benjamin and Emma (Wingate) 
Patrick, both natives of Missouri, the former born in Howard County, and 
the latter in Moniteau County. Benjamin Patrick was reared in Howard 
County, where his father was a large land owner in the early days. He 
came to Cooper County in 1869, and spent the remainder of his life here. 
He died in 1899, and his widow now resides at California, Mo. They were 
were the parents of the following children: Mona, married Rev. T. J. 
Deakins, Osceola, Mo. ; Martha, married L. F. Overboy, and died Nov. 20, 
1918 ; Amanda, married Len Ritchey ; Col. N. D., the subject of this sketch. 
By a former marriage Benjamin Patrick had one child, C. B. Patrick, who 
now lives at Elliot Station, Cooper County. 

Col. N. D. Patrick was reared in Cooper County and educated in public 
schools at Clarksburg. He began life as a farmer and stock raiser, and 
at an early age began auctioneering in a local way. In 1917, he took a 
course in the Kansas City School of Auctioneering and was graduated from 
that institution, and since that time has devoted practically his entire 
attention to that work. His field of activity is by no means confined to 
Cooper County, as he cries sales not only in this county, but in adjoining 
counties as well, and has won a reputation of being one of the most capable 
auctioneers in this section of the State. 

Colonel Patrick was married Feb. 22, 1911, to Miss Beulah Edwards, a 
daughter of Ryley T. and Margaret Edwards of Prairie Home township. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Patrick have been born two childen, Ryley Dennis and 
Emma Marguerite. 

Colonel Patrick has recently moved to Prairie Home, where he pur- 
chased the place of Dr. H. A. McDonald, and has a pleasant home. He is 
a progressive young man and one of Cooper County's valued citizens. 



1094 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Findlay A. Collins, proprietor of a fine farm adjoining the townsite 
of Prairie Home, and recognized as one of the most progressive young 
farmers of that section of Cooper County, was born at Warrensburg, Mo., 
in 1891, son of Noah Thomas and Mary. Ellen (Miller) Collins, both of 
whom are living in Lafayette County. Noah Thomas Collins was born in 
Lafayette County in 1838, a son of Thomas Collins, who had settled there 
upon coming to Missouri from Kentucky in the early days, and was an 
extensive land-owner and slave-holder at the time of the breaking out of 
the Civil War, being the owner of 1,800 acres of land and 100 slaves, a part 
of his land being the townsite of Higginsville. During the Civil War, 
Noah Thomas Collins served the cause of the Confederacy under Gen. 
Sterling Price, and the day before the battle of Lexington was encamped 
with that command on the Collins farm. This veteran of the Confederacy 
is still living one mile west of the old home of his father in Lafayette 
County, he now being 81 years of age. His wife is 62 years of age. Noah 
Thomas Collins has been twice married, and by his first marriage was the 
father of three children, Gertrude, wife of Samuel Boone, of Lafayette 
County ; Robert, deceased ; and Virginia Lee, wife of James E. Weaver, of 
Coburg, Mont. To his union with Mary Ellen (Miller) Lilleston one child 
was born, the subject of this sketch. By her prior marriage to William 
B. Lilleston, Mrs. Collins is the mother of four children, namely : Florence, 
wife of B. F. Warden, of Higginsville; Lottie M., wife of Edward Blakes- 
ley, of Lincoln ; Norma, wife of J. R. Brand, of Oil Hill, Kan. ; and William 
B. Lilleston, of Odessa, Mo. Mrs. Collins also is of pioneer stock, her 
grandfather Miller having been one of the early settlers of Lafayette 
County, coming here from Virginia and locating two and one-half miles 
north of Odessa, where he spent his last days. He was an extensive land- 
owner and slave-holder and proprietor of a hemp-breaker in the days before 
the war. Hemp bales taken from his mills and soaked in the waters of 
the Missouri were used for the construction of breastworks at the time of 
the battle of Lexington. Mrs. Collins's mother was a daughter of Judge 
John A. Ryland, one of the foremost figures in the early civic life of Lafay- 
ette County. 

Though born at Warrensburg, Johnson county, Findlay A. Collins was 
reared in Lafayette County, and grew up familiar with the details of farm 
life. Upon completing the course in the public schools of his home dis- 
trict he spent three and one-half years as a student at the Missouri State 
Normal School at Warrensburg. He then resumed farming in Lafayette 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1095 

County, and was thus engaged for two years, when he engaged in the gro- 
cery business at Warrensburg. In the spring of 1916 he married, and in 
September following came to Cooper County, and has since been engaged 
in farming on his present farm. Besides the 118 acres of his home farm, 
Mr. Collins is farming 122 acres adjoining, belonging to his father-in-law, 
C. H. Muri. He feeds two or three carloads of cattle a year. On the Col- 
lins farm, about 200 yards south of the residence, was the site of the his- 
toric old Prairie Home College, which had much fame as an educational 
institution in its day. The Collins residence, an attractive seven-room 
bungalow, was erected in 1917. The barn, built in 1916, is 36x50 feet, 
with metal roof and sides, and with a Gothic roof, the first of this type 
erected in Cooper County, and one of the finest barns in the county. Other 
buildings and the general equipment of Mr. Collins's farm plant are in 
keeping. 

April 22, 1916, Findlay A. Collins was married to Alice Muri, who had 
been graduated in that same year from the State Normal School at War- 
rensburg. She was born in Moniteau County, and was graduated from 
the California High School in 1913, winning second honors of her class. 
Thus equipped she entered the State Normal School, took the four-years 
course in three years, and was graduated from that institution with the 
degree of Bachelor of Science in 1916. Mrs. Collins is a daughter of C. H. 
and Amanda J. (Gentzsch) Muri, both of whom were born in Moniteau 
County, the former in 1857, and the latter in 1872, and who are now living 
at Sandy Hook. C. H. Muri is the owner of 380 acres of land in Moniteau 
County, where he lives, and 120 acres in Prairie Home township, this 
county. He and his wife have two children, Mrs. Collins having a brother, 
Homer T. Muri, who is at home assisting in the management of his father's 
place. 

Albert Brengarth, of Saline township, is a progressive and successful 
farmer and stockman, and one of the most extensive land-owners in Cooper 
County. At 17 he was making his own way, at 19 he was the owner of 
a team of horses and possessed a stout heart, willing hands, a clear head, 
and a realizing sence of farm values. At 21, in association with his 
brother, Frank, he made his first investment in farm lands, he and his 
brother buying 80 acres in Saline township. That was in 1898. Two 
years later they sold that place, and in partnership bought 253 acres a 
mile north of Gooch's Mill. That place Frank Brengarth now owns, hav- 
ing bought his brother's interest in it in 1914. The brothers in the mean- 



1096 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

time had bought and sold other farms and in the rising market had done 
well. In 1914 Albert Brengarth bought from T. L. Jones the latter's farm 
of 125 acres, which he sold in 1916, and then bought 225 acres of the place 
he now owns at the edge of Overton. The next year he bought the bal- 
ance of the place, 305 acres, and thus has in that tract 530 acres. Not 
long ago he bought from W. H. Swanstone 465 acres, also in Saline town- 
ship, the place being better known as the George Conner farm, and is culti- 
vating and improving them along modern lines, and also carrying on exten- 
sive live stock operation. Since taking possession of his place, just at the 
east side of Overton in 1916, Mr. Brengarth has improved it greatly, and is 
developing there one of th emost up-to-date farms in Cooper County. He 
is a member of the Woodmen of the World and the Woodmen's Circle at 
Gooch's Mill. 

Mr. Brengarth is a native son of Cooper County. He was born on a 
farm in Prairie Home township, May 2, 1877, son of Frank I. and Catherine 
(Schneider) Brengarth, the latter of whom is living at Boonville. Mrs. 
Brengarth was born in Germany, and was but a child when she came to 
this county with her parents, the family locating in this part of Missouri, 
and it was here that she married Frank I. Brengarth, who had come to 
America when a young man, and also had settled in this county. Frank 
I. Brengarth was born in Alsace-Lorraine, then a province of France, in 
1831. There he remained until he had attained his majority, when, about 
1852, he came to this country. For several years after coming to Cooper 
County, he worked by the month on the Edmond Elliott farm near Boon- 
ville, later buying a farm in Prairie Home township. On that place he 
lived until his retirement from the farm in 1904, when he sold the place 
and moved to Boonville, where he spent the remainder of his life. He 
died Oct. 25, 1917. His widow is still living. Mr. Brengarth was buried in 
the Catholic Cemetery at Boonville. 

To Frank I. and Catherine (Schneider) Brengarth were born 12 chil- 
dren, all of whom are still living, namely : Catherine, wife of J. B. Felton, 
of Boonville; Frank, is a well-to-do farmer and stockman in Saline town- 
ship ; Anna, wife of Charles Tritzell, of Jefferson City ; Taritha, wife of Wil- 
liam Walterscheid, of Boonville township; Albert, the subject of this 
sketch ; Mary, wife of David Diehl, of Boonville ; Philip, now living in Kan- 
sas City ; Margaret, who is living with her brother Frank in Saline town- 
ship ; Rose, wife of E. A. Bacon, of St. Louis ; Henry, who is now with the 
American Expeditionary Forces in Europe ; Augusta, who is living at Boon- 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1097 

ville ; and John, who is with the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe. 
Henry Brengarth, the elder of the two soldier sons, has been in the service 
of the United' States Army since May, 1918; was at the front at the time 
the armistice was signed, and is now (spring of 1919) with the Army of 
Occupation at Coblenz, attached to the 89th Pioneer Infantry Regiment. 
John Brengarth, the other soldier son, enlisted for service in the World 
War in November, 1917, and has now (spring of 1919) been in France for 
more than 18 months, attached to the Aviation Corps, a member of the 
222nd Aero Squadron, and during this long period of service has been a 
participant in some exceedingly spectacular and thrilling actions. The 
Brengarth children received their schooling in the New Salem School in 
Prairie Home township, and though the members of the family are now 
widely scattered, as is the way of families, that community ever will be 
regarded by them as "back home." 

Ernest H. Ambrose, proprietor of the "Ambrose Missouri River Val- 
ley Farm," at the north edge of the town of Overton in Saline township, 
and recognized as one of the most progressive and energetic young farmers 
of that section of Cooper County, is a native of this county. He was born 
Oct. 15, 1881, son of J. T. and Elizabeth (Bell) Ambrose. J. T. Ambrose 
was born in Howard County in 1845, and though but 16 years of age when 
the Civil War broke out, he enlisted at Boonville in the cause of the Con- 
federacy as a member of Company B, 14th Infantry, and served for three 
years, or until the close of the war, and was at Shreveport, La., with the 
army when the war ended. Mr. Ambrose then engaged in farming, and 
so continued the rest of his active life. He died in March, 1916, he then 
being 71 years of age, and is buried in the Sulphur Springs Churchyard 
in Howard County. His widow is still living, a resident of Lloyd Station. 
She and her husband were the parents of five children, all of whom are 
still living: Margaret, wife of Daniel Stewart, of Columbia, Mo.; Thomas, 
near Rochef ort, Boone County ; Ernest H. ; Fannie, wife of Edgar McVee, 
near Pierson Spur in Howard County; and Grover M., who is living with 
his mother at Lloyd Station. 

Ernest H. Ambrose has always followed fanning pursuits. He re- 
ceived his schooling in the public schools, and early began farming on his 
own account. In the spring of 1913 he bought 100 acres of the farm on 
which he is now living, just north of Overton, and since then has added to 
this by purchase from Mont Cooper of an adjoining strip of eight acres, 
having now 108 acres, as rich a tract of land as lies in the whole Missouri 



1098 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Valley. During the past few years, Mr. Ambrose has made some very sub- 
stantial improvements on his place. Included in these improvements is a 
modern ne wseven-room house, a barn 30x48 feet, a machine shed 20x50, a 
garage, an up-to-date poultry house in which Mrs. Ambrose has 300 
Plymouth Rock chickens. The farm has an excellent orchard of 50 or 
more trees. During the current year (1919) Mr. Ambrose had raised 15 
acres of alfalfa, 35 acres of wheat, one acre of potatoes and the balance 
in corn. 

Nov. 20, 1907, Ei-nest H. Ambrose was married to Bessie Groom, who 
was born in this county, and to this union two children have been born, 
Hazel and George. Mrs. Ambrose is a daughter of Colby C. and Emma 
(Kickashear) Groom, the latter of whom, born in Cooper County in 1864, 
is still living on the Groom home farm a mile and a half east of Overton. 
Colby C. Groom was born in Virginia and came to Cooper County when 23 
years of age. Here he married and became engaged in farming, a voca- 
tion which he followed the rest of his life. He died in 1913, and is buried 
in the Clayton Cemetery. To him and his wife were born four children, 
Mrs. Ambrose having three brothers, Hurt, Clay and Colby Groom, all 
residing at Overton. Mr. and Mrs. Ambrose are members of the Highland 
Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and both are teachers in the Sunday 
School of that church. Mr. Ambrose also gives his thoughtful attention 
to local educational matters, and has served as director of the Overton 
School District. 

John Emil Derendinger, a substantial farmer of Prairie Home town- 
ship, was born in Switzerland, March 2, 1864, son of Rudolph and Louisa 
(Bucher) Derendinger, both natives of that same country, who came to 
America in 1887 and spent their their last days in Cooper County. Rudolph 
Derendinger and his wife first located in Moniteau County, but about five 
years later moved to Prairie Home township, this county, with their son 
Fred, and here spent the remainder of their lives. Mr. Derendinger died 
in 1913, and his wife in 1915. They were members of the Evangelical 
Church at Pleasant Grove, and are buried in the cemetery there. Of the 
seven children born to them, John Emil was the eldest, the others being: 
E. F. Derendinger, deceased ; Mrs. Louisa Hosman, also deceased ; Rudolph, 
of Sandy Hook ; Eliza, wife of Louis Hersick, Hamburg, Germany ; and 
J. F., Gooch's Mill. 

J. E. Derendinger came to this country in 1881 and in 1887 he sent 
for his parents and the younger members of the family to join him here 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1099 

in Missouri, and in the summer of that same year he married. In 1888 
he bought 200 acres of the farm on which he is now living in Prairie Home 
township,, established his home there and has ever since resided there. 
In 1916 Mr. Derendinger added to his acreage there by the purchase of 
120 acres, and now has an excellent farm of 320 acres, in the management 
of which he is ably assisted by his second son, Louis Derendinger, who is 
married and makes his home in a house nearby the family residence. 
Since taking possession of that farm Mr. Derendinger has made numerous 
substantial improvements on the place. 

August 12, 1887, John E. Derendinger was married to Wilhelmina 
Schilb, who was born in this county, and to this union five children have 
been bom: Margaret, wife of Waller Neiderwimmer, of Sedalia; E. F. 
married Laura Friederich, now living at Kansas City ; Louis, married 
Nannie Friederich, and is living on the home farm, assisting his father; 
J. C, engaged in the mercantile business at Gooch's Mill, and Meta Bertha, 
at home with her parents. J. C. Derendinger married Bertha Reglin, who 
died leaving two children, Cecil R. and Marjorie Elene, who are being 
reared by their grandparents. Mr. and Mrs. Derendinger have three other 
grandchildren, Herbert and Harold Neiderwimmer and William Deren- 
dinger. Mrs. Derendinger was born in Saline township, Oct. 15, 1864, 
daughter of Jacob and Barbara (Kesseling) Schilb, who had settled there 
in 1847 and there spent the remainder of their lives. Mrs. Shilb died in 
1894, and her husband died in 1908. They were charter members of the 
Pleasant Grove Evangelical Church, and are buried in the churchyard 
there. Mr. and Mrs. Derendinger are members of this church and have 
reared their children in the faith of the church. 

St. Peter's Evangelical Church at Pleasant Grove was the first church 
organized by the German-speaking people of Cooper County, and was or- 
ganized in 1849 under the ministry of the Reverend Kewing, who for some 
time remainded as pastor, being succeeded in turn by the following pas- 
tors: The Reverends Rauschenbusch, Hoffmeister, Lange, Streit, Von 
Teobel, Dellwo, Kraft, Woelfle, Moore, Leutwein, Klingebei'ger, Alber, 
Egger, Rasche, Jennerich, Lehman, Bredehoeft, Leibner and Beisenherc, 
the latter of whom was installed as pastor in the fall of 1917, and is now 
serving the congregation. The first meeting house erected by the congrega- 
tion of St. Peter's was a little log church building. The present building 
was erected in 1877. The charter members of St. Peter's Evangelical 
Church were the following: Adam and Jacob Schilb, Nicholas Blank, George 



1100 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Knorp, Fred Stock, J. A. Spieler, J. G. Spieler, William Baker, F. Schenck, 
T. Miller, E. Kirschman, Jacob Schilb, Jr., Henry Meier, H. J. Meier, A. 
Kaempfer and William Hobrecht. 

Henry Knosp, proprietor of "Hazel Grove Farm," in Saline township, 
one of the most substantial farmers of that section of Cooper Count, is a 
native son of this county. He was born on a farm two and one-half miles 
east of Prairie Home, Feb. 12, 1853, son of George and Minnie (Schenck) 
Knosp, both of whom spent their last days on that place. 

George Knosp, who lived to be nearly 84 years of age, was born in 
Germany, and was but a child when he came to this country with his 
parents, the family settling in Cole Count, Mo., in the '30s. He came to 
Cooper County some time in the '40s, was here married, established his 
home, and spent the rest of his life here. He was one of the organizers 
of the Evangelical Church at Pleasant Grove, and is buried in the cemetery 
there, as is his wife, who lived to be 75 years of age. They were the 
parents of eight children, those besides the subject of this sketch being as 
follows Louise, wife of J. H. Stock, of Sedalia; Charles, of Jamestown, 
Mo. ; Minnie, Clarks Fork township, widow of William Fricke ; Mary, wife 
of Theodore Brandes, also of Clarks Fork township ; Caroline, wife of John 
Kaiser, of North Moniteau township; John, living on the old home place; 
and Fred, of Calfomia, Mo. 

Henry Knosp received his schooling in the Splice Creek School, his 
first teacher having been Bartlett Metcalf , who taught in the little log school 
house. Mr. Knosp has devoted his attention to farming. In 1883, he 
bought from the Haxel heirs the quarter section, and has since resided on 
that place, bringing the place up to a state of improvement second to none 
in the neighborhood. For that tract of 160 acres he paid about $24 an 
acre. As his affairs prospered, Mr. Knosp bought from William Oerly an 
adjoining 120 acres, but this he recently has sold to his son, who lives on 
the place. All the improvements on the farm have been made by Mr. 
Knosp. For years he was engaged in the raising of Whiteface cattle, but 
of late years has not done so much in that line, though he still maintains 
a excellent drove of Duroc Jersey hogs, all eligible to register. He and his 
family are members of the Lutheran Church at Pleasant Grove. 

Feb. 16, 1882, Henry Knosp was united in marriage to Sophia Fred- 
ericka Lonjers, at Lone Elm, by the Rev. J. H. Thiess, and to this union 10 
children have been born, namely : Albert, born April 5, 1883, died in the 
fall of 1902 ; Anna B., Sept. 17. 1885, wife of Charles Langer, of Moniteau 
County; Minnie, Jan. 15, 1886, wife of Louis Dahler, of California, 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1101 

Mo. : Henry, April 2, 1887, of Prairie Home township ; Fred, Jan. 12, 1859, 
died Nov. 3/ 1907; Cora, August, 1891, who died at the age of 13 months; 
Oliver, July 28, 1893, died Dec. 4, 1918; Lydia, Nov. 25, 1896, at home; 
George, Feb. 26, 1898, also at home, and Herbert, May 24, 1900, at home. 
Mrs. Knosp was born on a farm near Lone Elm, in Clarks Fork township, 
daughter of Maurine and Johanna (Brandes) Lonjers, both of whom spent 
their last days in this county. Maurine Lonjers was born in Holland, 
and many years ago settled in the Lone Elm neighborhood, where he died 
Sept. 28, 1914. She was bom in 1838. After the death of her first hus- 
band she married Louis Lebbing and had two children, Theodore Lebbing, 
now a merchant at Clarks Fork, and a daughter who died in infancy. By 
her marriage to Maurine Lonjers she was the mother of 10 children, of 
whom Mrs. Knosp was the fourth in order of birth, the others being as 
follows: Henry Lonjers, Stockton, Calif.; Louise, wife of Daniel Langkop, 
Bunceton ; Christian, Colorado ; Herman, who married Lizzie Kluss and 
died in 1911 in Clarks Fork, leaving a widow and two sons, Emil and Wil- 
liam ; Charles, who died in California at the age of 28 years ; Bettie, whs 
died at the age of 19 years; Caroline, wife of William Hein, of Appleton 
City, Mo. ; Margaret, who died at the age of 14 years, and William, who 
died in youth. 

Henry H. Knosp, proprietor of a fine farm of 120 acres three and one- 
half miles from Wooldridge in Saline township, was born at "Hazel Grove 
Farm," April 2, 1887, son of Henry and Sophia Fredericka (Lonjers) 
Knosp, both members of pioneer families in this section, and both of whom 
are still living at "Hazel Grove Farm." 

Reared at "Hazel Grove Farm," Henry H. Knosp received his early 
schooling in the church school at Pleasant Grove, and in the Liberty dis- 
trict school. He has applied himself to farming, remaining at home until 
his marriage when 23 years of age, when he began farming on his own 
account in Moniteau County. Three years later, in 1914, he bought from 
his father, 120 acres, and has since resided there. Mr. Knosp has made 
substantial improvements and is contemplating more. Among the im- 
provements is a modern poultry house, 14x36, Mrs. Knosp being much 
interested in her fine flock of more than 200 Rhode Island Reds. Mr. 
Knosp raises Duroc Jersey hogs and is meeting with success. He and his 
family are members of the Pleasant Grove Lutheran Church. 

March 12, 1911, Henry H. Knosp was married to Mollie Lenger, whom 
he had known from childhood, and to this union three children have been 
born, Florence, Harry and Pauline. Mrs. Knosp was bora over in Moni- 



1102 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

teau County, April 18, 1884, daughters of Charles and Minnie (Hampster) 
Lenger, natives of Germany, both of whom are living on the farm in 
Moniteau County, where they have resided for more than 40 years, Mr. 
Lenger now being 88 years of age and his wife 77. Charles Lenger and 
his wife have five children, those besides Mrs. Knosp being: Sophia, wife 
of William Gross, a woodworker living at California, Mo. ; Matilda, wife 
of William Kieslig, also of California; Charles, Jr., who married Anna 
Knosp, operating his father's farm, and Fred, who married Nettie Graff, 
and is also on the home farm. 

D. D. Hurt, a well known and successful farmer of Clarks Fork town- 
ship, was born in this township March 25, 1879. He is a son of A. C. and 
Celesta A. (Holestein) Hurt, natives of Cooper County and descendents 
of early pioneers in this section. A. C. Hurt and his wife spent their lives 
in Clarks Fork township. He was a Confederate veteran of the Civil War, 
and was with the army at Shreveport, La., when the war closed. A. C. 
and Celesta A. (Holestein) Hurt were the parents of the following chil- 
dren: B. F., Bunceton; J. A., North Moniteau township; William A., Clarks 
Fork township; D. D. the subject of this sketch, and 0. F., Blackwater. 

D. D. Hurt was reared on the home farm in Clarks Fork township, and 
received his education in the Ellis School District. He has been a fanner 
and stockman all his life. He purchased 80 acres of his present farm in 
1905, and since that time has added 40 acres. He has a well improved 
place with good residence and other buildings. The farm is located on 
the Bunceton-Pisgah road in the southern part of Clarks Fork township, 
and is valuable property. Mr. Hurt carries on general farming and stock 
raising, and has been very successful. 

May 20, 1900, D. D, Hurt was united in marriage with Miss Myrtle 
Jones, a daughter of B. L. Jones, of Pisgah. Her mother is deceased. 
Mrs. Hurt is one of the following children born to her parents: J. T., 
Pisgah ; Myrtle, wife of D. D. Hurt; L. T., Prairie Home; Mrs. R. W. Lacy, 
Prairie Home ; Mrs. A. L. Lewis, Kansas City, Mo., and Mrs. Ben Harned, 
who resides on the home place at Pisgah. 

To D. D. Hurt and wife has been born three children, as follows: 
Opal, died when 14 years of age ; David, born Sept. 30, 1903 ; and Louis, 
born Sept. 26, 1908. 

Mr. Hurt is a member of the school board of Consolidate District No. 
1, and takes a commendable interest in local affairs. He is a member of 
the Mystic Workers at Pisgah, and he and Mrs. Hurt belong to the Baptist 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1103 

Church at that place. Mr. Hurt is a congenial man, a good neighbor and 
citizen, and has many friends in Cooper County. 

George Truman Cole, a progressive farmer and stockman of Prairie 
Home township, was born in this township, Oct. 2, 1875, and is a descend- 
ent of one of the first families that settled in Cooper County. He is a son 
of Andrew B. and Mary J. (Hickox) Cole. Andrew B. Cole was born at 
Bell Air, Cooper County, in 1827. He was a son of Samuel, who was a 
son of Hannah Cole, who, with the Stephens family, were the first settlers 
in Cooper County. Samuel Cole lived to the advanced age of 92 years, 
and died near Bell Air, and his remains are buried at the Nebo Church 
Cemetery. Andrew B. Cole made three trips across the Plains to Cali- 
fornia in the early days. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and an 
influential citizen. He died in 1913, and his wife departed this life in 1917, 
and their remains are buried in the Pisgah Cemetery. They were the 
parents of three children as follows: Edward, Prairie Home township; 
George Truman, the subject of this sketch; and Warren, who died at the 
age of two years. By a former marriage to Rebecca Ann Boughman there 
were three children born: W. H., North Moniteau township; Mollie, mar- 
ried J. 0. Morris, North Moniteau township; and Clara, who died at the 
age of 20 years. 

George Truman Cole traces his ancestry in this country back for 300 
years, to the landing of the Mayflower at Plymouth Rock in 1620. Thomas 
Clark, who was a passenger on the Mayflower, was a direct ancestor of 
George Truman Cole, on his mother's side. Mary J. Hickox, mother of 
George Truman Cole, was a daughter of Charles and Mara (Hill) Hickox, 
the latter being a native of Kentucky, born Feb. 4, 1804. Hon. H. L. 
Meyers, U. S. senator from Montana, a sketch of whom appears in this 
volume, is a second cousin of Mary J. (Hickox) Cole. 

George Truman Cole was reared and educated in Cooper County, and 
has spent his life here, engaged in farming and stock raising. He owns a 
well improved farm of 200 acres in Prairie Home township, where he is 
successfully carrying on farming and stock raising. Mr. Cole was mar- 
ried Nov. 25, 1897, to Miss Ida Tumy, a daughter of James and Bettie 
(Hall) Tumy, the former a native of Boone County, born in 1857, and the 
latter a native of Cooper County, born in 1862. They now reside at Bunce- 
ton. To James and Sallie (Hall) Tumy have been born the following chil- 
dren: Ida, wife of George Truman Cole, the subject of this sketch; Robert, 
Bunceton; Gracia, married Leonard Holliday, Bunceton; William, Bunce- 
ton, who served with the 42d Infantry, Rainbow Division, in France during 



1104 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

the World War ; Mary, married Edgar Byler, Dinuba, Calif. ; Porter, a book- 
keeper in the Bank of Bunceton. To George Truman Cole and wife have 
been born the following children: Lena Leota, a graduate of the Pisgah 
High School, who has also attended the State Normal School at Warrens- 
burg, is a teacher in the Jefferson district ; Claude ; James ; Mary Arostine 
and Martha Pauline, twins ; Warren Gregory, and Clara Booksie. 

Henry H. Tumy, grand father of Mrs. Cole was a native of Kentucky, 
and came to Missouri when a young man, locating at Rocheport. He was 
a saddler, and for 50 years conducted business in that town, but for the 
last few years of his life he lived retired. He died at the age of 78 years, 
and is buried in the Rocheport Cemetery. He was the father of the fol- 
lowing children: John. Fayette, Mo.; James, Bunceton; Frank, Columbia, 
Mo.; Henry, Fayette, Mo.; Mrs. Laura Meyers, Fayette; Mrs. Debroh 
Robertson; Mrs. M. T. Lyell, Crawfordsville, Ind., and Mrs. Hiriam Bur- 
rous, Crawfordsville, Ind. 

Mr. Cole is one of Cooper County's representative and progressive cit- 
izens and stands ever ready to contribute his part to any worthy public 
enterprise. 

William Lynn Spahr, a well known and successful farmer and stock- 
man of Kelly township, was born in Boonville, Nov. 3, 1890. He is a son 
of William Lynn and Sarah Prolma (Stark) Spahr, the former also a 
native of Cooper Count, where he spent his life, and died April 17, 1896. 
The mother was born near Otterville, Mo., and died Aug. 22, 1914. Wil- 
liam Lynn Spahr, the father, was engaged in the undertaking business at 
Boonville, the greater part of his life. To William Lynn and Sarah Prolma 
(Stark) Spahr were born the following children: Lawrence, a farmer in 
Kelly township ; William L., the subject of this sketch ; and David, Tulsa, 
Okla. 

William L. Spahr was educated in the district schools of Cooper 
County and the Bunceton High School. He has been engaged in farming 
and stock raising since boyhood. He purchased his present place in Kelly 
township from Frank Smith in 1912. His farm consists of 80 acres 
of well improved land, located three miles southwest of Bunceton. He 
has a pretty home and the other improvements on the place are of a cor- 
responding high type. He feeds cattle quite extensively, and has met 
with success in this line of endeavor. 

Mr. Spahr was married in 1911 to Miss Anna Lee Palmer, a daughter 
of James and Ella (Collins) Palmer, both now residing in Lebanon town- 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1105 

ship. To James and Ella (Collins) Palmer have been born the following 
children besides Mrs. Spahr: Clarence, Sedalia; Henry, Bunceton; Rus- 
sell, Bunceton ; Mrs. Kate Schlotzhauer ; Mrs. Mattie Cole, Otterville ; and 
Frank Lillian, Louise, Pauline, Stanley and Jack, residing at home with 
their parents. 

Mr. Spahr is one of Cooper County's substantial representative citi- 
zens, and he and Mrs. Spahr stand high in the community. 

Lawrence Spahr, owner of the "Cedar Lawn Farm" in Kelly township, 
is one of the progressive young farmers and stockmen of Cooper County, 
and belongs to a prominent pioneer family of this section. He was born 
July 22, 1888, and is a son of William L. and Sarah Prolma (Stark) Spahr, 
both natives of Cooper County. The father was engaged in the under- 
taking business at Boonville most of his life, and is now deceased. The 
mother, Sarah Prolma (Stark) Spahr, was a daughter of J. D. Stark, who 
for many years was prominently identified with Cooper County and Mis- 
souri in a political way. He served as county collector of Cooper County, 
and was also county judge. He represented Cooper County in the Legis- 
lature for a time, and was warden of the State Penitentiary during the 
administration of Gov. Stephens. About that time he bought a farm in 
Kelly township, which is now owned by Lawrence Spahr. While her 
father was warden of the State Penitentiary, Sarah Prolma (Stark) Spain 
was matron of that institution. At the expiration of her term she re- 
turned to Cooper County and lived on the farm in Kelly township, which 
her father had purchased. At that time she was a widow, her husband 
having died in 1896. She successfully managed the operation of the farm 
in Kelly township, and reared her family. She was a capable business 
woman, and successfully carried out her undertakings. She died Aug. 22, 
1914. Lawrence Spahr now owns the place in Kelly township which was 
owned by his grandfather Stark. It is one of the valuable farms of the 
county, and' is one of the old historic places of that neighborhood. It was 
originally entered from the Government by W. T. Reavis at a cost of $1.25 
per acre in 1850, and was later owned by Dick Reavis, who made many 
improvements out of the ordinary for the early times. He planted an 
orchard of 40 acres and later doubled the acreage of his orchard. He 
manufactured apple brandy here for a time. He also set out two rows of 
cedar trees along the driveway, between the main highway and the resi- 
dence, which greatly add to the beauty of the place. The farm now con- 



1106 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

sists of 185 acres, and here Mr. Spahr successfully carries on general farm- 
ing and stock raising. He feeds cattle extensively, a branch of animal 
husbandry which has proven very profitable to him. 

Mr. Spahr was married June 5, 1912, to Miss Grace Gander, a daughter 
of John and Annie (Presgraves) Gander, of Lebanon township. Mrs. 
Spahr is one of the following children bom to her parents : Grace, wife of 
Lawrence Spahr, the subject of this sketch; Virgil, leaves near Vermont 
Station; Ollie, resides at home; Aubrey, lives near Vermont Station; and 
Elon, lives near Vermont Station. To Mr. and Mi's. Spahr have been born 
two children : Jack Stark and Annie Olive. 

Mr. and Mrs. Spahr are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
and are representatives of Cooper County's most progressive and enter- 
prising citizens. 

H. C. Biltz, a successful farmer of Kelly township, is a native of Illi- 
nois. He was born in Summerfield, St. Clair County, 111., Aug. 1, 1867, a 
son of Jacob and Dora Biltz, both now deceased. Jacob Biltz was a native 
of Germany, and took part in the German Revolution in 1848, and on ac- 
count of his participation in that uprising against the Government fled 
from that country in company with Frederick Hecker, who was also impli- 
cated in the revolution against the German Government, and during the 
Civil War became a colonel in the Union Army. 

H. C. Biltz first came to Boonville in the capacity of an apple buyer. 
He and his brother, Philip, were in the commission business at St. Louis, 
and his brother is still engaged in the same business there. For a num- 
ber of years, H. C. Biltz has been successfully engaged in farming and 
stock raising in Kelly township, where he owns one of the valuable, well 
improved farms of Cooper County. He carries on general farming and 
stock raising, and has met with well merited success in his undertakings. 

March 9, 1892, H. C. Biltz was united in marriage with Miss Guita A. 
Levens, at St. Louis, Mo. After their marriage they lived in Omaha, 
Neb., for a short time, and in 1893 came to Cooper County, where Mr. Biltz 
has since been engaged in farming. Mrs. Biltz is a daughter of B. W. 
Levens, a native of Cooper County, who was born on the site of the present 
town of Bunceton, Feb. 25, 1841. He was a son of Basil W. Levens, a 
native of Washington County. Pa., bom in 1791. Basil W. Levens came 
to Randolph County, 111., with his parents at a very early date. His 
father was a slave-owner, and owing to the sentiment against slavery in 
Illinois, he came to Missouri by boat, taking his slaves with him, and set- 
tled at Overton, Mo. He operated the ferry across the river for a number 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1107 

of years, and was later engaged in farming. He married Rhoda Stephens 
here in 1818. He spent his latter years on a farm about two miles east of 
Bunceton, where he died in 1844, and his wife died in 1876. 

B. W. Levens, father of Mrs. H. C. Biltz, was a Confederate veteran. 
He was married Feb. 25, 1864, to Mary E. Reavis, who died Jan. 8, 1911. 
Two children were born to this union : Dr. W. B. Levens, Creighton, Mo., 
and Guita, the wife of H. C. Biltz, the subject of this sketch. 

To H. C. Biltz and wife have been born two children: Rolla L. and 
Hilda Marie, the latter a student in the Bunceton High School. Rolla L. 
Biltz served in the World War, and is now residing at home with his 
parents. He enlisted in March, 1917, and after being trained at Ft. Sill, 
Okla., was sent to France in April, 1918, with the 144th Infantry, 35th 
Division. He participated in the severe fighting of the summer and fall 
of 1918. He was at the battle of Argone Forest, and St. Mihiel. He was 
wounded three times, twice in the arm, and once in the side, and he was 
also severely gassed, and was returned to the United States as a member 
of a casualty company. 

Mrs. Biltz has won a reputation as a successful poultry raiser which 
has extended far beyond the limits of Cooper County. She won the 
first premium at the Missouri State Poultry Show in 1912, and also at the 
Springfield Poultry Show for the largest turkey in the world, which 
weighed 60 pounds. This was a mammoth Bronze turkey, and at that time 
Mrs. Biltz was raising that breed of turkeys. This turkey was afterwards 
sold for $150.00. 

Mr. and Mrs. Biltz are well known in Cooper County and rank among 
the leading families of this section. 

Samuel Holbert Groves, proprietor of the "Locust Grove Farm, Home 
of the Cotswold," is recognized as one of the leading breeders in the coun- 
try. Mr. Groves is a native of Cooper County. He was born near Bell Air, 
June 13, 1864, and is a son of W. T. and Margaret (Cole) Groves. The 
mother was a daughter of Samuel and Sallie (Bristoe) Cole. Samuel Cole 
was a son of Stephen Cole, who was one of the first settlers of Cooper 
County, who lived at Cole's Fort, the first settlement of this county. W. 
T. Groves was a native of Fauquier County, Va., born Aug. 2, 1828, and 
came to Cooper County, Mo., in 1850, when he was 22 years old. He died 
here July 2, 1911, and his wife died in 1867. They were the parents of the 
following children: J. O., who resides in Kelly township; Samuel H, the 
subject of this sketch ; Thomas, Moniteau County. After the death of 
his first wife, W. T. Groves married Anna Morton. She died in 1917. 



1108 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

The following children were born to the second marriage: John, Tipton, 
Mo. ; Clara, married Robert McCulloch, Jefferson City, Mo. ; Cora, married 
M. A. Worley, Tipton, Mo.; Addie, married 0. P. Worley, Tipton, Mo.; 
Oscar, enlisted when the United States entered the World War, and was 
sent to France in the spring of 1918, and is still serving with the Ameri- 
can Expeditionary Force there. 

Samuel H. Groves was educated in the public schools and in Prof. Don- 
nelly's school at Bunceton. He has always been engaged in farming and 
stock raising, and for a number of years has made a specialty in breeding 
Cotswold sheep. He brought the first imported sheep of this breed that 
was ever brought to Cooper County, and has bred several hundred sheep 
of this breed all eligible to registration. His sheep have been exhibited at 
numerous fairs and stock shows throughout the country, and he perhaps 
has won over 300 premiums. His imported ram, Games 37, which heads 
his flock, is one of the most valuable sheep in this country. He now has 
a herd of 42 pure-bred Cotswold sheep on his place. Mr. Groves has been 
superintendent of the sheep department of the Missouri State Fair for 
several years, and holds that position for the year 1919. For five years 
he was president of the Missouri State Sheep Breeders' Association, and 
takes an active interest in this line of work. He was one of the organ- 
izers of the Bunceton Fair, 23 years ago. This is one of the successful 
fairs of the State. Mr. Groves is not only a successful farmer and breeder, 
but is known throughout a broad scope of territory as a successful auc- 
tioneer. He makes a specialty of conducting sheep sales, in which he is 
regarded as an expert. The sheep growers of the State have found in 
Mr. Groves an exceptional auctioneer in handling their particular line of 
sales, and the demand upon his time for this work is very great. He has 
conducted sheep sales for eight years. 

Mr. Groves was married Dec. 22, 1887, to Miss Anna Bear, a daugh- 
ter of J. H. and Mary (Morris) Bear. J. H. Bear is a native of Kentucky, 
and came to Cooper County when a young man. He was born Dec. 22, 
1835, and makes his home with his children. His wife was born in St. 
Clair County. Mo., and died Feb. 12, 1914, at the age of G8 years. They 
were the parents of the following children: Mrs. J. O. Groves, Tipton, 
Mo. ; Anna, the wife of Samuel H. Groves, the subject of this sketch ; Mrs. 
Mary Davis, Otterville, Mo.: Mrs. A. J. White, Tipton, Mo.; Mrs. F. M. 
Shrout, Bunceton, Mo. ; Mrs. R. H. Franks, Thomasville, Mo. ; Alfred S., 
Oknee, Okla. ; Hugh M., Colorado ; George, a teacher, who is now taking a 
special course at the State Normal School at Warrensburg, Mo. He enlisted 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1109 

at the beginning of the World War and attended an officers' training school, 
where he was commissioned a lieutenant and was sent to France in the 
spring of 1918, and returned to the United States, March 5, 1919. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Groves have been born the following children: Edgar E., a 
locomotive engineer on the Rock Island Railroad, married Bessie Monks, 
of Cooper County, and they have two children, Gladys and Anna Mar- 
guerite; and Morris C, of Bayfield, Colo., married Lydia Doll, of Cooper 
County, and they have one daughter, Edna Frances. 

Mr. Groves is one of Cooper County's most highly respected and sub- 
stantial citizens. 

George Reynolds, a highly respected pioneer of Cooper County, resid- 
ing in Kelly township, is a native of West Virginia. He was born in 
Brooks County, May 8, 1847, a son of Josephus and Margaret (Umphrey) 
Reynolds, both natives of Ohio, born near Steubenville. The mother died 
in 1897, the father having died in 1870, in Johnson County, Mo. He came 
to Cooper County in 1867, and settled near Nebo, Cooper County. Josephus 
and Margaret (Umphrey) Reynolds were the parents of the following 
children: Samuel, who resides at Boonville, and George, the subject of this 
sketch, were twins ; Frank, lives in Boonville ; William F., died in 1898, near 
Blackwater ; Robert Scott, died in infancy ; Joshua, the eldest of the fam- 
ily, was killed at Hatches Run, Va., while serving in the Union Army dur- 
ing the Civil War. 

George Reynolds has lived in Cooper County for 52 years with the 
exception of 1881 and 1882, when he resided in Vernon County. He bought 
his present home in Kelly township in 1887. His farm consists of 120 
acres, which is nicely located and makes a pleasant home. His residence is 
located on an eminence which gives a commanding view of the surround- 
ing country, and under proper atmospheric condition a splendid view of 
20 miles to the northwest can be had from this place. 

George Reynolds was married in 1872 to Miss Sarah Gallagher, a 
daughter of Charles and Susan Gallagher, who were early settlers in Mon- 
iteau County, coming from Virginia. To this union were born the follow- 
ing children: Dr. William H., who resides in Pettis County, married Minnie 
Kahrs, and they have two children, Delia May and William K. ; Cora May, 
married J. J. Baxter, Rockyford, Colo., and they have four children, Gus- 
sie, Arthur N., Walter H., and Willa S. Mrs. Reynolds died Feb. 6, 1901, 
and her remains are buried in Hopewell Cemetery. Mr. Reynolds is a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Bell Air. He is an intelli- 
gent and well posted gentleman and one of Cooper County's best citizens. 



1110 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Joseph O. Nelson, a progressive citizen and well known farmer of 
Kelly township, was born in Texas, Aug. 6, 1867. He is a son of Decatur 
and Isabella (Stephens) Nelson. Decatur Nelson was born in Virginia, 
Dec. 12, 1831, and died in Cooper County, Nov. 10, 1903. He came to 
Cooper County with his parents when he was nine years of age. When 
the Civil War broke out he went to Texas and entered the Confederate 
Army there, and served nearly four years until the war closed. Isabella 
(Stephens) Nelson was a member of a Cooper County pioneer family. 
She was born on the site of the present town of Bunceton long before 
Bunceton was thought of. She was a daughter of Joseph Stephens, Sr., 
a native of Wythe County, Va., who settled in the locality where Bunceton 
now stands in November, 1817. Isabella (Stephens) Nelson died in 1886. 
She was one of 24 children born of two unions who all lived to man and 
womanhood, except three, who died in infancy. Her mother being Miss 
Catherine Dickenson ; nine children belong to that union. To Decatur 
and Isabella (Stephens) Nelson were bom two children: Mrs. Mollie C. 
Francis, who now resides in Texas and Joseph O., the subject of this 
sketch. 

Joseph 0. Nelson was educated in the public schools at Glen Dale, 
Clarksburg College, and Otterville College, and since leaving school has 
been engaged in farming. He has lived on the place which he now owns 
in Kelly township for 30 years. He first purchased 42 J 4 acres and later 
added 90 acres more. His farm is located five miles south of Bunceton. 
It is well improved, with a good residence, new barn and other improve- 
ments of a high order. The water supply for the place is obtained from 
a well 110 feet deep, and is pumped by a gas engine. 

Mr. Nelson was first married in April, 1887, to Miss Ida May Tilton, 
a daughter of Samuel Tilton, of Tipton, Mo. One son was born to this 
union, Newton, who lives at Tipton. Mrs. Nelson died in 1888. April 
22, 1890, Mr. Nelson was married to Alice C. Kelly, a daughter of John 
and Nancy Kelly. John Kelly who was a native of Ireland was a railroad 
man and worked on the construction of the Missouri Pacific railroad 
through Tipton and also M. K. & T. through Clifton City. He died in 
Kansas City. July 9, 1906. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Nancy 
Jones, died in 1872, when Mrs. Nelson was about two years of age. Mrs. 
Nelson was reared by her grandparents, Samuel and Susan Jones, who 
resided near Otterville. Samuel Jones was a native of Kentucky, born 
Nov. 3, 1826, and came to Missouri about 1835, settling near Otterville 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1111 

where he kept the postoffice which was Elkton in the forties before Otter- 
ville was founded. His wife was born in Page County, Va., in 1832, and 
died in July, 1893. Mrs. Nelson was educated in the public schools of 
Cooper County, Otterville College and the Pilot Grove College. She was 
a student at the latter institution in 1883 when W. F. Johnson, the editor 
of this work, was a teacher there. 

To Joseph 0. Nelson and wife have been born five children as fol- 
lows: Isabella, born March 1, 1891, was educated in Bunceton High 
School, Missouri State University, The Gem City Business College, Quincy, 
111., and is now a teacher at the Laura Speed Elliot High School, Boonville; 
Richard Truman, born Nov. 27, 1897, resides at home; Ernest Decatur, 
born March 3, 1900; Edgar Eurico, born Feb. 6, 1902; Armstead Mason, 
born Aug. 26, 1910. 

The Nelsons are one of the well known and representative families of 
Cooper County and Mr. Nelson is a progressive and public spirited citizen. 
He is a cousin of Hon. W. L. Nelson, United States Congressman from the 
Eighth Missouri District and of Lady Maxwell of England. 

Emil Hagemeier, a well known farmer and stockman of Kelly town- 
ship, is a native of Cooper County. He was born near Lone Elm, May 9, 
1885, and is a son of Fred and Lizzie (Loesing) Hagemeier, both natives 
of St. Louis County, and now residents of Kelly township. They came 
to Cooper County about 1871, and settled near Lone Elm, where they now 
reside. Fred and Lizzie (Loesing) Hagemeier, are the parents of the 
following children : Lizzie, married John Day and resides in Kansas City, 
Mo.; Minnie, married Frank Neimeyer, Kelly township; Emma, married 
George Stegner and they reside near Mt. Herman Church ; Mary, married 
George Bushhorn and is now deceased; Emil, the subject of this sketch; 
Harry resides in Kelly township, and Amanda married Clyde C. Waller and 
they reside at Wright City, Mo. 

Emil Hagemeier was educated in the public schools of Baxter, Mo., 
and the Bunceton schools. He also attended the German school at Lone 
Elm. Mr. Hagemeier has always been engaged in farming and stock rais- 
ing. He bought 60 acres of his present farm in 1912, to which he added 
60 acres more later and now owns a valuable farm of 120 acres. It is 
located 5i/> mlies southwest of Bunceton, and is one of the well improved 
and well kept farms of that vicinity. He carries on general farming and 
stock raising and is meeting with well merited success. Mrs. Hagemeier 
is successfully engaged in the poultry business. She keeps about 300 



1112 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Rhode Island Red and Brown Leghorn chickens, all of which are pure 
bred. Mrs. Hagemeier has been very successful in the production of eggs, 
which she sells both for hatching and on the general market. During the 
month of March, 1919 she sold SI 18.00 worth of eggs. 

Emil Hagemeier was united in marriage Jan. 4. 1910, to Miss Ger- 
trude Varner, a daughter of William and Eliza (Cook) Varner. William 
Vainer was born in Virginia, June 30, 1833, and his wife was born in 
Cooper County, near Otterville, March 16, 1835. During the Civil War 
he served in the Union State Militia. He has always followed fanning 
and stock raising. This aged and highly respected couple now reside in 
Kelly township. They were the parents of the following children: Pole- 
ata, married H. H. Yarnell, who is now deceased and she lives in Kelly 
township ; Joseph, Beloit, Kan. ; Mary, married J. A. Stevenson, St. Louis ; 
James, born May 6, 1871, and died at the age of two years ; Richard, re- 
sides in Kansas City, Mo.; Ida died in infancy, and Gertrude, the wife of 
Emil Hagemeier, the subject of this sketch. To Mr. and Mrs. Hagemeier 
have been bom one son, Paul Emil. bom March 17, 1915. Mr. and Mrs. 
Hagemeier are members of the Presbyterian Church and rank among 
Cooper County's representative and highly respected citizens. 

Joshua Berry Scott of Bunceton is a descendant of Cooper County 
pioneer stock, who has spent his life, with the exception of two years, 
in this county. Mr. Scott was born in Cooper County, Feb. 7, 1857. He 
is a son of William Wilson and Carolina (Berry) Scott. William Wilson 
Scott was a native of Kentucky, and came to Missouri with his father, 
Leonard Scott, who settled in Cole County, where he spent the remainder 
of his life. William Wilson Scott settled in Cooper County in the thirties. 
Here he married Carolina Berry, and settled on a farm in Clarks Fork 
township, which is now owned by Christ Ohlandorf, and spent the re- 
mainder of his life on this place. Carolina Berry was the daughter of 
Joshua Berry, who was one of the very first settlers of Clarks Fork town- 
ship, where he entered government land. He was a native of North Caro- 
lina, and drove from that state with ox teams and wagons, bringing his 
slaves with him. After coming here he became an extensive land owner. 
He built a large brick residence on his place in Clarks Fork township. 
This house is still standing and in a good state of preservation. He died 
at his home in Cooper County, shortly after the close of the Civil War. 
His wife preceded him in death many years. 

William Wilson and Carolina (Berry) Scott were the parents of the 
following children: Martha J., born Dec. 27, 1844. married Charles S. 
Shirley, April 6, 1870, who died July 27, 1874, three children having been 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1113 

born to them: Thomas Edward, lives in Boonville; Searles L., deceased; 
and William Augustus, lives in Chicago ; George Walter, born Feb. 7, 1847, 
deceased ; William Bryon, born June 12, 1849, lives at Clinton, Mo. ; Mrs. 
Mary Evaline Baslee, born Dec. 7, 1851, lives in Clear Fork township; 
James Monroe, born May 18, 1854 ; Joshua Berry, the subject of this sketch ; 
Robert Ellis, bora July 19, 1859, deceased, and Mrs. Eleanora Bottoms, 
bom April 29, 1862, lives in Prairie Home. 

Joshua Berry Scott lived in Kelly township for many years where he 
was engaged in farming and stock raising. In 1900 he sold his farm in 
that township and bought his present splendid home in Bunceton. He 
has been an extensive dealer in real estate for many years, and has bought 
and sold a great deal of land. Mr. Scott was first married Feb. 19, 1879, 
to Miss Susan Russell, a native of Kentucky. Two children were born to 
this union, Tallia and Beulah, both of whom are deceased. The mother 
died Feb. 7, 1890. Mr. Scott's second wife bore the name of Maude Mc- 
Curdy. She died about a year after their marriage, leaving an infant 
son, John, who is also deceased. After the death of his second wife, Mr. 
Scott was married to Addie Carpenter, a native of Cooper County. She 
is a daughter of Robert and Priscilla Carpenter, pioneers of Clarks Fork 
township. To Mr. and Mrs. Scott have been born one son, Joe Dewey, 
born Nov. 16, 1898 and resides at home with his parents. 

Mr. Scott is a progressive and enterprising citizen and has had a 
successful career. He is a stockholder in the Bank of Bunceton. 

L. A. Bestgen, a progressive and enterprising citizen of Kelly town- 
ship, was born in this township on the place where he now resides, June 
25, 1891. He is a son of A. J. and Ella (Class) Bestgen. A. J. Bestgen 
was also a native of Cooper County, born near Pisgah, Jan. 16, 1864, a son 
of Andrew and Catherine (Alter) Bestgen, natives of Germany. The 
former was born in 1818, and the latter in 1829. They were married Feb. 
16, 1848, at Cedron, Moniteau County, and the following children were 
born to this union: Catherine, born Sept. 21, 1849; Anna Mary, born Nov. 
7, 1852 ; John P. born Nov. 18, 1854 ; Barbera, born Jan. 7, 1857 ; Gertrude, 
born Feb. 8, 1859; Margaret, bora May 19, 1861; Andrew J., bora Jan. 
16, 1864; Teresa H., born Sept. 24, 1866, and Cornelius, bom July 26, 1870. 

Andrew Bestgen, grandfather of Louis A., was a pioneer of Cooper 
County, and for many years was a notary public and did a great deal of 
work of this kind in the early days. He died April 25, 1894, and his 
remains are buried at Tipton, Mo. 

Louis A. Bestgen was one of six children bora to his parents, the 
others being as follows: George J.; Urban J., both residing in Kelly town- 



1114 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

ship, and Alverta, Leonard P. and Coletta, residing at home. Louis A. 
Bestgen was educated in the public schools, and has made farming and 
stock raising his principle occupation, and has met with well merited suc- 
cess. - The home place which he operates consists of 120 acres. The place 
is well improved with a good six room residence and a conveniently planned 
barn 28x32 feet, with metal roof. Mr. Bestgen raises wheat, com and 
other grains, and also carries on stock raising. Being naturally a 
mechanical turn, Mr. Bestgen has built and fully equipped a blacksmith 
shop, where he has installed a high speed drill, emery wheel, and other 
mechanical devices. He is the inventor of the Farmers Barn Door Latch, 
which he manufactures here in his shop. This is regarded as one of the 
most cleverly designed and practical barn door latches on the market. It 
is used extensively by farmers in Missouri, Kansas and Iowa. The latch 
is made in a variety of sizes and styles, and is designed for bam doors, 
hay doors, double doors and garage doors. It is cheap, durable, simple in 
construction, easy to put on a door, and saves time, temper and money. 
The Farmers Barn Door Latch is sold by dealers throughout the country, 
although Mr. Bestgen also sells to the trade direct. 

Mr. Bestgen is also an excellent woodworker and has done some fine 
cabinet work. Mechanical work of this character is as easy and natural 
for him as iron work, and his mechanical genius is evinced by many labor- 
ing saving devices around the Bestgen home. He has installed an irri- 
gation system for his garden which has proved of great value in extreme 
dry seasons. 

Louis A. Bestgen was married Oct. 6, 1914 to Miss Clara Dueber, of 
Moniteau County, where she was bom March 27, 1891. She is a daughter 
of Martin and Mary (Leffler) Dueber, the former a native of Pettis 
County, and the latter of Ohio and now residents of Moniteau County. 
They are the parents of the following children : Joseph, Moniteau County ; 
Tillie, married Aquin Simpson ; Clara, wife of Louis A. Bestgen, the sub- 
ject of this sketch ; Adelia, married George Bestgen ; Nora, resides at home ; 
Leo, was in training during the World War at Camp Bowie, Texas, from 
Sept., 1918, until Feb., 1919, when he was discharged, and is now residing 
at home in Kelly township ; John, George and Mamie, all residing at home. 
By a former marriage of Martin Dueber to Johana Brill, the following 
children were bom: Augusta, married Henry Klein; Loma, El Reno, 
Okla., and Ida, married Andy Kuttenkueler, Tipton, Mo. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Bestgen have been born two children, Virginia and Eleanor. 

Mr. Bestgen is a member of the Knights of Columbus, The Anti-Horse 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1115 

Thief Association, and the Farmers Club at Lone Elm. The Bestgen 
family are members of St. Andrews Catholic Church at Tipton. 

Daniel Langkop, a prominent farmer and stockman of Kelly town- 
ship, bears the distinction of belonging to a family, three generations of 
which have been well represented in the wars of this country since the 
beginning of the Civil War. Daniel Langkop was born in Iowa in 1851, 
a son of William Henry and Anna (Klaus) Langkop, both natives of Ger- 
many. William Henry Langkop migrated to America in 1849 or 1850 and 
first settled in Iowa. He came to Cooper County, Mo., sometime in the 
50's. When the Civil War broke out he enlisted in the Union Army at 
Boonville, and served three years. His two sons, Henry and Frank, also 
served throughout the Civil War and remained in the army for some years 
afterwards. They were in the cavalry and after the Civil War served 
under General Custer in his campaigns against the Indians in the west. 
They then returned to Cooper County, Mo., where they were engaged in 
farming during the remainder of their lives._ Henry died, July 23, 1897, 
and is buried at Lone Elm. Frank died March 3, 1919, and is buried in 
Clarks Fork cemetery. William Henry Langkop died in 1880 and his 
remains are buried in Clarks Fork cemetery. His wife died in 1854 and 
her remains are buried at Dubuque, Iowa. They were the parents of the 
following children: Henry, mention of whom is made above; Mrs. Minnie 
Schubert; Frank, who is also previously mentioned in this sketch; and 
Daniel, the subject of this sketch. 

Daniel Langkop attended such schools as the times afforded during 
his boyhood, and in early life was employed as a government teamster 
during the war, mostly in the vicinity of St. Louis. After the war he 
returned to Cooper County and has since been engaged in farming and 
stock raising. In 1917, he located on his present farm, which is two miles 
southeast of Bunceton. Here he owns 40 acres of well improved land, 
which is under a good state of cultivation. The farm residence is a well 
built modern cottage of six rooms and the other buildings are nicely 
arranged and well kept. 

Daniel Langkop was married April 8, 1880 to Miss Louisa Longers, 
a daughter of Morine and Anna (Brandes) Longers. The former a native 
of Holland and the latter of Germany. They ai - e both now deceased. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Langkop have been born the following children: Frank, 
resides on the old home place in Cooper County; Charles was in South 
America when last heard of and is probably a soldier in the British army ; 
Herman, Bunceton ; Albert, died at the age of 18 months ; Oscar, Bunce- 



1116 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

ton; Walter entered the United States Army in Sept., 1917, was sent to 
France in June, 1918, a member of Company A, 125th Infantry, and was 
taken sick while in the battle of Argonne Forest and died Oct. 23, 1918 ; 
Ed, who entered the United States Army Oct. 21, 1918, and was sent to 
Camp Bowie, Texas, for training and was transferred from there to Camp 
Pike, Ark., where he was discharged March 28, 1919; and Anna, resides 
at home with her parents. 

Mrs. Langkop has spent her life in Cooper County and while she was 
a young girl during the Civil War, she has a distinct recollection of many 
of the events which transpired in the neighborhood where she lived, dur- 
ing the stirring days of that great conflict. She recalls an incident when 
the bushwhackers were about to take their last horse when the Captain of 
the company appeared on the scene and ordered the soldier who was tak- 
ing the horse to turn it loose. 

Mr. and Mrs. Langkop are members of Clarks Fork Lutheran Church 
and the Langkop family are. well and favorably known in Cooper County 
and highly respected. 

John W. Richey, a prominent citizen of Kelly township, is a native 
Missourian. He was born in St. Clair County, Dec. 22, 1851, and is a son 
of John R. and Margaret (Keeton) Richey. In 1861, when the Civil War 
broke out, the Richey family resided in St. Clair County. The father 
entered the Confederate Army and served throughout the war. Shortly 
after he enlisted, the mother and children left St. Clair County and drove 
to Cooper County, with an ox team and wagon, bringing all their posses- 
sions with them. John W. was then a boy about 10 years old and he drove 
the oxen, riding one most of the way. The mother maintained the family 
and kept them together in their new home in Cooper County until the war 
ended, when the father returned. He rented land in Cooper County for a 
number of years, and spent the remainder of his life here. He died in 
March, 1917, at the age of 82 years, and his wife departed this life in 1910, 
aged 77 years, and their remains are both buried in Baxter cemetery, 
Kelly township. They were the parents of the following children: John 
W., the subject of this sketch ; Andrew J. lives in Kelly township ; Mrs. 
Nancy Majors, deceased; Wesley, Bunceton; James, Bunceton; Joshua, 
lives on the home farm in Kelly township; Mrs. Rhoda Potts, lives in the 
state of California and Robert died in California. 

John W. Richey has been a resident of Cooper County since 1862. He 
remained on the home farm with his parents until he was married, when 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1117 

he engaged in farming and stock raising for himself. He bought his pres- 
ent place in 1890. This is one of the old historic places of Cooper County, 
and was formerly owned by John J. Chilton. Chilton was an early settler 
;n this section and owned a number of slaves, and the old building in 
which the slaves lived is still standing on the place. It was built of hewed 
logs, weatherboarded with walnut boards, and is still in a fairly good state 
of preservation. It is probably 100 years old. Mr. Richey has a well im- 
proved farm with a nice seven room, two story, modern residence, which 
he built in 1917. The place is surrounded by locust and elm shade trees, 
and has altogether a well kept and neat appearance. The farm buildings, 
fences and general appearance of the place bears testimony to the industry 
of its owner. The place is known as the "Willow Spring Stock Farm" 
which name is officially recorded. 

Mr. Richey was married Sept. 2, 1875 to Miss Jennie Morton, a daugh- 
ter of John C. and Isabel (Miller) Morton. The former a native of Vir- 
ginia and the latter of Tennessee. They were married in Tennessee and 
came to Missouri, first settling in Cedar County. When the Civil War 
broke out John C. Morton enlisted in the Confederate Army and served 
throughout the war under General Price. After the war the family came 
to Cooper County and settled near Bunceton, where the father was engaged 
in farming for a number of years, when he removed to Texas where he 
died in 1894. His wife died in Oklahoma in 1901. They were the parents 
of the following children: Jennie, wife of John W. Richey, the subject of 
this sketch ; John P., died Aug. 6, 1915, aged 55 years ; Sarah Elizabeth 
was born April 24, 1862 and died Jan. 6, 1916; Martha Lee, born June 5, 
1866, married William J. Luker and they reside in Oklahoma; David 
Emmet, born Dec. 13, 1867 and died in Jan., 1890; Benjamin N., born 
March 22, 1879 and lives in Oklahoma. To Mr. and Mrs. Richey have 
been born the following children: Margaret Isabel, bora Nov. 22, 1876, 
married Riley Marcum, Hughesville, Mo. ; Lon, bora Jan. 30, 1879, Jeffer- 
son City, Mo.; Henry, born June 26, 1881, died Sept. 7, 1909; Andrew 
Jackson, born Dec. 24, 1883, Sedalia, Mo.; Wallace, born March 15, 1886, 
lives in Kelly township, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Richey have 12 grand- 
children: Willie, Mary, Henry and Herbert, Norman Francis, Virginia, Ben 
Henry, Dortha Henrietta, Lucile, Louise and Lon, Jr., Richey. 

Willie Marcum, a grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Richey enlisted in the 
United States army in July, 1917, and went to France in April, 1918, a 
member of Company D, 140th Infantry, 35th Division. He participated 



1118 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

in the battles of Argonne Forest and St. Mihiel. For five days he was 
under fire without intermission. He was discharged and returned home 
in May, 1919. 

John W. Richer is one of Cooper County's most substantial citizens 
and the Richey family stand high in the community. 

John W. Morris, a prominent pioneer and successful farmer and stock- 
man of Kelly township, is a native of Missouri. He was born near Roscoe, 
St. Clair County, March 30, 1858, a son of Snodent and Nancy (Dallas) 
Morris. Snodent T. Morris was born in Howard County, and came with 
his father, Shadrach Morris, and family to Cooper County, when he was 
six years old. Snodent T. Moms was reared to manhood in Cooper 
County, when he went to St. Clair County, and was there when the Civil 
War broke out. He enlisted in the Confederate army, and served three 
yeai-s and six months. During the war his wife and children came to 
Cooper County, where he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives. 

The Moms family is an old American family, which dates back in 
this country to Colonial times. They are of English descent and first 
settled in Virginia. Shadrach Morris, grandfather of John W. of this 
review was bom in Kentucky. He was a son of Hammond Moms, Jr., 
who was a native of North Carolina, and was one of the very first settlers 
of Howard County, Mo. Hammond Morris, Jr., was a son of Hammond 
Morris, Sr., who was a son of Edward Morris. 

John W. Morris has in his possession some interesting family docu- 
ments, one of which is the will of Edward Morris, which was filed by his 
widow, Elizabeth Morris, in Richmond County, Va., in 1752. Another 
interesting old document which he has is a will executed by Jesse Morris 
and wife, conveying land in Madison County, Ky., to Hammond Morris, 
dated Sept. 5, 1816. He has a letter dated Nov. 6, 1839, written by Ham- 
mond Morris, who at that time lived in Kelly township, to John Morris 
and family, and Jene Fry and family. This letter states that the parties 
to whom it is written would do well to come to Cooper County. That 
land there is selling for $1.25 per acre; corn is worth from 20 to 25c per 
bushel; wheat, 75c: oats, 20c; bacon, 7c per pound and pork from 3 to 
3%c per pound. That there is no money current here in the land office, 
except Missouri paper, and gold and silver. 

John W. Morris has lived in Kelly township since 1862 since he was 
four years old. He bought his present home farm, which consists of 
150 acres in 1886. He also owns 80 acres in another tract, making 230 
acres in all. His place is well improved with a good farm residence and 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1119 

he is successfully egaged in carrying on general farming and stock raising. 

Mr. Morris was married Oct. 8, 1878 to Miss Mattie J. Cline, a daugh- 
ter of John Cline of Kelly township, and the following children were born 
to this union: Arthur, born Nov. 29, 1879, resides near Turney, Mo.; 
Grace Ann, born Sept. 15, 1889, married Fred Ratchey and they reside on 
the home place; Edith Kline, born June 8, 1897 and died July 5, 1916, was 
the wife of Arthur Holliday. There are two grandchildren in the family, 
Herbert J. C. Morris and Laura Ritchey. 

The Morris family is one of the representative pioneer families of this 
section of Missouri, and John W. Morris is one of Cooper County's most 
substantial citizens. 

Harry Williams, a progressive and enterprising farmer and stockman 
of Kelly township, was born April 9, 1873. He is a son of Isaac and Anna 
(Yontz) Williams. Isaac Williams was born in Richland County, Ohio, 
in 1840, a son of Joseph Williams, who was also a native of Ohio. Isaac 
Williams was a Union veteran of the Civil War, having served in Company 
G, 163d Ohio Infantry until the close of the war. He then returned to 
Ohio where he remained until 1873, when he came to Cooper County. A 
few years after coming here, he bought a farm in Kelly township, which 
he later sold, and in 1882 purchased the place where Harry Williams now 
resides. He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and was 
a prominent and public spirited citizen. He died May 11, 1916, and his 
remains are buried in the I. 0. 0. F. cemetery at Tipton, Mo. 

Isaac Williams was married in 1872 to Anna Yontz, a native of Vir- 
ginia. She was a daughter of John and Harriet (Windall) Yontz, the 
former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Virginia, the former 
died in 1865 and is buried in Mifflin County, Pa., and the latter died in 
1892 and is buried in Tipton, Mo. Three children were born to this union : 
Lewis, who resides in Kelly township; Harry, Tipton, Mo., and Anne 
(Yontz) Williams, who resides on the old home place with her son, Harry 
Williams. Three children were born to Isaac and Anna (Yontz) Williams, 
as follows: Harry, the subject of this sketch; Lavern, who died in 1908, 
at the age of 33 years, married Anna Tumell, to whom was born a daugh- 
ter, Lillian, and they now live in Arizona; and Lillian, married Harry 
Shrout and they reside in Kelly township. 

Harry Williams was reared and educated in Kelly township and has 
spent all his life in Cooper County. He has made farming and stock rais- 
ing his life occupation and is meeting with well merited success. He is 
the owner of 100 acres of valuable and well improved land in Kelly town- 



1120 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

ship, and carries on general farming and stock raising. His place is located 
three miles north of Tipton. Mr. Williams was married Nov. 20, 1900, 
to Miss Laura Snorgrass, of Moniteau County. She is a daughter of Baiiy 
and Ella (Robinson) Snorgrass. The father is now deceased and the 
mother resides at Tipton, Mo. To Mr. and Mrs. Williams have been born 
one son, Virgil, who is now a student in the Tipton High School. 

Mr. Williams is a member of the local school board and takes a com- 
mendable interest in local public affairs. He holds membership in the 
Modern Woodmen of America at Tipton, and is one of Cooper County"s 
substantial citizens. 

Frank B. White, a well known and prosperous farmer of Kelly town- 
ship, is a tiative Missourian. He was born July 2, 1865 in Moniteau 
County, a son of Stephen and Martha (Robertson) White. Stephen White 
was a native of Louisiana, and spent most of his life in Moniteau County, 
where he was engaged in farming. He at one time decided to go to 
Nebraska and chartered a car to ship his household goods, and started to 
drive overland to Nebraska. However, he returned to Moniteau County 
within 30 days, and for the rest of his life was well satisfied with Missouri. 
He died in 1883 and his wife died in 1907. They were the parents of the 
following children: Frank B., the subject of this sketch; A. J., mention 
of whom is made in this vohime; Edna, married Robert M. Hudson, and 
they live in Moniteau County, and Vesta who married Henry Swarner, of 
Moniteau County. 

Frank B. White was reared in Moniteau County and educated in Pleas- 
ant View school district. He and his brother bought the farm where 
Frank now lives in partnership in 1887, later Frank B. bought his brother's 
interest and since that time has owned and operated the place. The place 
is well improved with a good residence and other farm buildings. Mr. 
White carries on general farming and stock raising and raises and feeds 
cattle and hogs, although he has given special attention to breeding and 
raising pure bred Shropshire sheep. He has made an unusual success of 
this department of animal husbandry, and is recognized as one of the suc- 
cessful pure blood sheep breeders of Cooper County. 

Mr. White was married, March 28, 1895, to Miss Nannie Masters, a 
daughter of Charles and Elizabeth (Price) Masters, the former a native 
of Morgan County and the latter of Kentucky. The father died in 1907 
and the mother departed this life in 1866. Mrs. White was one of eight 
children born to her parents, the others being as follows: Mrs. Farnne 
Askew, deceased : Mrs. Mary Gilliam, Blairstown, Mo. ; William, Blue- 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1121 

jacket, Okla. ; Richard, Berryville, Ark. ; Wade, Kansas City, Mo. ; Walter, 
Calhoun, Mo., and Charles Woodland, Calhoun. To Mr. and Mrs. White 
have been born one daughter, Daisy Lee, who resides at home with her 
parents. She is a graduate of the Tipton High School and attended 
Howard Payne College and is also a graduate of the State Normal School 
at Warrensburg, Mo. 

Mr. White is a progressive and public spirited citizen, and has always 
been a strong supporter of good schools and in recent years has been an 
enthusiastic advocate of better roads. He has served as overseer of his 
local road district for 14 years. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen 
of America at Tipton. 

Dr. M. R. Huffman, who formerly was engaged in the practice of 
medicine in this state, but who for the past six or seven years has been 
engaged in the general merchandise business at Blackwater, is a native 
of West Virginia. Doctor Huffman was born on a farm in the vicinity 
of Alderson, W. Va., Sept. 1, 1867, son of Washington and Mary Ellen 
(Bibb) Huffman. 

Washington Huffman was a native of Virginia and was a tanner by 
trade. He died in 1869, at the age of about 47 years, and his widow, who 
also was born in Virginia, afterwards married Lewis Alderson, who in 
1880 came to Missouri and located in Montgomery County, where he is 
still living. Mrs. Alderson died in 1909 at the age of 65. To the second 
union no children were born. 

, M. R. Huffman was about 13 years of age when he came to Missouri 
in 1880 with his mother and stepfather and he grew to manhood in Mont- 
gomery County. Upon completing the course in the high school at New 
Florence, he attended the Normal School at Warrensburg and for six years 
thereafter was engaged in teaching school, three terms at Americus and 
three at Big Springs. Meantime, he had been giving his attention to the 
study of medicine under private preceptorship and in 1889, he entered the 
Kentucky School of Medicine at Louisville, where he was graduated with 
the degree of Doctor of Medicine in June, 1892. Doctor Huffman then re- 
turned to Missouri and began the practice of his profession at Minneola. 
A year later he moved to Big Springs, where he formerly had been suc- 
cessfully engaged in teaching school, and at that place continued in prac- 
tice for four years, when he moved to Americus, where he also had been 
engaged in teaching and here remained in practice for 13 years, or until 
1913, when he moved to Blackwater. where he bought the Joseph Fisher 
(54) 



1122 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

stock of general merchandise and engaged in business. In 1916 Doctor 
Huffman found that his growing trade required more extensive quarters 
and in November of that year he moved his store to its present admirable 
location, carrying a full line of general merchandise, including groceries, 
dry goods and shoes. Doctor Huffman is a Democrat and his family are 
members of the Baptist Church. 

Jan. 23, 1892, Dr. M. R. Huffman was married to Zula Mosley and to 
this union two children have been born, Paul B., who marr/ed Elsie G. 
Cramer and is an able assistant to his father in the store at Blackwater, 
and Vera B., who married George Huber, Boonville. Mrs. Huffman is a 
member of 'one of the pioneer families of Missouri, her parents, John T. 
and Virginia (Bush) Mosley, both having been born in Montgomery 
County, their respective parents having been among the early settlers of 
that part of the state, and it was in Montgomery County that Mrs. Huff- 
man was born and reared. 

Sims Brothers, farmers and stockmen, who are operating a well- 
ordered and progressively conducted place of 390 acres in section 31 of 
LaMine township, this county, have long been recognized as among the 
substantial factors in the agricultural development of that section of the 
county in which they live and it is regarded as but fitting to the purposes 
of such a chronicle of the times and place as is this work that mention 
should here be made of the work they are carrying on. 

The three brothers, James W., Joseph E., and Claibourne J. Sims, are 
farming the old Sims home place of 390 acres in LaMine township and in 
addition to their general farming are giving proper attention to the rais- 
ing of live stock, their operations being carried on in accordance with 
modern methods and with gratifying results. The brothers are bachelors 
and their home five miles east of Blackwater is presided over by their 
widowed mother and their sister. The Sims family came into Cooper 
County from Howard County more than 40 years ago and has long been 
recognized as one of the established families of LaMine township. Further 
reference to this family will be found in a biographical sketch relating to 
John N. Sims, another brother, presented elsewhere in this work, where 
fitting reference also is made to the late John C. Sims, father of these 
sons, who died on the place which he had established nearly a half cen- 
tury ago and where his widow and the four unmarried children still reside. 

Rev. Benjamin F. Reed, a minister of the Baptist Church and a farmer 
and landowner in the vicinity of Blackwater, is a native Missourian. He 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1123 

\v;is born on a farm in Livingston County, July 14, 1853, son of John and 
Jane (Justice) Reed, who were the parents of 14 children. 

John Reed was born in Can-oil County, Mo., in 1822, his parents hav- 
ing been pioneers of that section. He was reared a farmer and in the 
days of his young manhood went to Livingston County, where he married, 
established his home and he spent the remainder of his life, his death oc- 
curring in 1905. His widow died in 1907. She was born in Frankfort, 
Ky., in July, 1822. Her parents died when she was a child and when 
14 years of age she came to Missouri and grew to womanhood in the home 
of her aunt, Mrs. Betsy McCroskey. 

Reared on a farm, the Rev. Benjamin F. Reed grew up familiar with 
the details of farm life. His early schooling was received in the schools 
of Livingston County and from boyhood he has been a close student, early 
giving his attention to the study of theology and philosophy. In 1870 he 
married and continued farming, meanwhile pursuing his theological 
studies and in 1889 was licensed a minister of the Baptist Church and has 
ever since been engaged in the ministry of the gospel, during that time 
serving in a pastoral relation many congregations and driving or riding 
many miles horseback throughout this region. For the past 14 years he 
has been the settled pastor of Heaths Creek Baptist Church in Saline 
County. In 1897 Mr. Reed came to the Blackwater neighborhood and 
bought the 40 acres of land two miles south of town in Blackwater town- 
ship, where he has since made his home, giving his active attention to the 
operation of the farm in addition to attending to his ministerial duties. 
Mr. Reed is a Democrat and a Mason and also belongs to the Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows. 

Dec. 11, 1870, the Rev. Benjamin F. Reed was married to Martha 
Branstter, who was born in Pike County, Mo., in 1856, and to this union 
13 children have been born, 10 of whom are living, namely: Howard, 
of Fayette, Mo. ; Augustus, of Blackwater ; Nora, wife of H. Branstter, of 
LaMine township ; Cora, wife of F. Miller, of East Boonville ; Ada, wife of 
N. Renison, of LaMine township; Artie, of Blackwater township; Arlie, 
of that same township; May, wife of E. Figgans, of Blackwater township, 
and George and Charlie, of Blackwater township. Among the children 
thus enumerated are two sets of twins, Mrs. Nora Branstter and Mrs. 
Cora Miller and Artie and Arlie. 

Jacob Gross, a successful farmer of Pilot Grove township, was born 
in Belleville, 111., Feb. 12, 1855, son of Jacob and Josephine (Wachter) 



1124 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Gross, who came to this county with their family from Illinois many years 
ago. 

Having been but a lad when he came to Cooper County with his par- 
ents, Jacob Gross here grew to manhood, completing his schooling in the 
local schools, and remained on the home farm until his marriage in 1877, 
when he rented a farm. He continued as a renter until about 1892, when 
he bought his present farm in Pilot Grove township, and has since made 
his home there. Mr. Gross has a well improved place of 1121/2 acres and 
in addition to his general farming he raises live stock. When he bought 
the place the only "improvement" on it was a log cabin. This primitive 
structure, Mr. Gross soon supplanted by a new and modern house and 
the other improvements he has made on the place are in keeping with the 
same. Mr. Gross is a republican and has for years given close attention 
to local political affairs. He served for some time as a member of the 
school board. He and his family are members of the Catholic Church. 

Jacob Gross has been twice married. Feb. 15, 1877, he was married 
to Elizabeth Berringer, who was born in Boonville, Feb. 9, 1858, and who 
died Sept. 11, 1894. To that union were born seven children, namely: 
Sophia, deceased; George, whose present whereabouts are unknown to his 
father; Rosa, wife of William Ashmead, of Pilot Grove township; Clara, 
wife of William Tempfel, living in Montana; William L., also of Montana; 
Anna, deceased, and Herman, who is at home assisting his father. Nov. 
25, 1896, Mr. Gross married Mrs. Mary Ann (Aldridge) Ashmead, widow 
of Joseph W. Ashmead and whose son, William E. Ashmead, married Mr. 
Gross's daughter, Rosa. Mrs. Mary A. Gross was born in Stonebridge, 
Worchestershire, England, June 16, 1855, and was but seven years of age 
when she came to this country with her parents, John and Sarah 
(Sprague) Aldridge, in 1862, the family locating in Alton, 111., where they 
remained for some years or until the death of Mrs. Aldridge, when they 
came to Missouri and located in St. Clair County, where Mary A. Aldridge 
married Joseph W. Ashmead. To that union two children were born, 
Mrs. Gross having besides the son mentioned above a daughter, Mrs. Lil- 
lian Hull, of LaMine township. 

Frank J. Hoff, a successful farmer of Pilot Grove township, the pro- 
prietor of an excellent farm, was born in Pilot Grove township Oct. 27, 
1882, son of Jacob and Bena (Felton) Hoff, substantial residents of that 
community. 

Reared on the home farm in Pilot Grove township, Frank J. Hoff re- 
ceived his schooling in the district schools and from the days of his boy- 
hood has devoted his attention to farming. In the fall of 1905 he bought 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1125 

from his father the farm on which he is now living and began operations 
on his own account. After his marriage in the spring of 1912 he estab- 
lished his home on that place and since then has made numerous substan- 
tial improvements. Mr. Hoff is independent in his political views. He 
and his wife are members of the Catholic Church arid he is a member of the 
Knights of Columbus. 

May 7, 1912, Frank J. Hoff was married to Anna Thiel, who was born 
at Tipton, Mo. and to this union three children have been born, Helen 
Beatrice, deceased, Andrew N. and Geraldine Elizabeth. Mrs. Hoff was 
born Nov. 27, 1887, a daughter of Peter and Catherine (Besthen) Thiel, 
the latter of whom, also born in Moniteau County, is living at Tipton. 
Peter Thiel, who died some years ago, was bom in Germany but had been 
a resident of this country since his boyhood, his parents having been 
among th£ early settlers of this section of Missouri. 

Daniel J. Meyer, proprietor of an excellent farm in Blackwater town- 
ship, and one of the progressive young farmers of Cooper County, was 
born in this county Dec. 21, 1885, son of Louis and Mary (Martin) Meyer. 
Louis Meyer, who died in 1916, was born in 1860 and was a farmer all his 
life and was successful. At the time of his death he owned 320 acres of 
land in this county. His parents were natives of Germany and upon 
coming to this country settled in Indiana, but many years ago came to 
Missouri and located on a farm in Pilot Grove township, this county, where 
they spent the remainder of their lives. Louis Meyer was a member of 
the Catholic Church, as is his widow, and their children were reared in 
that faith. There were 11 of these children, eight of whom are living, 
as follows : Mrs. Louisa Quigley, of Pilot Grove township ; George A., 
living on the old home place ; Daniel J. ; Mrs. Margaret Ausemus, of Black- 
water township; Lena, wife of Edward McClammer, of Blackwater town- 
ship ; John is on the home place with his brother George, and Lorine 
and Anna, who are living with their mother in Pilot Grove. 

Daniel J. Meyer received his schooling in the local schools and has 
devoted his attention to farming with considerable success. Upon under- 
taking operations on his own account he bought a tract of eighty acres 
from his father which he has brought up to a high state of productivity. 
In addition to his general farming he also raises stock quite extensively. 
He is a democrat and is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- 
lows. 

Dec. 22, 1909, Daniel J. Meyer was united in marriage to Lucy Daugh- 
erty, who also was born in Blackwater township, and to this union five 



1126 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

children have been born, namely: Ruby, William, Bemice, Ruple, who 
died when three weeks old, and Helen. Mrs. Meyer is a daughter of John 
Daugherty and wife, the latter of whom was a Miss Linn, former well 
known residents of Blackwater township and both of whom are now de- 
ceased. 

George A. Meyer, one of Blackwater township's well known and pro- 
gressive young fanners, who is living on the old Meyer place in that town- 
ship, farming the same in conjunction with his brother Daniel, was born 
on that farm. He was born Feb. 12, 1883, son of Louis and Mary (Mar- 
tin) Meyer, the latter of whom is living at Pilot Grove. 

Reared on the home farm, George A. Meyer received his schooling in 
the local schools and since boyhood has been interested in farming. His 
father was an extensive farmer; at the time of his death in 1916 was the 
owner of 320 acres of land in Blackwater township and George A. grew 
up familiar with the details of farming. In 1908 he began farming on 
his own account, renting land from his father and after his marriage in 
the fall of 1910 continued to make his home on the home place, 227 acres 
of which he is now farming in conjunction with his younger brother, 
Daniel J. Meyer, who is living on an adjoining farm. Not only is Mr. 
Meyer carrying on his general farming operations with profit, but he 
is doing well in the live stock way. He is a democrat, and he and his wife 
are members of St. Joseph's Catholic Church at Pilot Grove. 

Nov. 24, 1910, George A. Meyer was married to Harriet Brommer, 
who also was bom in this county, and to this union five children have been 
born: Mary M., Georgia Frances, Walter M., Opal and Gladys. Mrs. 
Meyer was born in Boonville township, daughter of Morris Brommer and 
wife, the latter of whom was a Miss Lebo. Mr. Brommer is living on his 
farm in Boonville township. His first wife, mother of Mrs. Meyer, died 
some years ago and he later married Lydia McGuire. 

Otto Stoecklein, proprietor of a well improved farm in Pilot Grove 
township, is one of the best known farmers and stockmen in that neighbor- 
hood. He was born in Baden, Germany, Aug. 24, 1879, son of Andrew 
and Mary Ann (Rainhard) Stoecklein, natives of Germany. 

Andrew Stoecklein was born in 1844 and grew up in his native country, 
was there married and in 1882 he with his family came to the United States 
locating on a farm in Clear Creek township, this county. July 23, 1900, 
he left for a visit to his old home in Baden, was taken ill and died there 
in that same year. His widow, who was born April 9, 1841, is living on 
the home place in Clear Creek township. She is a Catholic, as was her 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1127 

husband, and their children were reared in that faith. There were nine 
children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the sixth in order of birth. 

Otto Stoecklein was but three years of age when he came to this 
country with his parents in 1882 and he grew to manhood on the farm 
in Clear Creek township, his schooling being received in the local schools. 
In 1904 he began farming on his own account, renting a farm ; his affairs 
prospered and in 1908, he was able to buy a farm of his own, in Palestine 
township, which he proceeded to improve and on which he lived until in 
1917, when he sold it and bought what was known as the Abe Brownfield 
place of 134 acres in Pilot Grove township, where he since has made his 
home and which he has greatly improved. Mr. Stoecklein is a success- 
ful breeder of Poland China hogs. He is a Republican and he and his 
family are members of the Catholic church. 

Feb. 9, 1904, Otto Stoecklein was married to Mamie Hamilton, who 
was born in this county, and to this union have been born seven children: 
Bernard, Leonard, Lorine, Otto, Jr., Mildred and Martha (twins) and 
Teresa. Mrs. Stocklein was born in LaMine township and was reared in 
the family of Bernard Martin. 

Arthur H. Wood, one of Palestine township's well known and pro- 
gressive farmers and owner of a well-improved farm in that township, 
has been a resident of Cooper County since the days of boyhood. He 
was born in Rock county, Wis., Feb. 18, 1881, only child of Herbert and 
Sarah (Taylor) Wood, both of whom were born in that state, the for- 
mer born in 1850 and the latter in 1854. 

In October, 1887, Mrs. Sarah Wood came to Cooper county with her 
young son Arthur, then six years of age, having been attracted to this 
county as a place of residence by the fact of her brother, William Taylor, 
having located here in 1871. He is still living here, with his sister and 
her son in Palestine township. It was thus that Arthur H. Wood came 
to be reared in Cooper county and here received his schooling. From 
the days of his youth he has devoted his attention to farming, for a time 
renting a farm, and in 1901 bought 80 acres, to which in 1914 he added an 
adjoining tract of 105 acres. He is also farming his mother's place of 
185 acres and is a substantial farmer. He' carries on his operations in 
accordance with modern methods and is doing well, he and his mother and 
his uncle having a very pleasant home in Palestine township. Mr. Wood 
is a republican and has ever given his attention to civic affairs. 

John Stoecklein, a progressive and substantial farmer of Pilot Grove 
township has been a resident of Cooper county sine* his bvybood. Hi. 



1128 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

was born in Baden, Germany, Nov. 8, 18G7, son of Andrew and Mary Ann 
(Reinhart) Stoecklein, natives of that country, who came here during 
the '70s and settled in this county. 

When he came to Cooper County, John Stoecklein began working as 
a farm hand and was for six years thus engaged, working on the farms 
of Joseph Stuckey and Hamilton Lusk. After his marriage in the spring 
of 1891, Mr. Lusk rented a farm to him and "set him up in business," 
providing him (without security) with a team of mules and other essen- 
tials of farming, at the same time giving him a bit of advice which Mr. 
Stoecklein today admits would have made him a rich man had he pos- 
sessed the foresight to follow it. In 1897 Mr. Stoecklein bought a farm 
a mile east of Pleasant Green, making his home there until 1909, when he 
bought the farm where he is now living and has since resided on this 
place. Mr. Stocklein has a well improved farm of 151 acres and in 
addition to his general farming he is raising pure bred Chester White 
hogs. Since taking possession of his present place he has erected a new 
house and barn and the other improvements on the place are in keeping 
with the same. He is a Democrat and he and his family are members 
of the Catholic church. 

April 16, 1891, John Stoecklein was married to Caroline Prummell, 
who was born in Michigan, daughter of Peter Prummell and wife, na- 
tives of Germany, and to this union have been born seven children, Rich- 
ard, Genevieve, Florence, Gertrude, Helen, John and Philip. 

Peter D. McClain, a well-to-do farmer and stockman of Clear Creek 
township and widely known breeder of Poland China hogs, is a native 
son of Cooper county. He was born in Palestine township, Jan. 18, 1863, 
son of David and Jaily (Stevens) McClain, both of whom also were born 
in this county, members of pioneer families, and the latter of whom is 
still living, making her home with her son Peter, at the great age of 
93 years. 

David McClain was born in this county in 1829, his parents having 
been among the early settlers in this part of Missouri, and here he grew to 
manhood, became a farmer and so continued until his death, which oc- 
curred in 1883. To him and his wife were born the following children: 
Bettie, who married H. C. White and is now deceased; John, deceased; 
William, who is now living in Texas ; Rhody, wife of J. T. Hirst, of Se- 
dalia; Fannie, wife of Alexander Lane, of Lebanon township; Joann, who 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1129 

married Theodore Beck and is now deceased; Peter D., the subject of this 
sketch ; George, of Palestine township, and two who died in infancy. The 
mother of these children, who (as noted above) is still living, was born 
in what is now Palestine township in 1826. 

Peter D. McClain was 20 years of age when his father died and he 
continued on the farm, helping look after affairs for his mother, until 
his marriage at the age of 26. He then rented a farm in Palestine town- 
ship and soon afterward bought a farm there. For 20 years he resided 
there and in 1912 bought his present farm in Clear Creek township. Mr. 
McClain has a well-improved farm of 364 acres. He is quite extensively 
engaged in the breeding of Poland China hogs; holds stock sales twice 
a year and ships his stock for breeding purposes quite widely over the 
country. He is a Democrat and he and his family are members of the 
Methodist church. 

In 1889 Peter D. McClain was married to Florence Mowrey, of this 
county, and to this union six children have been 'born, namely: Lulu, 
wife of F. R. Quint, of the Pettis county; Cecil lives in Blackwater town- 
ship ; Marie, Emil and Ross, at home, and one who died in infancy. Mrs. 
McClain was born in Pennsylvania. She is a daughter of David and Miria 
(Fichelberger) Mowrey, who also were born in Pennsylvania and who 
came to Cooper county in 1877, locating here on a farm. 

Andrew F. Gramlich, proprietor of a well kept farm in Clear Creek 
township, is a native son of Cooper county. He was born on a farm in 
Clear Creek township, Dec. 23, 1884, son of Frank and Josephine (Stoltz- 
enberger) Gramlich, both of whom also were bom in this county. 

Frank Gramlich was born in Clear Creek township in 1854, son of 
Martin Gramlich and wife, who were pioneers there. He grew to man- 
hood on the farm there and after his marriage to Josephine Stoltzenberger, 
who also was born in Clear Creek township, member of a pioneer family 
there, settled on a farm where he is still living. His wife died Feb. 1, 
1919, at the age of 56 years. Two children were born to them, Andrew 
F. having a brother, Peter, who lives on the home place with his father. 

Andrew F. Gramlich received his schooling in district schools and 
when 21 years of age began farming on his own account, renting land at 
first. A few years later, in 1909, the year of his marriage, he bought 
the farm on which he is now living, a well-kept tract of 130 acres, and has 
since lived there. Mr. Gramlich has made extensive improvements and is 
carrying on his farming according with up-to-date methods. He is a 



1130 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Republican. For some years he served as director of schools and is now 
overseer of roads in that district. He and his family are members of the 
Catholic church and he is a member of the Knights of Columbus. 

Oct. 28, 1909, that Andrew F. Gramlich was married to Josephine 
K. Gross, who also was born in this county, and to this union four chil- 
dren have been bom: Ernest George,- Isabel J., Marie E., and Lucille K. 
Mrs. Gramlich was born in Pilot Grove township, Oct. 15, 1885, daughter 
of George Gross and wife. 

Louis N. Hoff, one of the representative citizens of Clear Creek 
township, is a native of Michigan. He was born at Paw Paw, Van Buren 
county, Dec. 28, 1856, son of William and Catherine (Donehoe) Hoff. 

William Hoff was a native of Germany, born at Eppenbraun, Dec. 12, 
1832, and when about 20 years of age he left his native land and ar- 
rived in New York on the day on which Franklin Pierce was inaugurated 
President of the United States in 1853 and for two or three years made 
his home there and in Rochester, N. Y. In the latter city he married 
in October, 1854, and in the following year he and his wife moved to 
Michigan and settled in VanBuren county, near Paw Paw, where Mrs. 
Catherine Hoff died in June, 1881. In Feb., 1883, William Hoff moved to 
Missouri and bought 107 acres in Clear Creek township, this county. where 
he spent the remainder of his life. He died Feb. 3, 1917. William Hoff and 
his wife were the parents of two children, Louis N. and Mrs. Margaret 
Waters, a widow, living at Sterling, Col. The mother was bom in On- 
tario, Canada, in April, 1834, and was in her 48th year when she died. 
She and her husband were Catholics and their children were reared in 
that faith. 

Louis N. Hoff grew up on the home farm in Michigan, and attended 
the common schools, such as they were, and as a home student in later 
years became a well informed man. Not only that, but his own lack of 
opportunities in the days of his boyhood impressed upon him the neces- 
sity of better school facilities and for many years he has given his most 
earnest attention to school affairs and as a school officer has done much 
to advance the cause of education in his home district. Mr. Hoff was 
married in the spring of 1880 and had for some time been farming in 
Michigan when his father came to Cooper County in 1883. Three months 
after his father's arrival here Louis N. disposed of his interests in Michi- 
gan and came here, taking charge of the place his father had bought in 
Clear Creek township, renting the same until 1889, when he bought 80 
acres, a part of the place which he now owns. As his affairs prospered 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1131 

Mr. Hoff in 1892 bought adjacent land and now has there a well-imporved 
and profitably cultivated farm of 223 acres. The Hoff house occupies a 
commanding elevation on the south bank of the LaMine river, overlook- 
ing the beautiful valley of the LaMine, and is one of the best building 
sites in that section of the county. Mr. Hoff is stockholder and a director 
of the Citizens Bank of Pilot Grove. He is a Democrat as was his father. 
For 33 years he was a member of the school board in district No. 14. He 
and his family are members of the Catholic church at Pilot Grove and 
when the congregation there set about the erection of a church he was 
selected as one of the members of the building committee, and in that 
capacity gave of his time and his means to the completion of the present 
substantial church and other buildings. He is a member of the Catholic 
Knights of America and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. 

Louis N. Hoff has been twice married. Feb. 4, 1880, in Michigan, 
he was united in marriage to Anna Brummell who was born in DuPage 
county, 111., and to that union seven children were born, namely : William, 
deceased Mary, wife of William Schneider, Clear Creek township ; Joseph, 
Clear Creek township ; Francis, deceased ; Bertha, Benton Harbor, Mich. ; 
Edward L., who has just recently returned from a period of military 
training at Camp Funston, where he was assigned upon being inducted 
into the National Army during the World War, but was mustered out 
following the signing of the armistice; and Leo, deceased. The mother 
of these children died Sept. 9, 1895, and on May 25, 1897, Mr. Hoff mar- 
ried Matilda Irene Schneider, who was bora on a farm in South Moniteau 
township, and whose parents are now residents of Pilot Grove. To this 
union eight children have been born, namely: Anna, wife of F. Lamm, 
Pilot Grove ; Albert, at home, and Charles, George, Alice, William, Louis N. 
Jr., and Dorothy. 

James S. Funkhauser, a well known and substantial farmer of Leb- 
anon township is a native of Cooper county. He was bora on a farm in 
Saline township, Jan. 1, 1865, son of James C. and Elizabeth A. (Calvert) 
Broyles, and was the fourth in order of birth of the five children born 
to them. When seven years of age he was adopted by Eli and Elizabeth 
Ann Funhauser, Virginians, who had settled on the farm which he now 
owns in Lebanon township about 1870 and which after their death he in- 
herited. 

Reared on the farm, James S. Funkhauser received his schooling 
in the district schools and from the days of his boyhood was a valuable 
aid in the labors of developing the farm which he now owns. He re- 



1132 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

mained by his foster parents and when 21 years of age took charge of 
the farm on a rental basis and after his marriage in the fall of 1889 
iblished his home there and has since lived on the place, which he has 
improved in admirable fashion. Mr. Funkhauser is a Democrat, but has 
never been an aspirant for public office. 

Oct. 7. 1889. Jame; 5. Funkhauser was married to Blanche Starke, 
of this county, and to this union two children have been born, nam-r 
Mary P.. wife of L. Edmonston, of Pleasant Green, and Jack, of Kansas 
City. Jack Funkhauser was born on the farm on which his parents re- 
side. Dec. 30. 1893. and upon completing the course in the local schools 
took a course in the Manual Training High School at Kansas City. Upon 
his graduation from that school he became employed as a solicitor for 
the First National Bank of Kansas :ill connected with that 

institution. He married Ruth DeLancey. who was born in Kans; 
and has one child, Donald Lyle. Mrs. Blanche S. Funkhauser was born in 
this county Nov. 11. 1869. and is a daughter of the late Judge John D. 
S rke. who died at his home in Otterville in 1917 and who for many 
yea: recognized as among the most prominent figures in the public 

life of central Missouri. 

William Henry Stahl. one of the best known of the old time r- 
of Lebanon township, is a native of Pennsylvania, but has been a resident 
of Missouri for fifr is born on a farm in Perry county. Pa.. 

Feb. 9. 1843. son of Abraham and Mary (Ernst) Stahl, both of whom also 
were born in Pennsylvania, where they spent all their lives. Abraham 
r.l was born in 1818 and was 73 years of age at the time of his death. 
He and his wife were the parents of ten children, of whom seven are 
stil' _ :he subject of this sketch being the elde 

Reared in the home farm in Pennsylvania, William H. Stahl attended 
the dis:: :ols. During the Civil War he served the government as a 

teamster and after the war returned to his home In the fall of 1868 he 
married there and in the following spring (1869) came t ri with 

his wife and located in Morgan county, where he engaged in farming and 
remained until 1873. when he came to Cooper county and rented a farm. 
A year later he bought 120 acres in Lebanon township, a part of the farm 
on which he is still living. He prospered and in time added to his hold- 
ings until he became the owner of his present fine farm of 201 acres. Of 
late years Mr. Stahl's health has not been up to standard and he has long 
been living prac I -tired, the operations on his farm beng carred on by 

-on-in-law. L. H Roesler. who is living on the home place. For some 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1133 

years Mr. Stahl made his home in Texas, seeking a change for the better- 
ment of his health, and also for some time lived in Clarksburg, Mo., but 
the old home farm still seems the best place in the world for him. He is 
a Democrat and he and his family are members of the Methodist church. 

Oct. 1, 1868, in Perry county, Pa., William H. Stahl was married to 
Mary Arnold, who also was born in that county, and to this union 
eight children have been born, namely: Mrs. Jennie Spillers, Wichita, 
Kan. ; George D., the owner of a farm southeast of Tipton ; Bluhm E., 
deceased ; Laban, of Buffalo, Okla. ; William E., who recently received 
his discharge from the United States army and is now living at Denver, 
Colo. ; Irvin Lee, of Rock Island, Texas ; Roy T., deceased, and Ruth, wife 
of L. H. Roesler, on the home farm. William E. Stahl, the soldier son 
was born Nov. 28, 1884, and was engaged as a traveling salesman when 
he enlisted for service in the National Army. With his command he got 
to the seaboard on the way for overseas service, but was taken ill and was 
for 11 weeks confined in hospital at Baltimore. On this account he did 
not get to participate in foreign service and was in due time discharged and 
went to Denver for more complete recuperation than could be promised in 
the climate of this region. Mrs. Stahl, the mother of these children was 
born on June 17, 1849, and is a daughter of Samuel and Diana (Garbejr) 
Arnold, both of whom also were bora in Pennsylvania. Samuel Garber 
died at Kansas City, Mo., and his wife died at Colorado Springs, Colo. 
Oct. 1, 1918, Mr. and Mrs. Stahl celebrated the "golden" anniversary of 
their marriage and the occasion was made one of many congratulations 
and much felicitation on the part of their many friends in the community 
of which they have been a part for so many years. This excellent couple 
have nineteen living grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. 

William Speed Poage, owner of an excelent farm of 240 acres in 
Kelly township and one of the progressive and energetic young farmers 
and stockmen of that part of Cooper County, has created an admirable 
farm plant there and is doing well in his operations. He was born in Mon- 
roe County, Mo., Oct. 10, 1886, son of Samuel and Fannie J. (Speed) Poage, 
the latter of whom is living with his son William, her only surviving child. 
Of the children born to Samuel Poage and wife but two lived to maturity, 
a son and a daughter. The latter, Mary V., married A. A. Knoop and is 
now deceased. Samuel Poage was born in Monroe County, Mo., in 1852, 
and died in 1887, he then being but 35 years of age. His widow was bora 
in Morgan County in 1853. 

Dec. 18, 1908, William Speed Poage was united in marriage to Rhoda 



1134 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Richards, who was born in Carroll County, Mo., daughter of the Rev. F. 
C. Richards and wife, who are now living in Morgan County, and_to this 
union three children have been bom, Eva M., Mary H. and Sarah F. Mr. 
and Mrs. Poage are members of the Methodist Church and take a proper 
interest in church work, as well as in the general social activities of the 
community in which they live. Mr. Poage is a democrat and he is affiliated 
with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the Modern Woodmen of 
America. 

Homer E. Norris, a progressive young farmer of Kelly township, and 
owner of a fine farm, was born on a farm in Monroe County. Ohio, March 
1, 1885, son of William L. and Adelia M. (Wise) Norris, both of whom also 
were born in Ohio and the latter of whom is still living in Pettis County. 

William L. Norris was bora in Monroe County, Ohio, and there grew 
to manhood. During the Civil War he enlisted and for three years served 
as a soldier of the Union, being twice wounded during this service. After 
the war he engaged in farming in Monroe county, where he remained 
until 1887 when he disposed of his interests in Ohio and with his family 
came to Missouri and located on a farm near Pleasant Green, this county, 
where he was successfully engaged in farming until his retirement. He 
is now living in Pettis County with his daughter, Mrs. Mattie McMullen, 
being now 76 years of age. His wife died in Cooper County in 1904, 
she then being 57 years of age. William L. Norris and wife were the 
parents of eight children, five sons and three daughters, of whom the sub- 
ject of this sketch was the youngest and all of whom are still living save 
one of the sons. 

Homer E. Norris was but two years of age when his parents came to 
Cooper County in 1887 and here he grew to manhood, receiving his school- 
ing in the local schools in the vicinity of Pleasant Green. When 20 years 
of age he began farming on his own account, renting for a season, and 
then in 1904 bought a farm in Pettis County and made his home there 
until 1907, when he sold that place and returned to Cooper County and 
bought the farm where he is now living. Mr. Norris owns an excellent 
farm of 188!o acres and in addition to that is farming an adjacent tract, 
300 acres thus being under his control. His farm plant is well equipped 
and in addition to his general farming he gives considerable attention to 
the feeding of live stock. 

Nov. 30, 1905, Homer E. Norris was married to Anna Woolery, who 
was born in this county, and to this union two children have been born. 
Homer E., Jr., and William L., the latter named in honor of his grand- 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1135 

father. Mrs. Norris is a member of one of the old families of Cooper 
County, the Woolerys having been represented here since pioneer days, 
and is a daughter of Taylor and Eliza (Berry) Woolery. Mr. and Mrs. 
Norris are members of the Methodist Church and take an interested part 
in church work. Mr. Norris is a democrat and he is affiliated with the 
Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the Modern Woodmen of America. 

Millard E. Thomas, one of Lebanon township's well known and pro- 
gressive young farmers, who is managing there a fine farm of 200 acres 
belonging to his father, who is now retired, was born on that farm, as was 
his mother. He was born July 26, 1882, son of Charles M. and Jennie 
(Steele) Thomas, both of whom also were born in Lebanon township, 
members of pioneer families there. 

Charles M. Thomas was born in 1854, a son of Jonas Thomas and 
wife, the latter of whom was a Miss Woolery prior to her marriage. After 
his marriage Charles M. Thomas settled on his home on the farm which 
he now owns and which is being operated by his son, Millard, and was suc- 
cessfully engaged in farming and stock raising until his retirement and 
removal to Belton, where he is now living. His wife died in 1915. She 
was born on the farm on which she spent all her life in 1855, daughter of 
D. K. and Caroline (Burns) Steele, who were among the early residents 
in that part of Lebanon township. To Charles M. Thomas and wife were 
born five children as follows: May, wife of S. L. Burford, living in Kan- 
sas ; Carrie, married John Hawkins and is now deceased ; Millard E. ; Dale, 
wife of John Schilb, living southwest of Otterville and Clarence, living 
south of Otterville. 

Reared on the home place in Lebanon township, Millard E. Thomas 
received his early schooling in the local public schools and supplemented 
this by a course in the college at Clarksburg. From boyhood he had given 
his attention to the labors of the home farm and after a while beg;m 
farming on his own account there under a proper working arrangement 
with his father and was thus engaged until 1913 when he went to Sedalia 
and was there for three years engaged as check clerk in a wholesale 
grocery house. In 1916 Mr. Thomas returned from Sedalia and resumed 
the management of the home farm in his father's behalf and has since 
successfully been carrying on the operations of that place. He gives con- 
siderable attention to the raising of live stock. 

July 26, 1904. Millard E. Thomas was married at Syracuse, Mo., to 
Minnie Burford, who was born at that place June 28, 1878, daughter of 
Albert and Mary (Mathis) Burford. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas are members 



1136 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

of the Baptist Church. Mr. Thomas is a republican and is affiliated with 
the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons at Otterville. 

Boone Hurt, a substantial farmer and stockman of Clear Creek town- 
ship is a native son of Cooper County. He was bom on a farm in Clarks 
Fork township Aug. 30, 1854, son of Joel and Harriet (Fairs) Hurt, both 
of whom spent their last days here. 

Joel Hurt was a Virginian, born near Culpeper Court House, March 
11, 1814. He grew to manhood in Virginia and was there married to 
Elizabeth Hess, who also was born in Virginia and by whom he had three 
children. In the early '40s he came with his family to Missouri and set- 
tled on a farm in Clarks Fork township and spent the remainder of his 
life there. He died March 10, 1880. In his youth Joel Hurt had been 
trained as a brick mason and after locating on his farm here also followed 
that trade as demands warranted. He was a republican and was for 
years regarded as one of the leaders of that party in his part of Cooper 
County. For 25 years he served as justice of the peace in Clarks Foi'k 
township and it is a matter of record in which his family takes a just 
degree of pride that rarely indeed were the judgments rendered by him 
overruled by the higher courts, even in such few cases as were appealed 
from his court. Not long after coming to this county Joel Hurt's first 
wife died and he married Harriet Fairs, who was born in Saline township, 
in 1828; she died in 1905. To this latter union were born nine children, 
of whom the subject of this sketch was the fourth in order of birth. 

Reared on the home farm in Clarks Fork township, Boone Hurt at- 
tended the local schools and from the days of his boyhood has followed 
farming. He married in the fall of 1880 and in 1885 bought a farm in 
Clarks Fork township, which he sold in 1892 and bought another farm in 
that township. This latter place he also sold to advantage and then 
bought a farm in North Moniteau township, where he resided until the 
spring of 1911, when he sold that place and moved to Oklahoma with the 
expectation of making his home in that state. Things there, however, 
did not present themselves to his liking and in the following October he 
disposed of such interests as he had acquired there and returned to Cooper 
County, buying here the farm of 287 acres on which he is now living in 
Clear Creek township and has there since resided. Mr. Hurt has made 
numerous improvements on the place. Mr. Hurt is a republican, as was 
his father. 

Nov. 9, 1880, Boone Hurt was married to Malinda Haley, who was 
born Jan. 2, 1862, in Moniteau County, daughter of Thomas A. and Eliza- 
beth (Benson) Haley, both of whom were born in Howard County, and 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1137 

who after their marriage made their home in Moniteau County, where 
they reared their family. To Mr. and Mrs. Hurt have been born 13 chil- 
dren, namely : Edgar G., living at Pisgah ; Nannie, wife of Homer Bru- 
baker, Lebanon township; Eliza, wife of Archibald Powell, Clear Creek 
township ; Chester A., farming in Lebanon township ; Bessie, wife 
of H. Carpenter, Prairie Home township; Leslie, deceased; Raymond, 
farming in Clear Creek township, and his twin sister, who died in infancy ; 
Ewing, who married Annabel Mayfield and is now, summer of 1919, with 
the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe ; Gordon, deceased ; Thelma, 
at home, and Lewis and Huldah H., also at home. -Sergt. Ewing Hurt, 
the soldier son, was born on April 21, 1896, in Clarks Fork township, and 
was engaged in farming when on Sept. 19, 1917, he was called to the colors 
in the World War. After a period of training at Camp Funston, he sailed 
with his command for overseas service in April, 1918, and thus partici- 
pated in considerable active service. After the armistice he continued 
on with the victorious army and was serving in the Army of Occupation 
in Germany, a sergeant of Company L, 356th Infantry, 89th Division, 
when the German government signed the treaty of peace in June, 1919. 

John Harris Fray, owner and proprietor of "Walnut Grove Farm", 
LaMine township, is a well known and successful farmer and stockman 
of Cooper County. He was born in LaMine township Nov. 23, 1878, and 
is a son of Benjamin A. and Adelia Frances (Harris) Fray, and is one of 
the following children born to them: John Harris, the subject of this 
sketch; Elwood H., a stockman, Blackwater; William Tyler, St. Louis; 
Mary E., married Leslie O'Rear, Chicago, 111. ; and Alva C, Marshall, Mo. 

Benjamin A. Fray was born in LaMine township in 1853, a son of 
John A. and Martha Elizabeth (Herndon) Fray, natives of Virginia, who 
came to Cooper County from that state at an early date, and were among 
the pioneers of LaMine township, where they spent the remainder of their 
lives after coming here. They were the parents of nine children. Benj. 
A. Fray was successfully engaged in farming and stock raising in Cooper 
County for many years, and is now living retired at Marshall, Mo. 

Adelia Frances (Harris) Fray was also bora in LaMine township in 
1851. She is a daughter of Washington and Mary (Tyler) Harris, who 
were early settlers in Cooper County. She was educated in the public 
schools and Pilot Grove College. 

John Harris Fray was educated in the district school and also attended 
Pilot Grove College. He began life as a clerk in a drug store at Black- 



1138 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

water. Two years later he entered the employ of the National Live Stock 
Commission Company and for ten years represented that company as a 
live stock salesman at East St. Louis, 111., when he was transferred to 
Kansas City in the same capacity for that company and remained there 
about eight years. He then went to Colorado, where he remained about 
three years, when he returned to Cooper County and engaged in his pres- 
ent business on the place where he now resides, which he purchased in 
March, 1919. "Walnut Grove Farm" is a well improved place of 400 
acres, and well adapted to the stock business. Mr. Fray is perhaps the 
largest cattle feeder in Cooper County, usually feeding for the market 
from 400 to 500 head of cattle each year, and about 800 head of hogs. 
His broad and varied experience in the live stock business well qualified 
him to get the best results out of his endeavor in this particular line, and 
he is meeting with well merited success. 

Dec. 26, 1900, John Harris Fray was married to Miss Bessie E. Rey- 
nolds, who was bom in Iowa and reared in Nebraska. She is a daughter 
of John H. and Mary (Claiborne) Reynolds, natives of Illinois and France, 
respectively. The father was engaged in railroad contracting for a num- 
ber of years and is now living in St. Louis. To Mr. and Mrs. Fray have 
been born one child, Mary Claiborne Fray. 

Mr. Fray is a member of the time honored Masonic Lodge and also 
belongs to the Elks. He is one of Cooper County's substantial citizens. 

Robert Leyton Miller, company officer at the Missouri State Train- 
ing School for Boys, Boonville, was bora on a farm in Boonville township, 
March 23, 1889. 

Everett Miller, his father, is also a native of Cooper County and was 
born Oct. 14, 1865, on what is called the old Miller home place, and is a 
son of Robert Miller, a native of Kentucky who settled in Cooper County 
before the Civil War and was a soldier in the Confederate Army. Robert 
Miller died in 1914 at the age of 89 years. Everett Miller has a splendid 
farm of 160 acres with excellent improvements. He married Miss Bettie 
Robinson, who was born in Cooper County, five miles southeast of Boon- 
ville, and is a daughter of John Robinson, a Cooper County pioneer. 

Everett Miller, his father, is also a native of Cooper County and was 
educated in the Boonville High School and Christian Brothers College at St. 
Louis. Until his appointment to his present post on Sept. 23, 1917, he 
was engaged as a motor machinist in Kansas City. During the years of 
1912 and 1913, Mr. Miller traveled over Colorado, Washington and Oregon. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1139 

making trips also into Texas and New Mexico. He also made a trip 
through the East as far as Perry, N. Y. During his travels he visited 
various penal institutions such as the Federal penitentiary at Leaven- 
worth, Kan., the Illinois State penitentiary at Joliet, reformatory at Pont- 
iac, and various other penal institutions for the purpose of making a study 
of prison reform and prison management. He is still a student of state 
reform school management and his studies along the line of this pro- 
fession have been invaluable to him in the proper performance of the 
duties of his position at the Missouri Training School where a company 
of boys are in his charge. 

Mr. Miller is a democrat. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church. 
He is well informed, broad minded, and of a kindly disposition, and seems 
especially fitted for the position which he holds. 

Robert P. Burge, vice-president of the Boonville Mercantile Company, 
Boonville, Mo., is a native Missourian and was born on a farm near Butler, 
Bates County, April 6, 1863. Oscar Burge, his father, was born in Ken- 
tucky in 1822 and died in 1900. Oscar Burge's father was a soldier in 
the War of 1812 and had a government land grant in Bates County, Mo. 
Oscar Burge made the long overland trip to the gold fields of California 
in 1850 and remained there for two years. He acquired a quantity of 
gold, a part of which his son, Robert P., still has in his possession, con- 
sisting of a gold nugget valued at over $100. Mr. Burge returned to Ken- 
tucky by way of Cape Horn and soon afterwards went to Bates County, 
Mo., where he took possession of his father's land grant. Disposing of 
this he came to Cooper County and settled seven miles southeast of Boon- 
ville where he developed a good farm of 150 acres and there spent the 
remainder of his days. Early in young manhood he married Elizabeth 
Miller who was born and reared in Cooper County, a daughter of pioneer 
parents. ' She was born on a farm south of Boonville in 1824 and departed 
this life in 1872, leaving children as follows: John, a farmer, southwest 
of Boonville; William, a fanner, near Blackwater; Robert P., of this re- 
view ; and Dora Burge lives in Kentucky. 

Robert P. Burge was reared on his father's farm, attended the dis- 
trict school and followed farming until 1904. He became owner of a fine 
farm of 136 acres in the old home neighborhood which is well improved. 
After leaving the farm he spent the winter of 1904 and 1905 at Eldorado 
Springs, Mo., and then engaged in business in partnership with H. G. 
Hudson of Boonville for two years. The Boonville Mercantile Company 



1140 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

■was then organized and he became a stockholder and officer in the concern. 
Mr. Burge has charge of all the plumbing and electrical work done by this 
large establishment. 

He was married in Oct., 1893, to Miss Addie Parker, who was born in 
Ohio, and is a daughter of Samuel J. Parker who settled in Cooper County 
some years ago. The children born to Robert P. and Addie Burge are 
as follows : Alma Burge, a student in Monticello Seminary, Godfrey, 111. ; 
Grace Burge, attending the Boonville High School. 

Mr. Burge is a democrat and attends the Baptist Church. He is a 
member of the Knights of Pythias and is an industrious, substantial 
citizen and loyal to his home city and county. 

Joseph M. Clark, painter and decorator, Boonville, was born on a 
farm six miles east of Boonville, April 4, 1861. The farm on which he 
was born is one of the most historic in this section and is the site of the 
first Battle of Boonville which was fought between the Confederates and 
the Union soldiers in June, 1861. 

David B. Clark, his father was born in Zanesville, Ohio, in 1828 and 
died in 1914. He was a son of Adam and Nancy Clark, the latter of whom 
died at the age of 85 years. Adam Clark was bom in Ireland and died 
in Boonville at the age of 86 years. He was born in Belfast and learned 
the trade of mill wright and bridge builder. After settling in Ohio he 
followed his trade. He came to Cooper County in the thirties and here 
built many of the earlier bridges and mills in this section. Two of the 
bridges which he built across the Petit Saline River are still standing, one 
of which the covered wooden bridge known as the Shumaker bridge, was 
erected in 1857 and the other spans the river at Big Lick, or Gooch Mill. 
In all, he erected six bridges across the Petit Saline and built many flour 
mills. 'When he approached the Board of County Judges relative to erect- 
ing a wooden, covered structure such as he had in mind he found the 
judges skeptical about the strength of the proposed bridge. He there- 
upon built a model bridge four feet in length, complete in every detail. 
Calling the judges to a store, he placed each end of the bridge upon a 
chair and then placed a 100 pound sack of flour on the center of his model. 
The model sustained weight of the flour and the judges were convinced 
of the stability of the proposed bridges. 

David B. Clark removed from his farm to Boonville in the spring of 
1861 and resumed his occupation as river man. For a period of 35 years 
he operated steamboats on the Missouri River and served as purser ana 
captain on many boats. During the Civil War his steamer transported 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1141 

Union soldiers down the river and he carried the troops which invested 
Yieksburg. For several years after the war he carried provisions to Fort 
Benton on the upper reaches of the Missouri. After his retirement from 
the river he followed his natural bent as a skilled cabinet maker and many 
pieces of furniture and ornamentation, such as mantels and stair cases 
and panel work adorn the Clark home on Seventh street. His wife was 
Margaret Mitchell prior to her marriage. She was born in 1812 and died 
in 1884. She was born near Brighton, Beaver County, Pa., and was a 
daughter of John Mitchell who came to Boonville in 1848 and conducted 
a retail store in this city until his death at the age of 83 years. The other 
children born to David B. and Margaret Clark are, besides the subject of 
this sketch: Mrs. Agnes Askew, deceased; and John Clark, of Kansas 
City, Mo. 

For 38 years, Joseph M. Clark has followed his trade of painter and 
decorator and fills contracts in Cooper County and the surrounding cities 
and towns in central Missouri, including Jefferson City. He is a born 
artist and many fine paintings which he has created with his brush adorn 
the walls of his home. He was married in 1895 to Miss Cora F. Fritts, 
who was born in Cooper County in 1868, a daughter of John and Patsie 
Fritts, the former of whom is deceased, while the mother is still living 
at the age of 77 years. 

Mr. Clark has two sons who are assisting him in his business. The 
eldest son is Leonidas M., a decorator and painter like his father, and who 
served six months in the National Army as first sergeant of his company, 
stationed at Fort Bliss. The younger son is Price Boone Clark, aged 14 
years. 

Mr. Clark is an independent republican. He is a Presbyterian and 
comes from a long line of Presbyterian ancestors of Scotch descent. He 
is affiliated with the Woodmen of the World lodge. 

Joseph Anthony Oswald, farmer and live stock dealer, Boonville, is 
proprietor of two farms aggregating 400 acres, one farm being located 
two miles south and the other five and a half miles southeast of Boon- 
ville. Mr. Oswald was born Oct. 16, 1870, on a farm four miles south of 
Boonville and is a son of the later Herman Oswald. 

Herman Oswald was born in Bavaria, Germany, April 17, 1820, and 
died in Cooper County, Dec. 15, 1903. His wife, who was Christina 
Youngkamp prior to her marriage was born in Westphalia, Germany, Oct. 
12, 1844 and died March 10, 1893. They were parents of the following 
children: Frank, born Sept. 17, 1868, lives in Boonville; Julius, born Feb. 



1142 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

2, 1863. Cooper County farmer ; August, born July 6. 1864. Cooper County 
farmer; Christina, born Jan. 6, 1867. deceased wife of Matt Clean.-; Joseph 
A., of this review; Lizzie, born Oct. 10. 1872. wife of William G. Robien. 
well known stockman and farmer of Cooper County ; Margaret, born March 
7. 1875, deceased wife of John H. Schnuck. Boonville township; Katie, 
born Feb. 7. 1878, wife of P. F. Fitzpatrick, a farmer west of Boonville: 
Julia, born Sept. 17. 1880. wife of Ed Darby. Boonville. 

Herman Oswald came to America in 1854 and first located in the 
timber lands of Wisconsin. He entered 40 acres of virgin timber land near 
Green Bay. and proceeded to clear the land. In order to afford him an 
outlet to the village he cut a road through the timber which to this day 
is known as the Oswald road. He came to Cooper County after a year 
or so to be able to live in a climate which was not so severe as the Wiscon- 
sin climate. Not long after he came here he sold his northern farm and 
after renting land for a time in Cooper County he purchased a place south 
of Boonville. He accumulated over 400 acres of land and became one of. 
the wealthy citizens of Cooper County. He owned prior to his death a 
total of 1.300 acres of land, 1.000 acres of which was situated in Cooper 
County and 300 acres located in Kansas. Mr. Oswald followed general 
farming and stock raising and operated on a large scale as a feeder of live 
stock. He prospered until the breakng out of the Civil War when the 
depredations of the bands of soldiers who were overrunning the country 
practically cleaned him out ; his live stock was run off ; his provisions 
taken whenever he had any and everything movable was "requisitioned". 
At the close of the war he was practically "broke" and a new start was 
necessary. Like others who were in the same plight, he recovered from 
his losses and became wealthy. He was married in 1861 to Christina 
Youngkamp, who came to America from Germany in 1858 with her father. 
Bernard Youngkamp. 

Joseph A. Oswald attended the school at Stony Point, and worked for 
his father on the farm until 1900. He and his three brothers farmed 
together and handled live stock until 1906. Joseph and Julius Oswald 
then became partners in the live stock business. Mr. Oswald feeds about 
300 head of cattle and 500 hogs annually. He ships about 200 car loads 
of stock each year. Mr. Oswald left the farm and moved to Boonville in 
1913. 

April 16. 1913. Joseph A. Oswald and Miss Minnie Dumalt. of Bill- 
ingsville. were married. This marriage has been blessed with the follow- 
ing children: Edward, born Feb. 5, 1914: Margaret, born Aug. 25. 1915; 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1143 

Mildred, born Oct. 15, 1916; Harold, born Dec. 8, 1918. The mother of 
these children was born on a farm seven miles southwest of Boonville and 
is a daughter of Michael and Catherine (Esser) Dumalt, the former of 
whom was born in 1851, and the latter born in 1852, both being natives 
of Germany. Mrs. Catherine (Esser) Dumalt is a daughter of Bertram 
Esser. 

Mr. Oswald is a democrat and he and his family are members of the 
Sts. Peter and Paul's Church. Mr. Oswald is affiliated with the Knights 
of Columbus. 

Frank E. Lionberger. — The late Francis Edward Lionberger was a 
member of one of the oldest Cooper County pioneer families. He was bom 
April 7, 1842 in Boonville, and died April 13, 1913. His father was Isaac 
Lionberger, a pioneer merchant and very popular citizen of Boonville who 
died in 1861. The mother of F. E. Lionberger was Mary Ann Tutt, prior 
to her marriage, and both parents were natives of Virginia, and were 
descended from old American stock. Isaac Lionberger was for years, one 
of the leading merchants of Boonville, and was very popular with the 
ladies in the antebellum period. When making his yearly trips to New 
York City to do his buying for the season he would be commissioned by 
the Cooper County ladies to purchase their frocks — his judgment regard- 
ing the prevailing styles being so discriminating that he rarely made a 
mistake in selecting suitable wearing apparel for his patrons. 

Frank E. Lionberger attended the Kemper School and the State Uni- 
versity at Columbia. He then settled on the farm owned by his mother, 
south of Boonville which is now owned by S. L. Hickam, and remained 
there until the farm was sold in 1891. He then bought a place of 100 
acres adjoining the old home place and the family resided there until 
Sept., 1917, when they moved to the present home in Boonville. 

May 13, 1869, Mr. Lionberger was married to Emma (Hersey) Talbot. 
To this marriage were born the following children: Charles Edward, Los 
Angeles, Cal., married Helen Baskerville and lias two sons, Frances Edward 
and William Talbot ; Bettie is the wife of Dr. C. H. Van Ravensway, is 
mother of two sons, Arie Cornelius and Charles Edward ; Mary, at home 
with her mother; Addie Talbot, a member of the D. A. R., at home with 
her mother. 

The mother of these children was born Jan. 1, 1850, on Loutre Island. 
Loutre Island is situated opposite Hermann, Mo., and in size it was two 
and a half miles wide by twelve miles long. William Irving Talbot, father 
of Mrs. Lionberger, was born in Lexington, Ky., in 1808 and died in 1874. 



1144 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

He was a son of Matthew Talbot, whose father came to America from 
England early in the 18th century. Matthew Talbot was a pioneer in 
Missouri, settling here in the early thirties. He was a slaveholder and 
owned many fine horses. It was his custom to give each son a fine mare 
as he became of age. William Irving Talbot cleared his island farm of 
timber but left several fine pecan trees. He tilled his land with slave 
labor until the war brought freedom for the slaves and after the close 
of the Civil War he came to Boonville and died here. When a young man 
he married Mrs. Catherine Jane (Hersey) Bascom, a widow, who was born 
in Lynchburg, Va., in 1812 and died in Sedalia, Mo., in 1877. By her first 
marriage she had two daughters. Mrs. Lionberger is the only child of 
her parents. 

The late Frank E. Lionberger was a democrat and was a member of 
the Methodist Church south. He was a great reader and student of the 
times and was posted on all subjects of interest. He was possessed of a 
very retentive memory which enabled him to converse with fluency and 
ability upon almost any topic of interest. Mr. Lionberger was a kind 
husband and a wise father to his children. His death was a sincere loss 
to the community. 

Henry E. Brummel. — When Henry E. Brummel, prosperous farmer 
and stockman of the Prairie Lick neighborhood, came from Michigan to 
Cooper County, 26 years ago, he brought most of his earthly possessions 
in a prairie schooner, hauled by four horses. Mr. Brummel made the trip 
from Michigan in the late fall and it took six weeks because of the fact 
that he stopped enroute and worked two weeks on the railroad so as to get 
some needed money. He arrived at Boonville, Dec. 1, 1892 and during 
the latter part of the trip he would have to get up in the night from his 
rough couch and run around for awhile to restore circulation and get 
warmed up. Having sold his property in Michigan, realizing S800, he at 
once invested in Cooper County land at $28 an acre. Mr. Brummel has 
208 acres of valuable farm land upon which he has placed every improve- 
ment including a large frame residence which stands on the highest spot 
of his farm, two large barns and silo. He raises Shorthorn cattle, hogs 
and sheep and is rated as one of the well-to-do farmers and stockmen of 
this section of Missouri. 

Henry E. Brummel was born in 1860, at Aurora, 111. He is a son of 
Peter (b. 1830, d. Feb. 28, 1899) and Mary Brummel (b. 1838, d. June 7, 
1911). His parents came to America in 1852, although Peter Brummel 
crossed the ocean in 1851. 

Peter Brummel went to Michigan in 1865 and settled on a farm near 
Bums. He sold out his holdings in Michigan in 1895 and came to Cooper 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1145 

County and spent the remainder of his days on a farm here. The chil- 
dren of Peter and Mary Brummel were : Anna and Kate, deceased ; Mary 
Gertrude, deceased; Peter, Buffalo Prairie, Mo.; Joseph, trainmaster on 
the Minneapolis and St. Louis railroad at Monmouth, 111.; Mrs. Margaret 
Whitehurse, living on a farm four miles southeast of Boonville; Mrs. 
Agnes Kronen, Michigan ; Lena, wife of John Stoecklein, living near Pilot 
Grove; Jennie, wife of Fred Schuester, R. F. D. carrier, Pilot Grove; Eliza- 
beth, wife of Joe Vollmer, Pilot Grove ; two children died in infancy. 

Mr. Brummel was married in 1896 to Verona Wittman, born in 1867, 
a daughter of Peter and Regina (Heilman) Wittman, natives of Baden, 
Germany. Peter Wittman was born in 1826 and died in 1901. Regina 
Wittman was born in May, 1837, and died in 1891. Peter Wittman came 
to America in the early forties and his wife came to this country in 1855. 
Peter Wittman was a "forty-niner" who went to California during the 
great rush for gold. The children born to Henry E. and Verona Brum- 
mel are: Viol, born March 31, 1897, married on March 7, 1916 to Marvin 
Eichelberger, who was bom in Cooper County, in 1893 and is a son of A. 
H. Eichelberger. They have one child, Edward, born Feb. 5, 1918. 

Mr. Brummel is a democrat and a member of the Martinsville Catholic 
Church and is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus. 

Frank Bechtold. — The Bechtold Dairy Farm, located about one mile 
s^uth of Boonville, Mo., consisting of 124 acres, was established in 1893 
by Frank Bechtold. The farm is well equipped with every facility for 
caring for the dairy herd of 22 Jerseys and Holsteins and the output of 
the dairy is sold over established milk routes in Boonville. A large bank 
barn and silo, with a substantial cottage residence make up the improve- 
ments on the place which have all been placed thereon by the proprietor. 

Frank Bechtold was born in Germany, Oct. 13, 1854, and is a son of 
Joseph and Christina Bechtold who lived all of their lives in their native 
country. Mr. Bechtold emigrated from his native land in 1880 and came 
directly to Boonville. He arrived here with a capital of about $200. He 
followed his trade -of stone cutter for 30 years and resided in Boonville 
until he purchased his dairy farm. For the past 40 years, Mr. Bechtold 
has resided in Boonville and vicinity and is well and favorably known as 
a conscientious and skilled stone worker who is also a good business man. 
Of late years, Mr. Bechtold has turned over the management of the dairy 
business to his capable and energetic son. 

Mr. Bechtold was married in 1878 to Mary Hoflander, who was born 
in Germany, reared and married there, and is now aged 64 years. The 
oldest' child of the family was born in Germany. The children born to 



1146 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Frank and Mary Bechtold are : Theresa Bechtold married William Lever, 
a tinner of Boonville; William is a shoemaker in St. Louis; Rosa is the 
wife of Frank Oswald, Boonville; Charles, the soldier of the family, was 
born March 5, 1886, enlisted in July, 1918, in the National Army, was 
trained at Camp Cole, Gettysburg, Pa., for active tank service and sailed 
for France just one week before the armistice was declared which ended 
the great World War; Fred John was born June 14, 1888, and is a drug- 
gist at St. Louis ; Bertha is the wife of Jacob Melkersman, who resides on 
a farm six miles southeast of Boonville; Clara; Mary Catherine, and 
Henry are at home. Henry Bechtold is the active manager of the dairy 
farm and business. 

Mr. Bechtold is a republican and he and his family are members of 
Sts. Peter and Paul's Catholic Church. He is a member of the Knights 
of Columbus. 

Wilbur B. Wallace, retired stockman and farmer, Boonville, is a 
native of Cooper County. Mr. Wallace was born on a farm three miles 
west of Bunceton, Aug. 26, 1881. His father, Thomas J. Wallace was 
born in 1837 and died in 1900. He was a native of Virginia whose father 
migrated to Missouri about 1845 and settled in Cooper County. The Wal- 
lace family is an old American family which numbers among its members 
some of the most prominent men of Missouri and the nation. Hugh Wal- 
lace of Liberty, present ambassador to France is a cousin of W. B. Wal- 
lace. The grandfather of W. B. Wallace entered government land in this 
county and had quite a large estate. Thomas J. Wallace was reared to 
young manhood in Cooper County and married Martha S. Cockrell who 
was born in Virginia in 1824, and now resides in Boonville. She is a 
daughter of Thomas Cockrell who was related to Senator Cockrell of Mis- 
souri. She came to Cooper County when a child in company with her 
brother, George Cockrell. Thomas J. Wallace followed farming and stock 
raising during his active life and was very successful. During the Civil 
War he dealt extensively in mules, supplying the armies with these ani- 
mals. He was father of four children: Edgar Wallace, living in New 
York ; A. A. Wallace, engaged in the manufacturing business in Boonville ; 
Thomas, deceased; Wilbur B., subject of this sketch. 

W. B. Wallace was educated in the district school and Central College 
at Fayette, Mo. He entered Yale University and was pursuing a scientific 
course when his father's death made it necessary for him to return home 
to assist in looking after the estate. He engaged in farming and stock 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1147 

raising on his farm of 325 acres near Bunceton until March, 1918, when 
he sold his land holdings and moved to Boonville. 

Mr. Wallace was married in 1906 to Miss Louise Harriman of Bunce- 
ton, a daughter of Col. Robert Harriman. Mr. and Mrs. Wallace have one 
child, Thomas Wallace, aged six years. 

Mr. Wallace is a democrat. He is a member of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church and the Knights of Pythias, the Ancient Free and Accepted 
Masons and holds a membership in the Ararat Temple of the Mystic 
Shrine, Kansas City, Mo. 

Joseph Walker Woolery, farmer and stockman of Palestine township 
who is operating the F. H. Muntzel farm of 347 acres, is a native of 
Cooper County. He was born May 26, 1877, within one-half mile of Nebo 
Church. 

His father, Scott Woolery, was born in Cooper County, and was a son 
of pioneer parents in this county. He married Kate Patrick a daughter 
of a Cooper County pioneer who married a sister of Samuel Cole's second 
wife. Scott Woolery was a twin brother to Taylor Woolery of Pleasant 
Green and a brother to Col. Thomas S. Woolery of Bunceton. 

J. W. Woolery was educated in Nebo School and Bell Air High School. 
From July 21, 1915, to Feb. 26, 1919, he was in the employ of the Standard 
Oil Company at Pilot Grove. He then leased the Muntzel farm and is 
operating the tract on a partnership basis. 

Mr. Woolery was married in Oct., 1901, to Mary Susan Connelly, who 
has borne him two children: Joseph D. and Emily Margaretha. Mrs. 
Mary Susan Woolery was born in Cooper County and is a daughter of the 
late Joseph Connelly, who resided on a farm near Pilot Grove for over 50 
years. 

Joseph Connelly was born in 1846 and died April 1, 1910. He was a 
native of North Carolina and came to Missouri in 1867. Shortly after- 
ward he was married and settled on a farm near Pilot Grove where he 
lived until but a few years prior to his death when he moved to Pilot 
Grove. He was father of seven children: James Anthony, drowned; 
Mary Susan, wife of J. W. Woolery, of this sketch; Mrs. Minnie. Josephine, 
wife of Dr. Ely, Jacksonville, Texas ; Ruth Ethel, wife of Arthur Haley, 
Pilot Grove ; Margaret Lavinia, wife of Prof. J. C. Godley, Milton, Iowa ; 
William Walter, deceased ; John Daniel, was accidentally killed by a street 
car in Kansas City, Mo., in June, 1916. The mother of these children, 
Margaret (Boles) Connelly was bom in Stone County, Mo., in 1854. She 



1148 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

is a daughter of Anthony and Ruth (Johnston) Boles, the latter being 
related to the old Johnston family of Cooper County, of whom Col. Thomas 
A. Johnston, head of the Kemper Military School at Boonville, is a mem- 
ber. Anthony Johnston was a native of Kentucky, was a stone mason, 
married in Indiana. He was also a millwright who built several water 
mills in Stone and Caney Counties, Mo., and also built the Harriman Mill 
at Pilot Grove. He owned the flouring mill at Bunceton. He was born 
in 1814, came to Cooper County, in 1863 and died April 30, 1901. Ruth 
Boles, his wife was born Dec. 5, 1808 and died March 15, 1898. There 
were seven children in the Boles family : Minerva ; John \Y. ; Johnston ; 
Eli, and Julia, deceased; Josephine, wife of Wm. Fentress, lives at Mont- 
rose, Mo. ; Mrs. Margaret Connelly of this review. 

Mr. Woolery is a republican. He is a member of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church and is a past grand of the Knights of the Maccabees of Pilot 
Grove and is a member of the Pilot Grove Business Men's Association. 

Fred C. Stegner. farmer and stockman, owner of a well improved 
tract of 81 acres of land near Billingsville, was born and reared on the 
farm which he now owns. Mr. Stegner was born Feb. 15, 1878 and is a 
son of August and Annie (Angemann) Stegner, well-to-do residents of 
Cooper County who left the farm in 1908 and moved to Boonville. 

Fred C. Stegner attended the Billingsville public schools and, with 
the exception of one year spent in the West engaged in railroading, he 
has always lived on the home place in Cooper County. His father, August 
Stegner. a wise and provident citizen, realizing that the best way to have 
his sons remain on the farms of Cooper County, has assisted each of his 
children to become farm owners and used his credit and means to this end 
while encouraging his sons to earn their own way. As a result, each boy 
is row a prosperous land owner and making good in Cooper County. Fred 
C. Stegner purchased the home place 1914 after renting it from his father 
for some time. He is improving the place and in 1913 replaced a barn 
which had been struck by lightning and burned to the ground. 

Mr. Stegner was married Dec. 25, 1907, to Matilda Magdalena Koellner 
of Cooper County, a daughter of Christ and Annie (Timm) Koellner. 
Three children have been born to this union: Irvin Benjamin, born Dec. 
26, 1911 ; Virginia, born April 22, 1914; Elmer August, born Dec. 27, 1916. 

Mr. Stegner is a republican, a member of the Evangelical Church of 
Billingsville and is a good, industrious, progressive citizen. 

George T. Steinmetz, although retired from active work, is kept busily 
employed in gardening at his fine old, country place on the hill just at the 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1149 

end of Locust street in the east part of Boonville. This tract of five acres 
is the old Nelson Place and embraces five acres, sufficient to keep one man 
busy almost the year around. A large brick house of imposing appear- 
ance graces this homestead. Mr. Steinmetz was born Dec. 12, 1856, at 
Glasgow, Mo., and is a son of Samuel and Lizette Steinmetz, natives of 
Germany, and Charitan County, respectively. 

Samuel Steinmetz, his father, came from Germany to America when 
a young man, was first a shoemaker, then engaged in the grocery busi- 
ness, later conducted a live stock business at St. Louis, became one of the 
noted Shorthorn breeders of the West and achieved national fame as a 
horticulturist, becoming one of the most widely known men in this sec- 
tion of the country. He accumulated a large estate of 700 acres, his home 
place being across the roadway from Glasgow. He owned the old Cleve- 
land farm of 475 acres in Howard County. Mr. Steinmetz died in 1911 
at the great age of 96 years and four days. Samuel Steinmetz maintained 
a large green house and spent his spare time in propagating rare and new 
specimens of flowers. He produced and bred the celebrated green dahlia 
which brought at sale the sum of $1,200. He also propagated the famous 
black dahlia which sold for $1,500. He had learned the art of cloriculture 
in his native Germany and was thus following his natural bent in indulg- 
ing his hobby. So expert did he become in the art of propagating and 
breeding flowers that he could change the color of blooms at will and he 
created many new flowering plants which are enjoyed by flower lovers 
everywhere to this day. A lover of the beautiful, he made life pleasanter 
by devoting his later years to the development of his latent powers in 
his inherited art. 

Samuel Steinmetz was father of 12 children: Captain Samuel Stein- 
metz, an elder son, was killed while serving with the Missouri militia dur- 
ing the Civil War; Aaron Steinmetz was also killed in the service of his 
country; Mrs. Amelia Tillman lives at Glasgow, Mo.; Edward, died in 
Sedalia, Mo. ; Mrs. Mary Myers lives at Glasgow, Mo. ; George T., subject 
of this review; Mrs. Catherine Weiler lives at San Francisco, Cal. ; Don 
Palmer, lives at Texarkanam, Ark. ; John is deceased ; William and Nannie 
live in Howard County; one child died in infancy. The mother of the 
foregoing children died at the age of 78 years. 

George T. Steinmetz embarked in the meat market business in Glas- 
gow when a young man and was engaged in business for 22 years. In 
the meantime he was owner of a farm in Howard County, Mo., which had 
his supervision for a number of years. He came to Boonville in 1898 and 



1150 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

was bookkeeper for George Roeder & Son for two years. For two years 
he served as street commissioner of Boonville, and was city treasurer for 
four years. He filled the office of police judge of the city for one year, 
but of late has been contenting himself with caring for his suburban 
place. 

Mr. Steinmetz was first married to Julia A. Stettmund, of Glasgow, 
Mo., who died, leaving two children: Waldo, living at Belleville, 111.; and 
Mrs. Verna Rankin, now making her home with her father. Mr. Stein- 
metz's second marriage occurred in 1882 with Miss Annie Roeder, a daugh- 
ter of the late George Roeder. She died in 1914 leaving four children: 
Lloyd, Denver, Col. ; Alice, at home with her father ; Martha, deceased ; 
Samuel, Denver, Col. 

Mr. Steinmetz is a republican, a member of the Presbyterian Church 
and is allied with the Knights of Pythias and the Ancient Order of United 
Workmen. 

Dr. William H. Elliot, M. D., is the leading physician and the most 
popular practitioner in the southern part of Cooper County. Dr. Elliot 
located in Bunceton in 1904 and has built up a splendid practice in Bunce- 
ton and the surrounding country. 

William H. Elliot was born Oct. 25, 1875 in Moniteau County. He 
is a son of Joseph and Naomia (Turner) Elliot, both of whom were born 
in Moniteau County, the children of pioneer parents. Joseph Elliot was 
the son of William Elliot a native of Kentucky who settled in Moniteau 
County and cleared a farm from the wilderness in 1840. 

Joseph Elliot learned the trade of blacksmith in his youth and now 
resides at Latham, Mo., in the 67th year of his age. His wife, Naomia, 
was born in 1858 and departed this life in 1891. She was a daughter of 
Horace Turner, who was born in 1817 at Old Franklin, Mo. Horace Turner 
was a son of Philip Turner, of Kentucky, an associate and friend of Stephen 
Cole, the first settler of Cooper County. It will thus be seen that Dr. 
Elliot is descended on his mother's side from one of the first of the Cooper 
County pioneer families. To Joseph and Naomia Elliot were born four 
sons, as follows : Napoleon, living in Oklahoma ; Walker, resides at 
Crocker, Mo.; Luther, a farmer, living west of Bunceton. 

Dr. William H. Elliot was educated in the Warrensburg State Normal 
School. Following that course he entered Barnes Medical College at St. 
Louis and was graduated from that institution in 1899. He practiced his 
profession for the next five years with old Doctor Latham at Latham, 
Mo. and then came to Bunceton. Dr. Elliot is a member of the Cooper 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1151 

County Medical Society, the Missouri State and the American Medical 
Associations. 

Doctor Elliot was married in 1905 to Miss Alberta E. Young, of Kan- 
sas City, Mo., a daughter of John C. Young, a carpenter and contractor. 
To Dr. and Alberta C. Elliot have been born four children: Marguerite, 
Joseph, Raymond and William Henry Junior. 

Doctor Elliot is a democrat. He is a member of the Christian Church 
and is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the Knights 
of Pythias. 

John Coleman, retired veteran grain dealer, Bunceton, was born at 
New Philadelphia, Ohio, Dec. 29, 1839. His parents were Ephraim and 
Nancy (Bess) Coleman, who were of true pioneer stock of Ohio. In 1842 
he loaded his movable effects upon a wagon and set out across country 
enroute to Missouri. He located in Phelps County, Mo. and developed a 
farm. In 1859 he removed from Phelps County to Gasconade County, 
where he bought 300 acres of Missouri River bottom land. In the course 
of time the fickle and treacherous Missouri River earned away his river 
bottom farm and left him without a home or farm. Undaunted, he decided 
to make a new start and went to Moniteau County, locating at California, 
where he spent the remainder of his days. 

John Coleman began his business career at Chamois, Mo., in 1874 and 
was located in that town for about six years. During the Civil War he 
bought horses and mules for the Federal government. After the term- 
ination of his business career in Chamois, he located at California, Mo., 
where he bought grain and live stock until his removal to Bunceton in 
1886. Here he has been successfully engaged in the buying and shipping 
of grain and live stock for the past 31 years. His sons have taken up the 
business and have relieved him of the work to a considerable extent. 

John Coleman was married the first time in 1865 to Miss Rhoda Edel- 
man who died in 1904, leaving four children : Edgar, engaged in the grain 
business with his father at Bunceton ; Walter E., of the firm of Coleman 
and Lee, Bunceton ; Morris, who is a partner in the grain business at 
Bunceton; James M. died in St. Louis. Mr. Coleman was married the 
second time to Eva Ewing. She died in 1907 without issue. He is a 
democrat; is a member of the Presbyterian Church and has been a Free 
Mason since 1872. 

William Bechtold. — The farm of William Bechtold, south of Boon- 
ville, now managed by his son, George Bechtold, is, besides being a fertile 
tract of land, and highly productive, unique in a particular sense, because 



1152 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

of the great amount of stone work which is in evidence in the buildings 
for ornamentation. Mr. Bechtold was originally a skilled stone mason, 
and artistic stone cutter who learned his trade in Germany and plied it 
for many years in Boonville prior to locating on the farm. A stone wash 
house, a stone drying and smoke house, and other structures which are 
built enduringly partly of stone testify to the handiwork of Mr. Bechtold. 
In the front yard of the Bechtold home is a complete suite of stone tables 
and settees handsomely carved and chiseled from the solid stone. 

William Bechtold was born in Germany in 1848 and immigrated to 
America in 1867. Here he followed his trade of stone mason and cutter 
at Boonville, and worked on the construction of the Katy railroad bridge 
across the Missouri River. For several months he was foreman of a 
gang of men engaged in the stone laying of the abutments of the bridge, 
also the building of the pillars. He built many culverts and bridge founda- 
tions of stone throughout Cooper County. Me moved to his present place 
in 1884. There are 120 acres in the home place and 35 acres addi- 
tional in another tract. Owing to the continued illness of the elder Bech- 
told, his son George has the active management of the farm. 

William Bechtold was married in 1872 to Bertha Lieber, born in Ger- 
many in 1849, and immigrated to America in 1851. She is a daughter of 
Peter and Mary Lieber. Peter Lieber came to Boonville in 1854 and 
reared a family of eight children, six of whom came to America; they 
were Joseph, Boonville township; Adam, Gottfried, Mary and John, de- 
ceased ; and Mrs. Bertha Bechtold. 

To William and Bertha Bechtold have been born the following chil- 
dren : William ; Joseph ; Herman ; Albert, deceased ; Frank, living on the 
Scott farm ; George, on the home place ; Paul, farmer, living on the Stretz 
place; Joseph, living on the Chambers farm. Mrs. Bechtold has seven 
grandchildren. Frank Bechtold married Nora Schuester, and has four 
children: Abra, Clarence, William and Mary Margaret. Joseph married 
Anna Martensen and has three children : Cecilia, Bertha and Anna. Paul 
Bechtold married Lizzie Heilman. 

George Bechtold was born in 1885. He is an independent voter who 
refuses to wear the party yoke of any political organization. Mrs. Bech- 
told and the children are all members of the Catholic Church. The Bech- 
tolds are well-to-do people, besides their farm land, Mrs. Bechtold has a 
comfortable brick residence on High street in Boonville. 

George W. Chamberlin, proprietor of a nicely improved farm of 153 
acres, Palestine township, is a native of this county. Mr. Chamberlin 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1153 

was born Feb. 22, 1888, on the old Chamberlin place south of Billingsville 
and is a son of Albert M. Chamberlin. Mr. Chamberlin attended the 
Billingsville school and remained at home with his mother until his mar- 
riage. He purchased his farm in 1910, and moved to the place in the 
spring of 1911. He has done considerable improving on this tract, has 
rebuilt the residence, rebuilt the barns, and built considerable fencing until 
the farm is a very attractive one with a well kept and prosperous appear- 
ance. 

April 29, 1909, George W. Chamberlin and Clara Eichelberger were 
married. Two children have blessed this marriage: Albert Hoke, born 
/(fug. 16, 1910; and Clairbel Elizabeth, born Aug. 27, 1911. Mrs. Clara 
Chamberlin was born March 29, 1887 and is a daughter of Andrew Hoke 
Eichelberger. 

A. H. Eichelberger was born Dec. 14, 1859 in Cooper County, and is 
a son of Andrew Eichelberger, a native of Maryland, and came to Cooper 
County in the spring of 1855, settled in this county and accumulated a 
large tract of 660 acres. Andrew Eichelberger was born in 1823 and died 
in April, 1900. His wife was Isabella Ketser, born in 1820 and died in 
1802. She was a native of Pennsylvania and a daughter of John Keyser. 
To Andrew and Isabella Eichelberger were born five sons and a daughter: 
John, deceased; George, living in Arkansas; Charles E., died in infancy; 
Andrew Hoke, Palestine township; James M., lives near Columbus, Mo.; 
Mrs. Sallie E. Buchanan, Moberly, Mo. 

A. Hoke Eichelberger has always been a farmer and owns a well im- 
proved and valuable tract of 387 acres. He was married on March 2, 
1886 to Sarah Elizabeth Tavener, born June 27, 1865 in Cooper County, 
a daughter of Morris and Joanna (Lichleider) Tavener, who settled in 
Cooper County in 1854. Six children were born to A. Hoke and Sarah 
Elizabeth Eichelberger; Mrs. George W. Chamberlin of this review; Mrs. 
Lillian S. Worts, living near Speed, Mo. ; Mrs. Bessie Edna Smith, living in 
the same neighborhood; Andrew Marvin, a farmer living near Prairie 
Lick; Jessie Hall, at home; Mrs. Anna Juanita Butterwick, Pilot Grove. 

Mr. Chamberlin is a democrat. He is a member of the Baptist Church 
and Mrs. Chamberlin is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
south. Mr. Chamberlin is affiliated with the Woodmen of the World. 

Otto Stegner, farmer and stockman, Palestine township, is owner of 
a fine farm of 145 acres of good land which he is constantly improving. 
Mr. Stegner has resided on the farm since 1900 and it was formerly owned 
(55) 



1154 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

by his father, August Stegner. In 1906 he purchased 125 acres and added 
25 acres in 1911. He and his father erected the substantial residence on 
the place, but the present owner has since built a large barn, garage, 
and erected a windmill. He has built hundreds of rods of new fencing all 
of which is the best woven wire which replaces the hedges which formerly 
bounded the place. This farm was in rather poor condition when Mr. 
Stegner moved onto it in 1900, but it has since risen in value. August 
Stegner, his father purchased the land for $33 an acre. Otto Stegner 
paid his father $50 an acre for the tract which is now easily worth $150 
an acre. A valuable asset to the place is a tract of 20 acres of timber 
which furnishes an unlimited supply of hard wood lumber and fuel. Mr. 
Stegner disposed of a carload of prime walnut logs at a good price in 1917. 

Otto Stegner was born Nov. 11, 1873, on the old Stegner homestead 
near Billingsville, where his uncle, Feodor Stegner now resides. He at- 
tended the Billingsville district school and began for himself in 1894. He 
worked for his uncle Feodor for 22 months. Then he cut cordwood for 
his father from November until the next March, during that time cutting 
and cording 91 cords of wood, and splitting 1,000 fence rails and posts. 
For the next three years he worked for Grathwohl Brothers on their farm 
at Stony Point and then moved to his present home place. Mr. Stegner's 
wages were from $15 to $16 per month during his period of farm laborer 
and he saved $700. From 1898 to 1899 he received wages of $16 per 
month. 

Mr. Stegner was married in 1902 to Essie Marie Roesler, who was 
born in a log cabin on the Henry Zimmerman farm, now the Wendleton 
place, and is a daughter of Henry Roesler, whose wife was accidentally 
killed on July 4, 1917. Henry Roesler owns a farm near Otterville, 
Mo., where he resides. Three children have been born to Otto and Essie 
Marie Stegner, as follows : Constantina Augusta, born Oct. 12, 1904 ; Edith 
Marie, born July 13, 1906 ; Elsie Esther, born Oct. 27, 1908. 

While Mr. Stegner is a republican in general political matters he pre- 
fers to do his own thinking and vote for the individual candidate. He 
and his family worship at the Billingsville Evangelical Church. 

Patrick Francis Fitzpatrick, owner of 206 and a fraction acres of good 
land in Boonville township just west of the city of Boonville, was born 
in the village of Gubb, Ireland, Feb. 3, 1878. 

His parents, Patrick and Delia (McDonough) Fitzpatrick, crossed the 
Atlantic to America in 1880 and first located in New York. In 1881 the 
family journeyed to south Missouri and Patrick Fitzpatrick, the elder, 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1155 

remained there engaged in farming until 1907. He then moved to Clin- 
ton, where his death occurred in 1907. Mrs. Delia Fitzpatrick died in 
1916. They were parents of seven children: Peter, Dansville, Mo. ; Frank, 
Nashville, Tenn. ; Mary died in 1897; Patrick F., subject of this review; 
John, living in Arizona; Thomas, also residing in Arizona; Joseph, living 
in California. 

P. F. Fitzpatrick was reared to maturity in Camden County, Mo., 
and came to Cooper County in 1897. He worked as farm hand until 1904 
at which time he was married and settled upon a farm adjoining the one 
he is now cultivating and which was received as an inheritance by Mrs. 
Fitzpatrick. In 1907 Mr. and Mrs. Fitzpatrick purchased the farm where 
they are now living and have a total of 20G acres. In 1904 they settled 
upon a tract of 312 acres. In 1907 they sold 175 acres of their original 
holdings and purchased the present home place. 

In 1904, Patrick Francis Fitzpatrick and Miss Katie Oswald of Cooper 
County were united in marriage. Mrs. Katie (Oswald) Fitzpatrick was 
born in Cooper County, Feb. 17, 1878, a daughter of the late Herman 
Oswald, a sketch of whom appears in this volume. 

Mr. Fitzpatrick is a democrat and he and Mrs. Fitzpatrick are mem- 
bers of Sts. Peter and Paul's Catholic Churches. He is affiliated with the 
Knights of Columbus. 

Marie Robert Sloan. — The Robert Sloan residence just south of Boon- 
ville, is in all probability, the oldest farm house in Cooper County, built in 
the early twenties of brick, and woodwork of walnut, cut from the farm. 
This house has a ten foot rock cellar underneath and the original structure 
has had an addition built on the front. The Sloan farm consists of 140 
acres of rich land. M. R. Sloan was born in Lexington, Ky., Feb. 12, 1853, 
and has resided in Cooper County for the past 63 years. 

James Robert Sloan, his father was born April 13, 1814, in St. Louis, 
Mo. and died Aug. 7, 1903. He was a son of John and Bridget (Hickey) 
Sloan, both of whom were natives of Ireland and settled at St. Louis in 
about 1800. Two brothers immigrated to New York. John Sloan came 
to St. Louis, then a straggling river settlement, and operated a keel boat 
on the Mississippi River. When making one of his trips down the river 
in 1816, he was stricken with yellow fever and died at Vicksburg, Miss. 
He was buried in the river. His only brother then came to St. Louis and 
took his widow and son with him to his home at Lexington, Ky. This 
brother was Simon Hickey, his wife, Margaret Hickey. James Robert, 
the son left fatherless in his childhood, was reared in Kentucky, and there 



1156 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

married Elizabeth Morton (b. May 16, 1816, d. Feb. 22, 1889). This mar- 
riage was a happy and prosperous one and the couple lived to celebrate 
their golden wedding aniversary on May 16, 1884. 

In the fall of 1853, James Robert Sloan left Kentucky with his family 
and settled at Cape Girardeau, Mo. The climate proving to be unhealth- 
ful in that locality, he removed his family to Boonville and arrived here 
Oct. 25, 1856. The children born to James Robert and Elizabeth Sloan 
were: Pauline, wife of Dr. C. S. Boarman, who was a pioneer physician 
of Cooper County, both deceased; Elizabeth Redd, deceased wife of Jacob 
W. Spahr; Anna Stockton, deceased; Marie Robert, subject of this sketch; 
Georgie Morton Sloan, widow of Frank DeForrest, Boonville, Mo. ; Emma 
Morton Sloan, living on South Main street, Boonville. 

The mother of the foregoing children was a daughter of George W. 
Morton who died at the Sloan home, Dec. 31, 1856. James Robert Sloan 
purchased the farm where the subject of this review now resides. He 
was a well educated man who in Kentucky was a scribe and county official. 
He served as sheriff of the county for 12 years. He prospered in this 
county and was well-to-do. George W. Morton, grandfather of M. R. 
Sloan was also a pioneer in this county. He built the old Lionberger place 
in the east part of the city, and entered land near Bunceton, what is known 
as the Redmond farm. 

M. R. Sloan was educated in the district and parochial schools. He 
was married Oct. 12, 1886 to Miss Mary Elizabeth Mudd, born Sept. 13, 
1865 in Randolph County, 111. She is a daughter of William and Mar- 
garet (Simpson) Mudd who left Illinois and settled in Moniteau County, 
three miles west of Tipton in 1883. Six children were born to this union, 
five of them are living: Dora Agnes, Margaret Mudd, Marshall Ignatius, 
Mary Elizabeth, Robert William and Pauline Bennett. Dora Agnes was 
born Oct. 4, 1887, is the wife of Wallace Morton of Shamrock Heights, 
Boonville ; Margaret Mudd was born Aug. 2, 1889, and is the wife of E. L. 
Barrow, Boonville township; Marshall Ignatius, born May 5, 1891, at 
home on the farm ; Mary Elizabeth was born July 2, 1895, is a teacher in 
the Boonville High School, taught one year in Kansas City, is a graduate 
of the Warrensburg Normal School with high honors, and is a talented 
and gifted scholar. Robert William, born Aug. 13, 1897, and died in 1912. 
Pauline Bennett Sloan was born Jan. 20, 1904. 

Coming of a long line of democratic ancestors, M. R. Sloan is naturally 
and decidedly a democrat of the old school. He has served two terms as 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1157 

county assessor of Cooper County, from Jan. 1, 1891 to Jan. 1, 1895. He 
is a member of Sts. Peter and Paul's Catholic Church and is marshall of 
the local lodge Knights of Columbus. 

Christ Toellner, retired farmer and proprietor of a well improved 
farm of 200 acres in the Lone Elm neighborhood in Clarks Fork town- 
ship, began his accumulating of farm land with a tract of 100 acres of 
unimproved prairie land in 1877. There were no buildings and no fencing 
on the land when Mr. Toellner contracted for the land. He built a home 
and fenced the tract and placed it under cultivation. In due time he 
erected a large residence of six rooms and big barns and has the farm well 
fenced. Mr. Toellner bought an additional 100 acres in 1895. 

Christ Toellner was born in Germany July 11, 1849. He is a son of 
Christ and Mata Toellner who lived and died in their native land. Mr. 
Toellner immigrated to America in 1868, locating in the Lone Elm neigh- 
borhood he worked out as a farm hand for some years, then rented land 
until he was able to make his first investment. 

Mr. Toellner was married in 1876 to Miss Anna Timm, who was born 
in Germany in 1858 and departed this life in 1916. To Christ and Anna 
Toellner were born a large family of children, as follows: Mrs. Sophia 
Fricke; Mrs. Christina Rowe, Boonville; Herman, Chicago; Mrs. Emma 
Rowe, in Canada; Tillie. wife of Fred C. Stegner, Billingsville ; George, 
lK> - v "" J< " 1 ' Uo "'7, " farmer in Clarks Fork township; Walter and William, 
operating the home place. 

Mr. Toellner is a republican and is a member of the Lone Elm Evangel- 
ical Lutheran Church. 

Clyde T. Nelson, manager of "Eminence" a splendid stock farm of 
230 acres in Palestine township, a few miles northeast of Bunceton, is a 
native son of Cooper County who is making good as a breeder of Shorthorn 
cattle and Duroc Jersey hogs. The Nelson farm lands are operated by 
Nelson Brothers who have achieved more than a local reputation as stock- 
men in his section of Missouri. The Duroc Jersey herd was established i 
in 1898 aid the breeding of these fine animals has continued for the pas$ 
30 years ith success. The leader of the Duroc drove is a boar bred 
McKee Brehers of Versailles, Ky. This drove numbers 150 head of pi/e 
breds. Tht Shorthorn herd registers 12 head of animals. 

Clyde T Nelson was born April 17, 1886 on the farm where he/ow 
resides. He < a son of Alpha Nelson Sr. of Bunceton who settled/ipon 
and improved > ie Nelson place. The beautiful residence on the plate was 



1158 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

erected over 50 years ago and is large and imposing. Mr. Nelson, of this 
review, was educated in the public schools and William Jewell College, 
after which he pursued the short agricultural course at the State Uni- 
versity, Columbia. Mr. Nelson has been in charge of the farm since 
October, 1918. 

On June 26, 1918, Clyde T. Nelson adn Miss Clara Harned, a daugh- 
ter of Ben Harned of Kelly township, were united in marriage. 

Mr. Nelson is a democrat, a member of the Baptist Church and is 
fraternally affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. 

Louis D. Bernard, a well known cigar manufacturer of Boonville, is a 
native of this city, born Jan. 14, 1854, a son of John and Mary (Schneider) 
Bernard, the former a native of France and the latter of Germany. John 
Bernard immigrated to America when he was a boy and first settled at 
New Orleans, La.; shortly afterwards, he went to Ohio; later he went 
from Ohio to St. Louis. He rode on horseback from that city to West- 
port, Mo., which is now included within the city limits of Kansas City. 
After reaching there he was not favorably impressed with that section 
and returned on horseback to Boonville. This was in 1849, and here he 
engaged in the manufacturing of cigars. He introduced the famous 
"Dexter" cigar, which was named after the well known trotting horse, 
Dexter. This soon became one of the most popular brandp <jJ Liew» ; ~ 
the country, the sale of wmcn increased so rapidly that Mr. Bernard soon 
had one of the most extensive cigar trades in the West. This brand was 
well and favorably known from Missouri to California, and it was not long 
until Mr. Bernard was employing a force of from 15 to 20 cigar maKers. 
He met with an unusual degree of success in his business undertakings, 
and spent the remainder of his life in Boonville. He died at the a?e of 
88 years. His wife is also deceased. They were the parents of tie fol- 
lowing children : Kate, married William Fessler, Nevada, Mo. ; L*uis D., 
the subject of this sketch; Mary, married Frank Sombart, who is now de- 
ceased and she resides in Kansas City, Mo.; Susanna, marrier William 
Boehm, Coffey ville, Kan.; John, Jr., St. Louis, Mo.; Anna, died it the age 

if 12 years, and Oscar who was accidentally killed by an exploion during 

a tth of July celebration in 1866. All the children of the Be«ard family 

we,e educated in the public schools of Boonville. 

John Bernard was active in the affairs of Boonville dui«g his career, 

and v,as one of the substantial citizens of this section. H always took a 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1159 

deep interest in the cause of education, and was one of the organizers of 
the Boonville public school system, and served as a member of the boai'd, 
of which he was president for a number of years. 

Louis D. Bernard learned the cigar-makers trade in his father's fac- 
tory and has spent his life in the cigar business. During his career in the 
manufacturing of cigars he has probably made over two and a half million 
cigars himself. 

Mr. Bernard was first married to Miss Nellie Beager of Boonville. 
She died leaving one daughter, Ada, now the wife of Glenn Keeton, of 
Denver, Col. Mr. Bernard's second wife bore the name of Elizabeth 
Boiler. She is a daughter of Godfrey and Matilda Boiler. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Bernard has been bora one child, Lois, who resides at home with her 
parents. 

Godfrey Boiler was killed by bushwhackers during the Civil War, 
while at work in his field 2 l /o miles west of Boonville. His father was also 
killed by bushwhackers a short time previous to the murder of Godfrey 
Boiler. 

Mr. Bernard is a member of the Knights of Pythias and is one of the 
seven surviving charter members of the Boonville lodge, out of a charter 
membership of 35. Mr. and Mrs. Bernard have a pleasant home at 1858 
East Spring street and rank among the leading citizens of Cooper County. 

George A. Carpenter, one of Cooper County's leading farmers and 
stockmen, is a native Missourian, and belongs to a pioneer family of this 
state. He was bora in Benton County, in 1860, a son of Samuel and Lucy 
C. (Dooley) Carpenter. Samuel Carpenter was born in Clarks Fork town- 
ship, Cooper County, and was the son of Samuel Carpenter, who was a 
Kentuckian, and came to Missouri at an early date. He bought 360 acres 
of land in Clarks Fork and Moniteau township and spent the remainder 
of his life here. He died on the farm which is now owned by Henry 
Reavis' heirs. 

Samuel Carpenter, father of George A., was born on the Reavis farm 
in 1835. He was an extensive farmer and stockman and was very suc- 
cessful. At one time he owned over 1,000 acres of land. He gave each 
of his children 160 acres, before his death. He died May 17, 1907. His 
wife died Dec. 9, 1899, and their remains are buried in the Carpenter and 
Reavis private burial ground. They were the parents of the following 
children W. H., farmer in Prairie Home township; George A., the sub- 



1160 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 



ject of this sketch; Uriah G. died in infancy; Mason P., the inventor of 
the rotary engine resides in Chicago, 111., and Martha Ellen married George 
E. Taylor and lives in Johnson County, Mo. 

George A. Carpenter received his education in the public schools of 
Cooper County, attending school in the Ellis district, and later attended 
Prairie Home College. In early life he engaged in farming and stock 
raising on his own account, and has successfully devoted himself to that 
field of endeavor to the present time. He began with 180 acres in 1881, 
and has increased his acreage until he now owns 430 acres in Clarks Fork 
township after giving his four children 460 acres. This is known as the 
"Ideal Stock Farm", which is a very appropriate name for this place, as 
it is truly an ideal farm in many particulars. For several years Mr. 
Carpenter engaged in breeding Shorthorn cattle and he has also been an 
extensive feeder of hogs and cattle, feeding from 100 to 150 head of cattle 
annually. Mr. Carpenter's barn which is 70x112 feet, is one of the largest 
barns in the county and is built very substantially. The frame is of oak 
and the roof is metal. There is also a large horse barn on the place 
44x52 feet, and also silo, garage and other suitable farm buildings. 

Mr. Carpenter was first married in 1883 to Mary McCune McCullough 
of Moniteau township. She was a daughter of Robert McCullough. The 
following children were bom to this union : Lucy M., died in infancy ; 
Warren E. lives in Prairie Home township; Homer L., Prairie Home town- 
ship; Edgar A., Moniteau township; and Virginia, a graduate of the Mis- 
souri Valley College at Marshall, and is now principal of the Bunceton 
school. The mother of these children died in Aug., 1910, and Mr. Car- 
penter married Cora M. Dilse, Nov. 15, 1917. She is a daughter of John 
Dilse of Cooper County, who resides in Clarks Fork township. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Carpenter has been born one son, Newberry Wilson. 

Mr. Carpenter has had a successful career and is recognized as one 
of the leading citizens of this county. He is a director of the Bank of 
Bunceton, and has always been ready to cooperate with any worthy enter- 
prise, the object of which has been for the betterment or upbuilding of 
his county. Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter are members of the Baptist Church 
at Prairie Home, of which he is a deacon. 

Henry E. Fuser, farmer and stockman, Boonville township, is owner 
of a fine tract of 90 acres and is farming the Martin Fuser farm of 279 
acres which adjoins his own place. Mr. Fuser is raising cattle, horses, 
hogs and mules, and is specializing in the breeding of purebred Here- 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1161 

ford cattle. He has 16 head of registered Herefords with a splendid 
herd leader which he purchased in October, 1918. Mr. Fuser is a breeder 
of Mammoth jacks and has two of these famous animals, descended from 
the Monsees herd of Mammoth jacks. 

Mr. Fuser was born in Boonville township, Oct. 9, 1881 and has lived 
on his present place since 1883. Martin Fuser, his father, was born in 
Germany in February, 1856. He accompanied his parents, Vernon Fuser 
and wife to America in 1864 and was reared to young manhood in Cooper 
County. He married Mary Lutz, who was born in this county in 1857 
and is the daughter of pioneer parents. His first farm was a small tract 
of 40 acres a short distance from the present Fuser home place. In 
1883, he purchased part of the home tract and continued to add to it 
until he accumulated a total of 279 acres, well improved with a good 
residence, fencing and farm buildings. In 1911, Mr. Fuser went to Vinita, 
Oklahoma, where he is living retired. His children are: John, a stock- 
man, Afton, Okla., owner of 1,380 acres of land; Martin, a fanner and 
stockman, of Brighton, 111.; Henry E., of this review; Benjamin, a drug- 
gist, traveling salesman in Texas; Anna, wife of Henry Esser, Boonville 
township; Mrs. Mamie Hubener, whose husband is a farmer and stock- 
man, Brighton, 111. ; Lydia and Cora are with their parents. 

Henry E. Fuser attended the Westwood district school and the Boon- 
ville High School. He purchased his farm in 1907 and has lived all of 
his life on the home farm. He was married on Nov. 23, 1910, to Miss 
Minnie Meyers, born July 5, 1892, at Pilot Grove, Mo., a daughter of 
Michael and Catherine (Hoff) Meyers, who reside on their farm three 
miles east of Pilot Grove. The children born to Henry E. and Minnie 
Fuser are: Henrietta, born Oct. 5, 1911; Herbert Benjamin, bom Oct. 
2, 1913; Alberta Catherine, born Oct. 28, 1915; Martin Michael, bom 
March 1, 1919. 

Mr. Fuser is a republican who takes an active and influential part 
in local politics. For the past nine years he has served as school director 
ana dork of the district board. He is a member of the Catholic church 
and is affiliated with the Woodmen of the World. He holds membership 
with the Missouri Jack Association. 

R. W. Whitlow, abstractor and iliourance man, Boonville, Mo., was 
born Sept. 9, 1843, in Cooper County, four mne^ couth of the city. He 
was a son of Andrew King Whitlow, who settled in Coopei County in 



1162 , HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

1841, moved to Henry County in 1856, locating on a farm nine miles 
southeast of Clinton. Andrew King Whitlow married Susan Harvey in 

1842, a native of Kentucky, who died when R. W. Whitlow was three 
years old. 

After the death of his mother, R. W. Whitlow made his home with 
his grandfather, Martin Harvey for 10 years, when his grandmother 
died. In the meantime his father had gone back to Kentucky, married 
his second wife and returned to Cooper County in 1847. The son joined 
his father in 1855 near Boonville and in March 1856, the family moved 
to Henry County, Mo. and assisted his father in fencing and improving 
his farm. They made rails on timbered land owned by the government 
and he and his father camped out during one winter on Grand River 
while busy in cutting and splitting rails. In December of 1861, the Civil 
War being on, conditions around the neighborhood became disturbed and 
the locality was dangerous for any one who desired to keep out of trouble. 
R. W. Whitlow went to his grandfather Harvey's place, riding horse- 
back to Sedalia with a Union man who was fleeing for his life. He then 
walked to Boonville, 25 miles. He enlisted in Company F, Fifth Missouri 
State Militia, for service within the state, as a cavalryman. His com- 
mand went south to Waynesville and guarded the hauling of supplies 
from Rolla to Springfield. They also hunted guerrillas and had many 
running fights with rebels. He was at Licking, Mo. several months, and 
then went to Rolla in February, 1864. At that time the Federal govern- 
ment was offering a bounty of $400 for volunteer veteran soldiers, and 
had given orders to recruit men from the Missouri State Militia. Capt. 
W. A. Mills, of Versailles, was recruiting and organizing Company I, the 
Twelfth Missouri Cavalry, and when he came to Rolla about twenty-five 
men of Whitlow' a company enlisted, private Whitlow among them, on 
Feb. 14, 1864. This company went to Benton Barracks, St. Louis, where 
he was taken down with smallpox. He was then taken to the hospital 
near Carondolet and quarantined on "Bloody Island". 

After his recovery private Whitlow was ordered to join his raiment 
at St. Louis. He was quartered at White Station on the Memphis and 
Charleston railroad for a while, and then mo%ed to Lagrange, Tennessee. 
They frequently made raids into «»e state of Mississippi and had many 
fights with General Forr«»fs cavalry in the vicinity of Tallahatchie River. 

Private wnitlow, not being able to join the command, was ordered 
t^ me hospital at Memphis and remained there in Adam's hospital, being 
subjected to a rigid diet until Feb., 1865, and ever since that period he 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1163 

has enjoyed good health. Traveling from Memphis to Cairo, 111., on steam- 
boat and after a short stay there went up the Tennessee River on a flotilla 
of boats and wintered at Eastport, Miss. Here, Gen. James H. Wilson 
organized a raiding division of 10,000 cavalry to destroy the rebels' source 
of supplies. On March 12, 1865, they defeated a regiment or so of 
Georgia militia and went on to Selma, Ala. They then went to Columbus, 
Georgia. They followed Cobb through Georgia and arrived within two 
miles of Macon when the city surrendered. The regiment was camped 
in that vicinity until the war closed. Mr. Whitlow saw Jeff Davis 
brought in a prisoner and taken before General Wilson at Macon. Mr. 
Whitlow arrived at St. Louis on June 4, 1865 and was sent to Omaha, 
thence to barracks up the river and in August camped just south of Sioux 
City on the Nebraska side. He then was ordered to Pawnee Indian 
Agency and from there to guard the overland mail route to Cheyenne. 
Ordered to Fort Leavenworth, Whitlow, was there discharged June 9, 

1866. 

W. W. Taliaferro had been elected circuit clerk of Cooper County in 
1866. He appointed Mr. Whitlow his deputy for two years, 1867 and 
1868. Whitlow then formed a partnership with Thomas B. Wright, a 
lawyer, and made an abstract of title to all the lands and town lots in 
Cooper County. He served four yeare as county assessor and kept up 
the abstract work. 

Mr. Whitlow served three terms as city assessor; served as city 
councilman and mayor of Boonville under its old and new charters. 

Mr. Whitlow has dealt rather heavily in real estate and loan busi- 
ness during the past years, but for the past few years he has been en- 
gaged in abstract work and insurance business exclusively. 

Mr. Whitlow was married Nov. 8, 1872, to Hattie L. Rochester, a 
daughter of Thomas E. Rochester, former sheriff of Cooper County. Six 
children survive out of seven born to this marriage: Eugene, died in 1875; 
Charles W., employed in the Boonville National Bank; Sue Rochester, 
wife of Chester L. Landes, clerk in the New England National Bank, 
Kansas City, Mo. ; Hattie L., wife of Henry W. Michels, a traveling sales- 
man ; Arthur W., married Martha Lee and lives at Bartlesville, Okla. ; 
Rose, at home; Elliot W. was bom in 1887, inducted into the National 
Army on May 25, 1918, trained at Camp Dodge, Iowa, sailed for Fiance, 
Aug. 13, 1918, with the Headquarters Company of the 351st Regiment, 
88th Division, A. E. F. 

Mr. Whitlow is adjutant of John A. Hayne Post No. 240, Grand 



1164 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

Army of the Republic, a position which he has held for thirty years. He 
is a member and treasurer of the Walnut Grove Cemetery Association and 
is now and has been president of the Boonville School Board for the past 
32 years. 

Paul Hoflander. — The late Paul Hoflander, who died at his country 
home near Billingsville, Jan. 18, 1897, was an industrious citizen who 
built up a fine farm and reared an excellent family. He was born in 
Germany, Oct. 26, 1838. He was a son of John Ernst Hoflander who was 
born June 5, 1804 at Grosgarnstadt, Sachsen-Coburg, Germany and died 
at Billingsville, Mo., Aug. 24, 1879. He married Kunigunda Stegner, 
in Germany, 1829. Kunigunda Stegner Hoflander was born Feb. 10, 
1806, at Frohnloch, Saxon-Coburg, Germany, and died at Billingsville, 
March 19, 1891. 

John Ernst Hoflander was a son of Heinrich Hoflander, a miller by 
trade who was born at the old home in Sachsen-Coburg, Germany. He 
resided for many years in London, England and could speak and write 
the English language very fluently. He married Kunigunde Ludwig, 
daughter of a surgeon. He had one son, John Ernst Hoflander. 

Nicholas Hoflander, father of Heinrich Hoflander, lived early in the 
18th century in the old home of the family which was built in 1692. He 
married Louisa Sabina Mechtold who vm a skilled needle «uman. 

John Ernst Hoflander left Germany enroute to America Oct. 12, 
1853 and arrived at Boonville, Mo., Feb. 26, 1854, after traveling by the 
ocean and river route by way of New Orleans. He settled in what is 
now the Billingsville neighborhood and there lived the remainder of his 
days. His children were: Elizabeth Margarethe, born in Germany, July 
30, 1830, married Jan. 7, 1855, at Boonville, to Frederick Mittelbach; 
Margarethe Barbara, born Aug. 9, 1836, married Timothy Grathwohl; 
Maria, born May 13, 1834, came to America May 19, 1853, married Chris- 
tian Krohn who was killed at his home by guerrillas, Aug. 31, 1864 ; Paul 
Hoflander, of this review; and John George Hoflander. 

Paul Hoflander was born Oct. 26, 1838 and died Jan. 18, 1896. He 
came to America with his parents and settled in the Billingsville neigh- 
borhood. He served for three years in the Union army during the Civil 
War, participating in several engagements in Missouri. He built the 
present home of the family in 1871 and accumulated a fine farm of 150 
acres. He was a member of John A. Hayne Post, Grand Army of the 
Republic and was one of the builders of the first church erected at Bill- 
ingsville by the Evangelical denomination. 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 1165 

On Nov. 7, 1869, Paul Hollander was married at Clear Creek, Cooper 
County, to Maria E. Quint, who bore him the following children: Mary 
Elizabeth, born Jan., 1877, died Feb., 1877; Fannie Pauline, born March 
29, 1878, died July 21, 1898; Christian Henry, born Dec. 7 1882; and 
Ethel Smith, a girl who was reared by Mr. and Mrs. Hoflander. The 
mother of these children was born in Prussia, Germany, Jan. 15, 1847 
and came to America with her parents in 1854. She was a daughter of 
Henry and Elizabeth (Walge) Quint, early settlers of Cooper County. 
Mrs. Hoflander has reared a nephew, Ernest Quint, an orphan boy whom 
she took in her home when three years of age. Ernest Quint is a son 
of Ernest Quint and Bida (Ellis) Quint, the latter of whom was a daugh- 
ter of Jacob Ellis. 

Henry Hoflander is managing the home farm and has recently on 
Aug. 1, 1919 taken charge of the general store at Billingsville, having 
purchased the store in April, 1919. 

Charles Emil Gross was born on a farm just outside the corporate 
limits of Boonville, June 14, 1859, and was reared to manhood in the 
Vine Clad city, where he received his education in the public school. He 
is the second oldest of three brothers, the eldest being Henry W., who died 
in 1918, and Karl F., now owner and proprietor of the "Gross Hotel" in 
Boonville. His father was John Christian Gross who came to this 
country from Nassau, Germany, in Feb., 1853, with his father, David 
Phillip Gross, who was a cobbler and plied his vocation in Boonville during 
the 60's. Just after the Civil War the father of C. E. Gross established 
a bakery on Morgan street and operated the same there until 1875, when 
he purchased the building now occupied by the Bassett and Gregory store 
and moved to this location. 

C. E. Gross was married to Sophia F. Biehle, at Belleville, 111., May 
23, 1883 and the following children have been born to them: Irene Louise, 
has been money order clerk in the Boonville postoffice for 14 years ; Minnie, 
wife of William Talbot ; and Gertrude, stenographer for the Boonville Na- 
tional Bank. Upon the death of his father in 1884, he succeeded him in the 
confectionery business. He was elected to the office of city councilman 
in 1885 and succeeded himself for several years. In 1896 he was elected 
city register and during his term in this office the special charter of the 
city was surrendered and Boonville became a city of the third class. 

In June, 1897, he was appointed postmaster of Boonville by Presi- 
dent McKinley, and was reappointed to the office by Roosevelt in 1901, 
and again succeeded himself, being appointed by Taft, in 1905, holding 



1166 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 

the office 13 years. After retiring as postmaster he established the 
"Kozy Korner" confectionery, which he sold to the present owner after 
operating it a year. 

In 1914, Mr. Gross was elected police judge of Boonville, which office 
he now holds, having been re-elected twice. In May, 1918, he was given 
charge of the Central Missouri Republican while the owner, Houston 
Harte, was in the service. In March, 1919, Mr. Harte returned and 
again assumed the general management of the paper, but he retains Mr. 
Gross as office manager. 

James J. McCoy, proprietor of an excellent farm, the old Brady place, 
in LaMine township, though a comparative newcomer in that neighbor- 
hood and until a few years ago a stranger to Cooper county, has created 
for himself a substantial position in the community during the time of 
his residence here and is thus fully entitled to mention in a work of this 
character, having to do with the history of Cooper county and with the 
stories of the lives of its representative citizens. Mr. McCoy is a native 
of Illinois, born in St. Clair county Aug. 25, 1862, son of James S. and 
Eliza Jane (McKinney) McCoy, the latter of whom is still living, a resi- 
dent of Blue Mound, 111., in the eighty -fourth year of her age. 

James S. McCoy was born on a farm in Pennsylvania, but early took 
up railroad work and was the first conductor to run a train over the Lehigh 
Valley road upon the completion of that road. During the 40's he went 
to Illinois and was living there when the Mexican War broke out. He 
enlisted at once for service, helped to raise a company, was commissioned 
an officer and served until the end of the war. Following the war he took 
up saw-milling in Madison county, 111., later bought a farm in Christian 
county, same state, where his children were reared, and there resided until 
his retirement in 1893 and removal to Chicago, where his last days were 
spent, his death occurring there on Feb. 27, 1899, he then being in his 
eightieth year. As noted above, his widow is still living, a resident of 
Blue Mound, 111. She was born in Ireland and came to this country with 
her parents when she was 13 years of age. To James S. McCoy and wife 
seven children were born, as follows : Edwin J., who was killed by a run- 
away team of mules years ago ; H. B. McCoy, of Blue Mound, 111. ; Lizzie 
B., widow of Dr. R. S. Anderson, of Princeton, Ind.; James J., the -subject 
of this review, and his twin sister, Elizabeth ; Anna, who is widely known 
as a church worker and who makes her home with her aged mother at 
Blue Mound, and John R., deceased. 

Reared on a farm in Christian county, 111., James J. McCoy received 
his schooling in the district schools and from the days of his boyhood gave 
his attention to farming, a vocation he has followed with considerable 



HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY 



1167 



success. His first venture as a farmer on his own account was on a farm 
he bought in Nebraska and he remained there until 1900, when he sold 
that place and came to Missouri, buying a farm in Saline county, where 
he lived for seven years, at the end of which time he engaged in the im- 
plement business at Marshall. Five years later he disposed of that busi- 
ness and bought a farm in Missouri county, Texas, and moved onto the 
same. There he remained until the first of March, 1917, when he came 
to Cooper county and entered upon the occupancy of the farm on which 
he is now living and for which he had traded in 1912, an excellent and 
well-improved farm of 522 acres, formerly known as the Brady farm and 
later owned by Albert Hall, a son-in-law of Brady. In addition to this 
farm Mr. McCoy is the owner of a farm of 220 acres in Randolph county, 
this state, and is accounted one of the well-to-do citizens of the community 
in which he resides. 

Nov. 14, 1900, James J. McCoy was united in marriage to Minnie F. 
Stillman, who was born at Lincoln, 111. Mr. and Mrs. McCoy are members 
of the Baptist church. Mr. McCoy is a Republican and is affiliated with the 
Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. 



